165 West 57th Street, originally the Louis H. Chalif Normal School of Dancing headquarters, is a building in the

Midtown Manhattan Midtown Manhattan is the central portion of the New York City borough of Manhattan and serves as the city's primary central business district. Midtown is home to some of the city's most prominent buildings, including the Empire State Buildin ...

neighborhood of

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

. It is along the northern sidewalk of 57th Street between

Sixth Avenue Sixth Avenue – also known as Avenue of the Americas, although this name is seldom used by New Yorkers, p.24 – is a major thoroughfare in New York City's borough of Manhattan, on which traffic runs northbound, or "uptown". It is commercial ...

and Seventh Avenue. The five-story building was designed by George A. and Henry Boehm for dance instructor Louis H. Chalif. It was designed as an event space, a school, and Chalif's apartment. 165 West 57th Street has an asymmetrical facade. The original ground story was originally built with ivory-colored Dover marble but was later refaced with limestone. At the second and third stories, the facade contains a diagonal pattern resembling a

diamond Diamond is a Allotropes of carbon, solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Another solid form of carbon known as graphite is the Chemical stability, chemically stable form of car ...

, with

terracotta Terracotta, terra cotta, or terra-cotta (; ; ), in its material sense as an earthenware substrate, is a clay-based ceramic glaze, unglazed or glazed ceramic where the pottery firing, fired body is porous. In applied art, craft, construction, a ...

molding. Inside were a ballroom at the second story (later known as the Carl Fischer Hall, Judson Hall, or CAMI Hall) and a dining area at the third story. The fourth floor has terracotta panels and windows; it was originally used as Chalif's family residence. The fifth floor, used as an event space, has a

loggia In architecture, a loggia ( , usually , ) is a covered exterior gallery or corridor, usually on an upper level, but sometimes on the ground level of a building. The outer wall is open to the elements, usually supported by a series of columns ...

behind a

colonnade In classical architecture, a colonnade is a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing, or part of a building. Paired or multiple pairs of columns are normally employed in a colonnade which can be straight or curv ...

. The building is topped by an overhanging

cornice In architecture, a cornice (from the Italian ''cornice'' meaning "ledge") is generally any horizontal decorative moulding that crowns a building or furniture element—for example, the cornice over a door or window, around the top edge of a ...

and an asphalt roof. Construction started in 1914 and was completed in 1916. The building was occupied by the Louis H. Chalif Normal School of Dancing until 1932 or 1933. Three clients were listed as occupying the building until 1937, after which it remained vacant for five years. The Federation of Crippled and Disabled moved its headquarters to the building in 1943 and operated there for several years.

Carl Fischer Music Carl Fischer Music (founded in 1872) is a sheet music publisher based in New York City's East Village. The company has since moved to the Wall Street area in 2013. After 140 years, the company remains a family-owned business, publishing both perf ...

acquired the building in 1946 and had a shop and performance hall there until 1959, when it was sold to Columbia Artists Management Inc (CAMI). The

New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The LPC is responsible for protecting New York City's architecturally, historically, and cu ...

designated 165 West 57th Street as a city landmark in 1999. It was sold to the Clover Foundation in 2007 and has been occupied by

IESE Business School IESE Business School is the graduate business school of the University of Navarra. Founded in 1958 in Barcelona where its main campus is located,López, T. & Pampliega, J“La fundación del IESE (1956–1958)” Universidad de Navarra, Bibliotec ...

since then.

Site

165 West 57th Street is on the north side of 57th Street between

and Seventh Avenue, two blocks south of

Central Park Central Park is an urban park in New York City located between the Upper West Side, Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan. It is the List of New York City parks, fifth-largest park in the city, covering . It is the most visited urban par ...

