463 Seventh Ave
1925, Buchman & Kahn
National Register of Historic Places - District

Built on the site of the former New York State Arsenal, and part of the Garment Center Historic District, this Renaissance Revival 22-story structure has an ornate four-story base clad in terra cotta, with decorative brickwork, pilasters and intricate floral carvings. The fourth floor has a windowed arcade with animal figures and human statuary. The upper floors have a more austere design, with a projecting masonry cornice crowning the building. It was designed by prominent architect Ely Jacques Kahn during his partnership with Albert Buchman. A New York native, Kahn graduated from Columbia University in 1903 and was a professor at Cornell University. Buchman was from Cincinnati and graduated from Cornell in 1880, establishing his practice in New York. He partnered with different architects during his career, the last of whom was Kahn. They were active from 1917 until 1930, when Buchman retired, and were responsible for high-profile projects such as the Film Center Building, 2 Park Avenue, and the Squibb Building. Kahn continued the practice as the Firm of Ely Jacques Kahn.