Graybar Building

The Graybar Building on Lexington Avenue in Midtown Manhattan is a striking example of 1920s Art Deco architecture. Designed by Sloan & Robertson, the 30-story office building was constructed between 1925 and 1927 and stands right next to Grand Central Terminal. It is part of what is known as Terminal City, a cluster of skyscrapers built over the station's underground track network. Originally planned as the Eastern Terminal Office Building, it soon took the name of one of its first major tenants, the Graybar Electric Company. The facade of brick and Indiana limestone appears plain, but is accented by vertical bands of black brick and four gargoyle-like waterspouts along Lexington Avenue.

Visitors can enter the building via the publicly accessible Graybar Passage, an elegant corridor that leads from Lexington Avenue directly to Grand Central Terminal. The passageway stands out for its high ceiling, travertine walls with large arches, and a terrazzo floor. Particularly worth seeing is the ceiling painting by Edward Trumbull, which depicts American modes of transportation, as well as the first two vaults, which are painted with cumulus clouds. At the entrances on Lexington Avenue you will also find stylized metal sculptures of rats, which, according to the architects, are meant to symbolize New York's maritime importance as a port city.

The building's historic significance was recognized in 2016, when it was designated an official New York City landmark. This protection came as part of a rezoning effort, in order to prevent a possible demolition for the purpose of using its air rights. Today the building houses various large companies and agencies, including Metro-North Railroad and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. As one of the few buildings in Manhattan with its own ZIP code, the Graybar Building embodies the dense urban development around Grand Central Terminal and remains a central point in the urban fabric of Midtown.