, in the

neighborhood of

. The site covers , with a width of on 57th Street and a depth of . 165 West 57th Street shares a

city block A city block, residential block, urban block, or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest group of buildings that is surrounded by streets, not counting any type of thoroughfare within t ...

with

The Briarcliffe The Briarcliffe is a 13-story, 35-unit residence at 171 West 57th Street, at the northeastern corner with Seventh Avenue,

to the west, the

Alwyn Court The Alwyn Court, also known as The Alwyn, is an apartment building at 180 West 58th Street, at the southeast corner with Seventh Avenue, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. The Alwyn Court was built between 1907 and 1909 ...

to the northwest, and

One57 One57, formerly known as Carnegie 57, is a 75-story, supertall skyscraper at 157 West 57th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues in the Midtown neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. The building has 92 condominium units on top of ...

, the Nippon Club Tower, the Calvary Baptist Church, and 111 West 57th Street to the east. It is also near the

Saint Thomas Choir School Saint Thomas Choir School is a church-affiliated boarding choir school in Manhattan, New York, founded in 1919. The school is supported by the nearby Saint Thomas Church, an Episcopal church, continuing the Anglican tradition of all-male choral ...

to the northwest; the

American Fine Arts Society The Art Students League of New York Building (also the American Fine Arts Society and 215 West 57th Street) is a building on 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The structure, designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh in the Frenc ...

(also known as the

Art Students League of New York The Art Students League of New York is an art school at 215 West 57th Street in Manhattan, New York City, New York. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists. Although artists may stu ...

building) and the

Osborne Apartments The Osborne, also known as the Osborne Apartments or 205 West 57th Street, is an apartment building at Seventh Avenue and 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The Osborne was originally designed by James Edward Ware and constr ...

to the west; the

Rodin Studios The Rodin Studios, also known as 200 West 57th Street, is an office building at Seventh Avenue and 57th Street in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It was designed by Cass Gilbert in the French Gothic style and built from 1916 to 1917. Na ...

to the southwest;

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

and

Carnegie Hall Tower Carnegie Hall Tower is a skyscraper at 152 West 57th Street in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Completed in 1990 and designed by César Pelli, the building measures tall with 60 stories. Due to the presence of Carnegie H ...

to the south; and

Russian Tea Room The Russian Tea Room is an Art Deco Russo-Continental restaurant, located at 150 West 57th Street (between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue), between Carnegie Hall Tower and Metropolitan Tower, in the New York City borough of Manhattan ...

, Metropolitan Tower, and 130 and

140 West 57th Street 140 West 57th Street, also known as The Beaufort, is an office building on 57th Street between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It was built from 1907 to 1909 and designed by Pollard and Steinam, who al ...

to the southeast. 165 West 57th Street is part of an artistic hub that developed around West 57th Street between

and

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, following the opening of Carnegie Hall in 1891.

Design

The Louis H. Chalif Normal School of Dancing building at 165 West 57th Street was designed by George A. and Henry Boehm. It was developed for Russian-born dance instructor Louis H. Chalif, founder of the Louis H. Chalif Normal School of Dancing. The school, one of the first in the United States to train dance instructors, taught children and amateur dancers as well. The building's exterior design generally reflects the original layout of the interior. As built, it had a first-floor reception area, a second-floor ballroom, a third-floor banquet hall, a fourth-floor living space for Chalif's family, and a fifth-floor gymnasium and solarium. The Murphy Construction Company was the

general contractor A general contractor, main contractor or prime contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and the communication of information to all involved parties throughout the course of ...

and S. C. Weiskopf was the structural steel contractor. The subcontractors included foundation contractor R. D. Coombs & Co., elevator supplier Otis Elevator Co., exterior marble contractor B. A. & G. N. Williams, terracotta contractor Federal Terra Cotta Co., plastering contractor P. J. Durcan Inc., and interior marble contractor McLaury Tile & Marble Corporation. In addition, Empire City-Gerard Co. performed the trim and cabinet work, Liberty Sheet Metal Works installed the copper roofing and skylights, Standard Arch Co. installed the fireproof floor arches, American Kalamein Works Inc. installed the kalamein doors and windows, and Lieberman & Sanford Co. was responsible for ornamental iron work. The plumbing was installed by Charles H. Darmstadt, steam heating by Reis & O'Donovan Inc., and ventilation and electrical installation by Reis & O'Donovan Inc.

