590 Madison Avenue

590 Madison Avenue

Industry	Office building
Founded	1983 (1983)
Founder	Edward Larrabee Barnes and Associates (architectural firm)
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Area served	Midtown Manhattan
Key people	Edward Larrabee Barnes (architect)
Products	Office space
Owner	RXR Realty (since 2025)

590 Madison Avenue, commonly referred to as the IBM Building, is a 41-story office tower situated at the intersection of Madison Avenue and 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The structure was conceived by the architectural firm Edward Larrabee Barnes and Associates and developed for the technology giant IBM. Construction took place from 1978 until its completion in 1983.

The tower's unique pentagonal shape is clad in gray-green glass and polished granite, designed to evoke the appearance of a prism. Notably, its northeast corner extends outward above the main entrance without any setbacks throughout the building’s height. On the southwest side, there is a glass-covered, privately owned public space furnished with seating, tables, and bamboo plants.

IBM originally operated its headquarters on this location from 1938 through 1964. Although the company later relocated its main offices to a suburban area outside New York City, it maintained city-based operations and commissioned 590 Madison to centralize some of its activities. IBM retained ownership until May 1994, when the property was sold to Edward J. Minskoff and Odyssey Partners. While IBM remained the primary occupant for several years afterward, it gradually leased portions of the building to other tenants. In 1995, The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio acquired a co-ownership stake, eventually obtaining full control before selling the asset in 2025 to RXR Realty.

Site

Situated in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, 590 Madison Avenue occupies a rectangular parcel bordered by Madison Avenue on the east, 57th Street to the north, and 56th Street on the south. The lot encompasses roughly , with frontage measuring along Madison Avenue and along both 56th and 57th Streets. The property shares its city block with notable landmarks including Trump Tower and the flagship store of Tiffany & Co.. Nearby prominent buildings include the Corning Glass Building, 550 Madison Avenue, Park Avenue Tower, 432 Park Avenue, and the LVMH Tower.

In 1936, the IBM Corporation purchased a 20-story building at this address and established its headquarters there two years later in 1938. IBM expanded its real estate portfolio in 1973 by acquiring adjacent parcels that featured structures designed by Carrère and Hastings, including a building at 14 East 57th Street originally built for art gallery operator Roland Knoedler. The site also contained an eight-story apartment studio at 12 East 57th Street as well as a thirteen-story building located at the northwest corner of Madison Avenue and 56th Street.

Architecture

The design of 590 Madison Avenue—originally known as the "IBM Building"—was led by Edward Larrabee Barnes and Associates. Key personnel included associates-in-charge John M. Y. Lee and Armand P. Avakian; project architect Richard Klibschon; and chief resident architect Antanas Vytuvis. Structural engineering was managed by James Ruderman with LeMessurier Associates providing consulting services. Joseph R. Loring & Associates handled mechanical and electrical systems engineering. Turner Construction served as general contractor.

Rising to a height of 603 feet (184 meters) with 41 floors, the building features a distinctive pentagonal layout. Adjacent to its southwest corner lies an enclosed atrium that functions as a privately owned public space beneath a glass roof. As of 2020, ownership of both the building and underlying land rests with The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, which leases part of the premises to The Trump Organization.

Form

The structure was conceived as a pentagonal wedge, featuring a distinctive chamfer that intersects the rectangular massing at the southwest corner to emphasize the public atrium, which might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Barnes incorporated a traditional New York City zoning strategy by situating the lower-rise segment along the narrower 56th Street, while angling the taller tower toward the broader Madison Avenue and 57th Street. The skyscraper aligns precisely with the 57th Street property line but is recessed from Madison Avenue. The sidewalk is paved with green-granite tiles of . Because the atrium and tower occupy only 40% of the lot, the building was able to ascend without requiring setbacks.

From a structural standpoint, 590 Madison Avenue takes the form of a pentagon, with columns densely grouped along three sides; its southern and western elevations are comparatively shorter. In contrast to many contemporaneous International Style towers that feature rectangular bases, initial designs calling for widely spaced columns were altered following wind-tunnel analyses that revealed inadequate stiffness. Consequently, columns were positioned every , and spandrel beams were reinforced to minimize building sway.

The first three stories at the northeast corner are also chamfered, enabling the tower to cantilever above the primary entrance at Madison Avenue and 57th Street. A truss system above supports roughly ten floors, while upper levels rely on perimeter columns strengthened at their bases. This cantilever design increased construction expenses by about $10 million (equivalent to $ million in ). According to Eric Nash, this cantilever embodies Barnes's inclination toward "symbolic rather than purely structural expression."

