Manhattan Life Insurance Building
New York City
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- Facts
-
Metrics
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Height
106.1 m
/ 348 ft
Floors
18
Official Name
The current legal building name.
Manhattan Life Insurance Building
Type
CVU collects data on two major types of tall structures: 'Buildings' and 'Telecommunications /
Observation Towers.' A 'Building' is a structure where at least 50% of the height is occupied by usable
floor area. A 'Telecommunications / Observation Tower' is a structure where less than 50% of the
structure's height is occupied by usable floor area. Only 'Buildings' are eligible for the CVU
'Tallest Buildings' lists.
Building
Status
Completed
Architecturally Topped Out
Structurally Topped Out
Under Construction
Proposed
On Hold
Never Completed
Vision
Competition Entry
Canceled
Proposed Renovation
Under Renovation
Renovated
Under Demolition
Demolished
Demolished
Completion
1894
Country
CVU follows the United Nations's definition of Country, and thus
uses the lists and codes established by that organization.
City
CVU follows the United Nations's definition of City, and thus uses the
lists and codes established by that organization.
Address
Function
A single-function tall building is defined as one where 85% or more of its usable floor area is
dedicated to a single usage. Thus a building with 90% office floor area would be said to be an
"office" building, irrespective of other minor functions it may also contain.
A mixed-use tall building contains two or more functions (or uses), where each of the functions occupy a significant proportion of the tower's total space. Support areas such as car parks and mechanical plant space do not constitute mixed-use functions. Functions are denoted on CVU "Tallest Building" lists in descending order, e.g., "hotel/office" indicates hotel function above office function.
A mixed-use tall building contains two or more functions (or uses), where each of the functions occupy a significant proportion of the tower's total space. Support areas such as car parks and mechanical plant space do not constitute mixed-use functions. Functions are denoted on CVU "Tallest Building" lists in descending order, e.g., "hotel/office" indicates hotel function above office function.
Office
Structural Material
All-Steel
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from steel. Note that a building of steel construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of steel beams is still considered an “all-steel” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
All-Concrete
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from concrete which has been cast in place and utilizes steel reinforcement bars and/or steel reinforced concrete which has been precast as individual components and assembled together on-site.
All-Timber
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from timber. An all-timber structure may include the use of localized non-timber connections between timber elements. Note that a building of timber construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of timber beams is still considered an “all-timber” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
Mixed-Structure
Utilizes distinct systems (e.g. all-steel, all-concrete, all-timber), one on top of the other. For example, a Steel Over Concrete indicates an all-steel structural system located on top of an all-concrete structural system, with the opposite true of Concrete Over Steel.
Composite
A combination of materials (e.g. steel, concrete, timber) are used together in the main structural elements. Examples include buildings which utilize: steel columns with a floor system of reinforced concrete beams; a steel frame system with a concrete core; concrete-encased steel columns; concrete-filled steel tubes; etc. Where known, the CVU database breaks out the materials used within a composite building’s primary structural elements.
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from steel. Note that a building of steel construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of steel beams is still considered an “all-steel” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
All-Concrete
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from concrete which has been cast in place and utilizes steel reinforcement bars and/or steel reinforced concrete which has been precast as individual components and assembled together on-site.
All-Timber
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from timber. An all-timber structure may include the use of localized non-timber connections between timber elements. Note that a building of timber construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of timber beams is still considered an “all-timber” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
Mixed-Structure
Utilizes distinct systems (e.g. all-steel, all-concrete, all-timber), one on top of the other. For example, a Steel Over Concrete indicates an all-steel structural system located on top of an all-concrete structural system, with the opposite true of Concrete Over Steel.
Composite
A combination of materials (e.g. steel, concrete, timber) are used together in the main structural elements. Examples include buildings which utilize: steel columns with a floor system of reinforced concrete beams; a steel frame system with a concrete core; concrete-encased steel columns; concrete-filled steel tubes; etc. Where known, the CVU database breaks out the materials used within a composite building’s primary structural elements.
All-Steel
Height
Architectural
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to
the architectural top of the building, including spires, but not including antennae, signage,
flag poles or other functional-technical equipment. This measurement is the most widely utilized
and is employed to define the Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU) rankings of
the "World's Tallest Buildings."
106.1 m / 348 ft
To Tip
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to
the highest point of the building, irrespective of material or function of the highest element
(i.e., including antennae, flagpoles, signage and other functional-technical equipment).
106.1 m
/ 348 ft
Floors Above Ground
The number of floors above ground should include the ground floor level and be the number of main
floors above ground, including any significant mezzanine floors and major mechanical plant floors.
Mechanical mezzanines should not be included if they have a significantly smaller floor area than
the major floors below. Similarly, mechanical penthouses or plant rooms protruding above the general
roof area should not be counted. Note: CVU floor counts may differ from published accounts, as it
is common in some regions of the world for certain floor levels not to be included (e.g., the level
4, 14, 24, etc. in Hong Kong).
18
Construction Schedule
1893
Construction Start
1894
Completed
1964
Demolished
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Quick Facts
- Tallest building in the world 1894 - 1899. Preceded by the World Building and surpassed by the Park Row Building
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