Nelson Tower
450 Seventh Ave
1929-30, H. Craig Severance
National Register of Historic Places - District

Located within the boundaries of the Garment Center Historic District, the 45-story Nelson Tower originally housed showroom and office space for businesses in the garment trade. It was developed by Julius Nelson, a builder and executive in the dress manufacturing sector, who also leased the air rights over the adjoining properties to ensure sunlight and ventilation to the structure. Designed by H. Craig Severance, it became the tallest building in the neighborhood, featuring a four-story base faced in limestone, with storefronts at the ground level and Moderne-style details. Above it, the building rises through a series of setbacks to a tall, slender central tower with cut-out corners and pavilions. Severance had designed a series of well-known buildings in New York City, including the Coca-Cola Building and 40 Wall Street. He had worked for Carrere and Hastings in his early career and later partnered with William Van Alen. After they parted ways, they would find themselves competing to build the world's tallest building in the late 1920s. Severance designed 40 Wall Street and Van Alen the Chrysler Building.