Atrium

The building at 590 Madison Avenue includes a public atrium initially named the Garden Plaza, spanning approximately between 8,200 and 11,000 square feet. Constructed under provisions of the 1961 Zoning Resolution, this atrium granted a zoning bonus that allowed an additional roughly 100,000 square feet (equivalent to five stories) to be added to the structure. Situated within the chamfered southwest corner, it directly links to Trump Tower's atrium and, together with the atrium at 550 Madison Avenue, creates an uninterrupted passage connecting 55th and 57th Streets. Originally designed to provide access to the neighboring Bonwit Teller store (later replaced by Trump Tower), it opened in 1983 and was acclaimed as one of New York City's premier privately owned public spaces.

The atrium is predominantly enclosed beneath a sawtooth-patterned glass canopy rising to a height of 68 feet, composed of six ridges topped by a canopy standing 16 feet tall. An illuminated ceiling unites entrances on both 56th and 57th Streets. To maintain indoor temperatures between 40 and 90 °F, the space is climate-controlled with air conditioning and features double-glazed tinted windows enhancing energy efficiency. Initially intended as an open-air environment, wind tunnel testing prompted installation of doors at each end.

Landscaping was crafted by Zion and Breen, incorporating approximately 300 bamboo trees sourced from North Carolina arranged in eleven groves that are illuminated nightly. The New York Botanical Garden managed maintenance of the atrium and operated an on-site retail outlet. A renovation in 1995 renamed it "The Sculpture Garden at 590 Madison," introducing eight new sculptures while preserving eight bamboo groves. The atrium also houses food kiosks, seating areas, and art installations.

Beneath ground level lay the Gallery of Science and Art exhibition space covering about 13,000 square feet; however, it ceased operations in 1993.

Sculptures

Positioned at the southeast corner of the property, where Madison Avenue meets 56th Street, is the steel-and-granite fountain titled Levitated Mass by Michael Heizer, unveiled in 1982. This artwork showcases a large boulder encased within a structural frame, complemented by seating areas for pedestrians. The boulder gives the illusion of floating above a water feature, achieved by Heizer’s technique of slicing the rock's top and securing it with concealed stainless steel supports. Heizer explained that the title serves as a literal description rather than a commemorative label.

At the northeast corner, underneath the cantilevered main entrance at Madison Avenue and 57th Street, stands Alexander Calder’s vivid red sculpture Saurien, completed in 1975 and rising to a height of . During a renovation in 1995, this piece was installed beneath the primary entrance. The name derives from the French term referring to a group of reptiles.

Facade

The facade is characterized by alternating horizontal bands of gray-green glass and polished granite spandrel panels. The chosen gray-green hue was intended to harmonize with both the Corning Glass Building and the atrium of 590 Madison Avenue. Roughly 15,000 granite slabs sourced from the LaCroix quarry in Saint-Sébastien, Quebec, cover approximately of the exterior. Sculptor James Rappa managed the selection and grading process for the granite, discarding inferior pieces and reserving premium quality for the lower levels. The granite’s polished finish accentuates the building’s prism-like aesthetic.

Each granite slab measures about in size and has an approximate thickness of . Eight slabs combine to create a continuous panel roughly long, with narrower panels used at corners and chamfered edges. The total panel thickness is , mounted on stainless steel trusses engineered to prevent rust staining. Mineral insulation is applied behind these panels, which are anchored to the building’s structural frame at six points.

Windows account for 35 percent of the facade surface and feature double glazing with a blue-green outer pane paired with a clear inner pane, permitting 65 percent light transmission. The design includes moisture control systems that channel rainwater down vertical mullions to street level via notches originally intended for window cleaning, thereby avoiding ice accumulation and granite discoloration.

Interior

The tower comprises 38 office floors, two retail levels, two mechanical floors, and an employee cafeteria. It also houses a parking garage with 78 spaces and offers around 1,030,000 square feet of floor space serviced by 24 elevators—18 dedicated to passengers and six for freight. These elevators are arranged diagonally within a triple-height lobby that provides an unobstructed view into the atrium. The lobby floor extends the exterior design through granite flooring and features displayed artworks that contribute to its corporate ambiance.

Graphics consulting was provided by Chermayeff and Geismar Associates, while Donald Bliss handled lighting design. The upper office floors are laid out flexibly around a central core, with ceiling heights starting at 9 feet and perimeter offices reaching up to 9.5 feet. To maintain uninterrupted power during outages, the building is equipped with a 3,000 kW diesel generator.