Facade

The street facade of 165 West 57th Street is designed with elements of

Mannerism Mannerism, which may also be known as Late Renaissance, is a style in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520, spreading by about 1530 and lasting until about the end of the 16th century in Italy, ...

and the

Italian Renaissance The Italian Renaissance ( it, Rinascimento ) was a period in Italian history covering the 15th and 16th centuries. The period is known for the initial development of the broader Renaissance culture that spread across Europe and marked the trans ...

styles. The facade was designed with marble at its first story and buff brick with polychrome

at the upper stories. The fifth story has a

made of

marble Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or Dolomite (mineral), dolomite. Marble is typically not Foliation (geology), foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the ...

, as well as an overhanging

. The street facade is asymmetrical, being divided into five vertical bays at the fourth and fifth stories. On the first through third stories, the section corresponding to the westernmost bay is designed differently from the portion corresponding to the four other bays, which is largely symmetrical on these stories. There were windows on the side facades, The terracotta decorations contain classical Greek and Roman motifs, some of which relate to theater.

Ground story

The ground story was originally built with ivory-colored Dover marble.; A horizontal

band course A course is a layer of the same unit running horizontally in a wall. It can also be defined as a continuous row of any masonry unit such as bricks, concrete masonry units (CMU), stone, shingles, tiles, etc. Coursed masonry construction arranges ...

of terracotta ran above it. In its initial design, there were two windows from the raised basement, which had iron grilles in front of them. A marble step led to the entrance, which was slightly offset. The entrance consisted of a pair of recessed wooden doors, above which was a transom and letters spelling Chalif's name. The doorway was flanked by gray-green scones, which were subsequently removed and taken to the

Central Park Zoo The Central Park Zoo is a zoo located at the southeast corner of Central Park in New York City. It is part of an integrated system of four zoos and one aquarium managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). In conjunction with the Central ...

. On each side of the entrance was a window. The westernmost section of the facade had an additional recessed service doorway at ground level and a small window at the height of the band course. The existing ground story dates from 1983 and is similar in design to the original. The current base is made of Indiana limestone and has a band of polished granite at its base. In addition, there is a polished-granite ramp and step leading to the center doorway, and the sconces flanking the main entrance are darker in color. The band course above the top story is also made of terracotta but has no window interrupting it.

Upper stories

There is tan-gray brick cladding at the second and third stories, which is laid in a diagonal pattern resembling a

. The wall bricks were originally installed in blue, cream, and gray-green hues, while the terracotta was cream and yellow. The westernmost bay of those stories has terracotta panels and three window openings. To the east (right) of that bay, the second story has a pair of round-arched windows surrounded by brick and terracotta, with carvings of female heads above them. These windows were originally casement windows with multiple panes, but they were replaced with single-pane windows. The third story has a pair of rectangular windows surrounded by terracotta frames, with louvers below the windows and lyres above them. There are flagpoles below these two third-story windows. The fourth story has five window openings, though the westernmost opening is a blind opening with marble inside it. There are carved terracotta panels between each set of windows. Above the fourth story is a terracotta frieze containing depictions of swags and masks, as well as a denticulated cornice. The fourth floor panels were designed with an orange background. There is a

on the fifth story, which contains a

of several paired columns and a solitary column on the far east. The bases and the Ionic-style capitals of the columns are made of terracotta, while the rest of the columns are coated in concrete. There is a terracotta balustrade interspersed with the columns' bases. Above these columns is a

frieze In architecture, the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Paterae are also usually used to decorate friezes. Even when neither columns nor ...

made of terracotta. On the loggia behind the colonnade are

French doors A door is a hinged or otherwise movable barrier that allows ingress (entry) into and egress (exit) from an enclosure. The created opening in the wall is a ''doorway'' or ''portal''. A door's essential and primary purpose is to provide security b ...

