Uris Buildings Corporation

Uris Buildings Corporation
Company type	Public company
Industry	Real estate development
Founded	1960
Founder	Harold Uris, Percy Uris
Defunct	1971
Fate	Sold to National Kinney Corporation
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Key people	Harold Uris, Percy Uris
Products	Commercial real estate developments, office buildings, hotels, residential buildings
Parent	National Kinney Corporation (from 1971)

Uris Buildings Corporation was a commercial real estate developer based in New York City, established in 1960 by siblings Harold and Percy. This entity evolved from their prior private partnership, with the brothers maintaining a 60% stake. Among their last collaborative ventures was the Uris Building, which includes the George Gershwin Theatre. Following Percy's passing in 1971, Harold sold the corporation to National Kinney Corporation for $115 million. Despite this, the company’s holdings encountered foreclosure during New York’s economic downturn between 1973 and 1975.

History

The origins of the enterprise trace back to 1920 when Percy founded it alongside his father, Harris H. Uris (circa 1867–1945), a Lithuanian immigrant and former ornamental iron craftsman whose family operated a substantial iron foundry serving clients such as the New York City Subway. Percy completed his studies at Columbia Business School in 1920, while Harold joined later after earning a civil engineering degree from Cornell University. Initially, their focus was on residential projects—including emergency housing during wartime. They developed numerous properties throughout the 1920s and early 1930s but faced difficulties during the Great Depression.

By the late 1930s, they resumed building apartments with notable developments such as 2 Sutton Place and 930 Fifth Avenue. Due to restrictive rent control regulations, they withdrew from residential construction by 1950, redirecting their efforts exclusively toward commercial real estate. The incorporation of Uris Buildings Corporation in 1960 marked their transition to a public company aimed at securing capital for larger-scale projects.

From 1945 through 1971, Uris Buildings was responsible for developing more than of office space in Manhattan, becoming by 1969 the largest publicly traded investment builder while retaining majority ownership.

Percy handled financial affairs including acquisitions, financing strategies, rent setting, and profitability analysis; Harold directed construction operations. The firm often partnered with architect Emery Roth & Sons.

Beyond New York City, significant projects included the Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC—with five subterranean levels designed to comply with height restrictions—and Philadelphia’s inaugural modern office building within the Penn Center redevelopment during 1953–54.

By 1972, Uris Buildings Corporation’s market valuation surpassed $600 million.

The Uris brothers emphasized economical development of expansive office buildings rather than architectural innovation. Investor Harry Helmsley credited them with playing a pivotal role in shaping the Park Avenue skyline north of 45th Street.

Park Avenue

Beneath Park Avenue in Manhattan north of 45th Street lies the Park Avenue Tunnel, which carries rail lines into Grand Central Terminal. In the early twentieth century, development in Terminal City successfully constructed buildings over these tracks using a dual-level underground steel framework. Following World War II, Uris led efforts to build above these tracks despite increased rail traffic and demand for taller buildings.

In 1955, Uris replaced an existing apartment building at 300 Park Avenue with the glass-and-aluminum Colgate-Palmolive Building. Structural engineer James Ruderman identified existing below-grade columns extending through the rail structure down to bedrock approximately fifty feet below grade. This discovery allowed for significant cost reductions and improved financial returns. Encouraged by this achievement, Uris acquired air rights above tracks at both 320 and 350 Park Avenue. This strategy inspired other developers to pursue construction over rail lines and expanded Uris’s influence in innovative urban development projects.

Penn Center

In 1953, Uris introduced the architectural plans for Three Penn Center in Philadelphia, designed by Emery Roth & Sons. Although critics dismissed the design as an "unremarkable twenty-story slab" and it drew disapproval from architectural professionals and local business leaders—including Arthur C. Kaufmann, CEO of Gimbels—Uris moved forward with construction. The project encountered municipal oversight when Mayor Joseph Clark demanded review by the Art Commission; however, Uris delayed compliance, arguing that structural steel had already been ordered.

Three years later, while construction on Three Penn Center was ongoing, Uris revealed designs for Two Penn Center. This proposal faced comparable criticism, leading the Art Commission to require design enhancements due to its visibility near Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Despite an agreement to postpone steel procurement until approval was granted, Uris again insisted steel had been ordered and resisted modifications. Ultimately, the Art Commission withdrew opposition, underscoring the difficulties in reconciling corporate objectives with public aesthetic standards amid rapid urban growth.

Media

On March 10, 1962, The New Yorker published a cartoon illustrating construction scenes with the caption "Damn the Uris brothers, damn the Tishmans, damn Zeckendorf...," highlighting their significant influence in the real estate market.

Notable projects

The Uris Brothers were responsible for developing a wide range of notable structures, either independently or through collaborations. Their extensive portfolio encompasses residential buildings, hotels, and office towers, reflecting their versatile business approach and substantial role in shaping urban landscapes.

Name (original)	Address (NYC unless noted)	Alt Name	Year	Type	Notes
Court Square Building	2 Lafayette Street		1926	Residential
1 University Place	1 University Place		1929	Residential
Dixie Hotel	250 West 43rd Street	Hotel Carter	1930	Hotel
Hotel St. Moritz	50 Central Park South	Ritz Carlton	1932	Hotel
2 Sutton Place	2 Sutton Place		1938	Residential
930 Fifth Avenue	930 Fifth Avenue		1940	Residential
880 Fifth Avenue	880 Fifth Avenue		1948	Residential	Final residential project by Uris Brothers
55 Water Street	55 Water Street		1972	Office Building	Their last major development; was the largest office building worldwide at that time
American Tobacco Company Building	245 Park Avenue	American Brands Building Bear Sterns Building	1967	Office Building
JC Penney Building	333 W 33rd Street	Pennview Hotel	1925	Office Building
ITT Corporation Building	75 Broad Street		1928	Office Building
RCA Communications Building	60 Broad Street		1961	Office Building
Paramount Plaza	1633 Broadway		1971	Office Building	Includes Uris Theatre, currently known as Gershwin Theatre
1301 Avenue of the Americas	1301 Avenue of the Americas	Calyon Building, Crédit Lyonnais Building, RJR Nabisco Building	1964	Office Building	Distinct from the earlier JC Penney Building
New York Hilton Midtown	1335 Avenue of the Americas		1964	Hotel
488 Madison Avenue (Look Building)	488 Madison Avenue		1950	Office Building	Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
380 Madison Avenue	380 Madison Avenue		1953	Office Building	Built on former Ritz-Carlton hotel site
Colgate-Palmolive Building	300 Park Avenue		1955	Office Building
575 Madison Avenue	575 Madison Avenue		1950	Office Building
485 Lexington Avenue	485 Lexington Avenue		1956	Office Building
2 Broadway	2 Broadway		1959	Office Building
850 Third Avenue	850 Third Avenue		1961	Office Building
Manufacturers Hanover Trust Building	350 Park Avenue		1962	Office Building
Sperry Rand Building	1290 Avenue of the Americas		1962	Office Building
111 Wall Street	111 Wall Street	Citibank Building	1966	Office Building
Harper & Row Building	10 53rd Street	1972 Office Building \|

External links

Uris Brothers properties on Emporis