History

IBM operated its headquarters from the former building at 590 Madison Avenue between 1938 and its relocation to Armonk, New York, in 1964. This transition followed a successful experiment in suburban office decentralization aimed at dispersing administrative functions. Despite moving its headquarters, IBM continued maintaining offices at 590 Madison Avenue and purchased land at Madison Avenue and 50th Street in 1963 to expand its footprint near its original location.

Planning

By 1969, IBM had engaged architect I. M. Pei to create initial designs for a new skyscraper intended to replace its Madison Avenue headquarters; however, the company ultimately declined his proposal. IBM expanded its holdings by purchasing neighboring properties and attempted, though unsuccessfully, to acquire air rights above adjacent flagship stores. In 1973, the firm consolidated a parcel adjacent to its former 590 Madison Avenue location, enabling the construction of a tower up to 45 stories tall. At this stage, Barnes was commissioned to produce preliminary architectural concepts. Early in the design process, IBM utilized computer simulations to enhance the building’s energy efficiency.

By December 1976, Barnes had put forward plans for a 38-story, five-sided tower offering approximately of floor space. The project sought to unify IBM’s dispersed offices—which at the time spanned 23 locations and encompassed —into a single site where the company already occupied most of six existing buildings. Despite this consolidation effort, IBM continued leasing additional premises elsewhere within the New York metropolitan region. The proposed skyscraper was intended to accommodate eight out of IBM’s twelve Manhattan offices as well as exhibition areas. Barnes evaluated multiple facade options including granite, glass, aluminum, and steel before selecting gray-green Canadian granite for its uniform mottled appearance after sourcing samples globally.

Construction

Demolition of the original structure commenced in 1977. A January 1978 editorial in The New York Times lauded the IBM project alongside the concurrently erected AT&T Building at 550 Madison Avenue as symbolic affirmations of corporate dedication to New York City following its financial recovery. By July 1978, revised plans called for a 43-story tower—including concourse and mezzanine levels—with site clearance completed and construction imminent. Architect John Burgee, responsible for designing the neighboring AT&T Building, remarked that his building’s pink facade would harmonize with IBM’s intended gray-green exterior. The Associated Press characterized the IBM Building as part of a "building boom" alongside both the AT&T Building and the Grand Hyatt New York. Turner Construction was appointed as general contractor that month.

The simultaneous erection of both IBM and AT&T towers on 56th Street restricted street access, resulting in delivery trucks backing up several blocks along Madison Avenue for both sites. The first granite panels arrived in early 1981; quarried in Quebec and fabricated by Hohmann & Barnard in Hauppauge, New York. Weekly shipments involved ten trucks each carrying four slabs, which were then assembled and sealed on-site. By 1982, installation and furnishing of the atrium were underway.

Opening and Early Years

The IBM Building officially opened on October 4, 1983. Its inaugural public gallery exhibition, titled "Innovation in IBM Computer Technology," featured devices spanning five decades of development. IBM maintained ownership of 590 Madison Avenue and occupied the entire structure. Jerold Kayden described the building’s atrium as "New York City's peerless privately owned public space." Initially, bamboo plants within the atrium faced difficulties thriving and required biannual relocation supported by IBM until budget reductions curtailed this practice.

Economic downturns during the early 1990s compelled IBM to reduce its real estate footprint. By 1993, the company had scaled back its presence at 590 Madison Avenue and began subleasing portions of its space. In March of that year, IBM closed the Gallery of Science and Art as a cost-saving measure despite its annual visitor count ranging between 500,000 and 750,000. By 1994, plans were underway for leasing up to half of the building’s office area to external tenants.

1990s sale and renovations

In May 1994, ownership of the building transferred from IBM to a partnership between Edward J. Minskoff and Odyssey Partners for an estimated $200 million. IBM retained a lease on one-third of the space, while the remaining two-thirds remained vacant due to decreased occupancy levels. Given the office market's gradual recovery, industry analysts expected Minskoff and Odyssey to successfully attract tenants. Speculation about IBM moving its headquarters back to Manhattan was officially denied. In 1995, the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS Ohio) became a partner in the venture, arranging a five-year floating-rate mortgage through Morgan Guaranty Trust Company.

By 1995, signs of deterioration appeared in the atrium, leading Minskoff to propose changes that required approval from the New York City Planning Commission because of their potential effect on development incentives. His proposal designated 40% of the atrium for sculpture displays and involved removing numerous trees, tables, and chairs. Opponents contended that these alterations would diminish the atrium’s public accessibility and atmosphere. The commission approved a revised renovation plan in October 1995, designed by Robert A. M. Stern and completed by December that same year. Conflicts emerged regarding daytime closures of the atrium. Portions of the former Gallery of Science and Art were leased to the Freedom Forum from 1995 until 2001, while watch retailer Tourneau occupied another section starting in 1996.