, as well as a ceiling containing three light bulbs. Projecting from the top of the loggia is a sloped copper

that contains

modillion A modillion is an ornate bracket, more horizontal in shape and less imposing than a corbel. They are often seen underneath a cornice which it helps to support. Modillions are more elaborate than dentils (literally translated as small teeth). All ...

s and rosettes. Above the cornice are a metal railing, a gutter, an asphalt-tile

pitched roof Roof pitch is the steepness of a roof expressed as a ratio of inch(es) rise per horizontal foot (or their metric equivalent), or as the angle in degrees its surface deviates from the horizontal. A flat roof has a pitch of zero in either insta ...

, and chimneys. As designed, the roof had green Spanish tiles, a skylight, and iron grilles and lanterns.

Features

The interior structure was designed with fireproof material.; The superstructure is constructed in such a manner that two extra stories could be added if there was a need for more space. The structure was initially heated by steam and ventilated by a system of intake and exhaust fans, including a rooftop exhaust fan. Two electric elevators serving all floors were installed: one for passengers and the other for service. The building also had an interior staircase and an enclosed exterior fire escape in case of emergency. The asymmetrical arrangement of the facade reflected the fact that the elevators and staircase were on the western wall of the building. The building was intended to allow the Louis H. Chalif Normal School of Dancing to host classes and periodical exhibitions, as well as summer classes for dance teachers. In addition, an apartment for the Chalif family was provided in the design. As a result, the second and third floors were designed with few columns in the center of the space. The building was also designed so it could be rented for private social functions. For the decorations of the interior, cast ornamental plaster and paint were used frequently, but wood was used sparingly except in the ground-floor foyers. The wall hangings and furniture were designed to fit in with the color schemes. Crystal chandeliers provided artificial light. The ballrooms were planned with parquet floors and ceilings. When it was used by the Chalif School, the ground floor had a large wooden reception foyer, which led to the stairs and elevators. Also at ground level were offices, a coat room, dressing rooms, bathrooms with four shower baths, and a large studio. The second floor was devoted to the grand ballroom, with a mezzanine gallery at the south end. The third floor included a banquet hall, where a pantry connected to the basement kitchen via a service elevator. The fourth floor had the living apartments of the Chalif family. Chalif's apartment was planned as a nine-room apartment with three bathrooms and housekeeping. The ''Real Estate Record and Guide'' described it as having "all of the features now to be found in apartments of the highest type." The gymnasium floor at the top was a glass-enclosed space used by the summer school, with an open steel-trussed roof. It could be enclosed in winter and open on all sides in summer, and it was meant to be used for social functions and recreation.

History

In 1905, Louis Chalif opened the Louis H. Chalif Normal School of Dancing. The school was initially situated on the

Upper West Side The Upper West Side (UWS) is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It is bounded by Central Park on the east, the Hudson River on the west, West 59th Street to the south, and West 110th Street to the north. The Upper West ...

and then at 360 Fifth Avenue inside the

Aeolian Company The Aeolian Company was a musical-instrument making firm whose products included player organs, pianos, sheet music, records and phonographs. Founded in 1887, it was at one point the world's largest such firm. During the mid 20th century, it surp ...

's showroom. At the school, one of the first in the United States to train dance instructors, Chalif also taught children and amateur dancers. In 1907, the school relocated to the Aeolian Building at 7 West 42nd Street.