One year post-acquisition, only seven floors remained unoccupied despite slight declines in office rental rates. STRS Ohio obtained full ownership of the property in 1997. By 1998, the building's valuation had increased to $500 million—a gain of 150% over the initial purchase price. Odyssey sought to divest its interest and engaged Eastdil Realty for appraisal services; however, Minskoff opted not to sell his share.

2000s to present

In 2003, the Dahesh Museum of Art moved into exhibition space within 590 Madison Avenue. STRS Ohio secured a $350 million senior mortgage from Goldman Sachs in 2007. The following year saw the opening of Obika, a mozzarella bar located in the atrium, while Bonhams took over part of what had been IBM’s gallery area. By 2014, STRS Ohio contemplated selling a 49 percent minority stake; interest was expressed by Brazil’s Safra family, who valued the property at over $1.5 billion. Instead of selling equity, STRS Ohio refinanced in 2015 with a $650 million fixed-rate senior mortgage for ten years from Goldman Sachs. Renovations completed in 2016 by Moed de Armas and Shannon included updates to the lobby and elevator systems.

STRS Ohio placed the building on the market in mid-2018 with an asking price reaching up to $1.3 billion; at that time, IBM occupied approximately . IBM announced plans to relocate to One Madison Avenue in 2022, while other office spaces were leased primarily to financial firms. By 2024, occupancy levels reached 77%, aligning with nearby properties, as STRS Ohio evaluated additional renovation possibilities.

In February 2025, STRS Ohio re-listed 590 Madison Avenue with an approximate asking price of $1.1 billion. Bids came from developers such as Blackstone Inc., RXR Realty, RFR Holding, SL Green Realty, and Tishman Speyer. RXR Realty secured purchase rights in May 2025 for $1.1 billion and made a down payment the following month. RXR’s equity partner is Elliott Investment Management, a hedge fund founded by Paul Singer.

Tenants

By 2020, the top ten tenants occupied close to fifty percent of the building's total area. The largest occupant was IBM, which held 11 percent of the leased space. Other significant tenants comprised:

• Apollo Global Management, a firm specializing in asset management
• Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New York Properties, a residential real estate brokerage
• Bonhams, an auction house primarily utilizing retail space
• Corcoran Group, a real estate brokerage company
• Crowell & Moring, a legal practice
• Colony NorthStar, a private equity real estate firm
• EF Hutton, a stock brokerage entity
• Morgan Stanley, a provider of financial services
• Regus, an industrial services company
• LVMH, a fashion conglomerate occupying four floors
• Tourneau, a retailer specializing in watches (retail area)
• Tsai Capital, an investment management firm

Critical reception

Prior to construction, The New York Times architecture critic Paul Goldberger described IBM's design as a "dignified addition to midtown Manhattan" while also labeling it "conservative indeed". During the building phase, he highlighted the pentagonal form and cantilevered entrance as "dramatic gestures" but felt the facade’s stone-like appearance was excessive. Architect Der Scutt, known for designing the nearby Trump Tower, defended both the IBM and AT&T buildings as fitting tributes to a city proud of its skyscraper heritage.

Following completion, Goldberger expressed dissatisfaction, pointing out flaws in the atrium, entrance, and facade. He preferred Barnes' design for 535 Madison Avenue located nearby. Critic Brendan Gill faulted the structure for disrupting the neighborhood’s scale despite incorporating a museum and atrium. Meanwhile, Martin Filler criticized both the facade and atrium but lauded Heizer’s fountain as "superb". Even after renovations to the atrium, Goldberger maintained that its original "Zen"-inspired atmosphere had been diminished. In New York 2000, Robert A. M. Stern observed that while the IBM Building challenged Modernist glass preferences, it lacked the daring character found in Philip Johnson’s 550 Madison Avenue.

On the other hand, the building earned acclaim: in 1984, Architectural Record named it among the two finest Modern Movement skyscrapers alongside the Seagram Building. Mildred Schmertz emphasized Barnes’ ability to demonstrate that Modern Movement principles could be adapted contextually. Ada Louise Huxtable praised its elegant granite and glass exterior as superior to AT&T’s design. The New York State Association of Architects honored it with their 1984 Award of Excellence, suggesting it might become one of the 20th century’s iconic skyscrapers.

The atrium received favorable reviews as well. In 2022, Anthony Paletta of The Daily Beast described it as "very appealing," highlighting its noteworthy art collection. Architectural critic Donald Martin Reynolds commended how seamlessly the atrium connected with street-level space. The publication Privately Owned Public Space characterized it as "a tree-filled conservatory and public living room combined."

See also

• List of tallest buildings in New York City