Construction

In October 1914. Chalif purchased a lot at 165 West 57th Street from Louis de Bebian. At the time, the lot contained a four-story dwelling. Chalif acquired the adjacent lot at 163 West 57th Street, which also contained a four-story dwelling, from the Wilmurt Realty Company in May 1915. The two lots gave Chalif a combined frontage of nearly on 57th Street. Chalif had selected the site because it was convenient for pupils. '' The Sun'' described the building that August as "a Temple of

Terpsichore In Greek mythology, Terpsichore (; grc-gre, Τερψιχόρη, "delight in dancing") is one of the nine Muses and goddess of dance and chorus. She lends her name to the word "terpsichorean" which means "of or relating to dance". Appearance ...

". George and Henry Boehm had been hired to design a building for the Chalif school by that August. The Boehms had probably become involved with Chalif in 1907, when George Boehm had designed a building for the Acker, Merrall & Condit Company on 42nd Street, next to the Chalif School. The architects identified seven terracotta firms, consisting of three manufacturers and four modelers, to manufacture the building's terracotta in November 1915, and exact details of the terracotta were finalized later. Susan Tunick, an expert on terracotta, stated that an unusually large amount of documentation still existed about the terracotta contracting process. The architects submitted plans to the

New York City Department of Buildings The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) is the department of the New York City government that enforces the city's building codes and zoning regulations, issues building permits, licenses, registers and disciplines certain construction ...

in December 1915. The site was cleared starting in January 1916 and work began that April. The building's construction was completed by that December.

1910s to 1940s

The building sometimes served as an event space in its early years. In 1918, the building hosted an event for the Red Cross Institute for Crippled and Disabled Men after the original hosts, Daniel Webster Herrman and his wife, could not accommodate all the guests at their house. The building also hosted a meeting for the Women's Freedom Congress in 1919, as well as the Roosevelt Anniversary Ball and a dance for the Semper Fidelis Post's female marines in 1921. The school had a beginner course for delegates to the

Democratic National Convention The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 ...

in 1924. The building also hosted the 21st birthday celebration of Dutch princess

Juliana of the Netherlands Juliana (; Juliana Louise Emma Marie Wilhelmina; 30 April 1909 – 20 March 2004) was Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 until her abdication in 1980. Juliana was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Sh ...

in 1930, and the weddings of Louis's daughter Helen in 1928 and 1934. Other events included a 1929 performance by a group of instrumental orchestra performers, as well as sermons given by minister

Charles Francis Potter Charles Francis Potter (October 28, 1885 – October 4, 1962) was an American Unitarian minister, theologian, and author. In 1923 and 1924, he became nationally known through a series of debates with John Roach Straton, a fundamentalist Chri ...

in 1929 and 1930. Chalif's son Amos, who grew up in the building, said it had been "a wonderful place to grow up", as he learned to ride a bicycle there with his brother Selmer accompanying him. AF v26 1917 p79 (entrance foyer)

Galy Russian Art Gowns moved into the building in 1930. The Chalif School had moved out of the building by 1932 or 1933. In October 1934, the Harlem Savings Bank took over the building through

foreclosure Foreclosure is a legal process in which a lender attempts to recover the balance of a loan from a borrower who has stopped making payments to the lender by forcing the sale of the asset used as the collateral for the loan. Formally, a mortg ...

. Amos Chalif said the bank providing a

mortgage loan A mortgage loan or simply mortgage (), in civil law jurisdicions known also as a hypothec loan, is a loan used either by purchasers of real property to raise funds to buy real estate, or by existing property owners to raise funds for any p ...

for the building and several nearby structures had gone bankrupt. Afterward, the building was occupied by Galy Russian Art Gowns, as well as the Vanity Fair Theater Restaurant and Georgian Hall. These tenants had moved out by 1937 and the building remained empty for the next five years. Documents from February 1939 indicate that the Harlem Savings Bank was planning to convert the second story into a 222 seat auditorium. At the same time, an arcade with an iron balcony was installed at the ground story. The Federation of Crippled and Disabled bought the building in September 1942 and moved its headquarters to the building in January 1943. That December, the New York state government sued to disband the organization as fraudulent, accusing the officers and directors of using disabled persons solely for fundraising. The disbanding was averted the next year when the federation was reorganized.

acquired the building in February 1946. The Federation of Crippled and Disabled continued to occupy the building for some time. In 1947, five disabled students taking classed with the federation became the first-ever palsy and paralysis victims to receive diplomas from the New York City public school system. A Carl Fischer music store opened in the building in May 1948. The Carl Fischer Concert Hall on the second floor opened the same October.

1950s to present

Through the 1950s, the concert hall and the "Sky Room" at 165 West 57th Street held various musical performances and recitals. The musical programming at the hall was directed by Eric Simon, who invited composers such as

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...

and

John Cage John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was an American composer and music theorist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading fi ...

to perform there. Other events included a series of lectures by the Fashion Group Inc. in 1950, as well as a showcase in 1956 for performers who completed a two-year course with the

American Theatre Wing The American Theatre Wing (the Wing for short) is a New York City–based non-profit organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre", according to its mission statement. Originally known as the Stage Women's War Relief ...

. In 1959, Carl Fischer sold the building to

Columbia Artists Management Columbia Artists Management (CAMI) was an international talent management agency. On August 29, 2020, the agency announced plans to shut down amid a disturbance in business caused by the " prolonged pandemic environment". History Based in New Yor ...

Inc (CAMI). The Fischer company planned to move to

Cooper Square __NOTOC__ Cooper Square is a junction of streets in Lower Manhattan in New York City located at the confluence of the neighborhoods of Bowery to the south, NoHo to the west and southwest, Greenwich Village to the west and northwest, the East V ...

and Columbia Artists was relocating from the nearby Steinway Hall. CAMI hired

William Lescaze William Edmond Lescaze, FAIA (March 27, 1896 – February 9, 1969), was a Swiss-born American architect, city planner and industrial designer. He is ranked among the pioneers of modernism in American architecture. Biography William Lescaze w ...

to remodel portions of the building, including at the ground story, where red mosaic tiles and new signage were added. At the time, Carnegie Hall was being proposed for demolition, and CAMI officials believed 165 West 57th Street would become an important music venue with the demolition of Carnegie Hall. CAMI moved into the building in 1960 and the Carl Fischer Concert Hall was renamed the Judson Hall. The renovated 275-seat auditorium was named for musician

Arthur Judson Arthur Leon Judson (February 17, 1881 – January 28, 1975) was an artists' manager who also managed the New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra and was also the founder of CBS. He co-founded the Handel Society of New York with entrepre ...

and formally reopened in October 1960. Further work on the building continued until 1963. Shortly afterward, Arthur Judson decided to leave CAMI, and he requested that his name be removed from the concert hall. Accordingly, the hall was renamed CAMI Hall. An advertisement from 1964 advertised the hall as being available for rent for private functions from 8 to 11 p.m. for $125 per night (). CAMI hired Marlo & De Chiara in 1983 to redesign the ground-story exterior to resemble the original appearance. The Polonia Restoration Company conducted the reconstruction. CAMI moved its Community Concerts division from the building in 1990. The building served many of CAMI's late-20th-century clients. Ronald A. Wilford, president of CAMI in the 1990s, was quoted in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' as "cast nga long shadow from the music canyon of West 57th Street". W 57th St Dec 2020 43

The

designated 165 West 57th Street as a city landmark on October 17, 1999. At the time, Extell Development Company president

Gary Barnett Gary Lee Barnett (born May 23, 1946) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Fort Lewis College (1982–1983), Northwestern University (1992–1998), and the University of Colorado at Boulder (1999–2005), ...

was acquiring several nearby plots to build a residential skyscraper, which would later become One57. By 2002, Barnett had acquired the

air rights Air rights are the property interest in the "space" above the earth's surface. Generally speaking, owning, or renting, land or a building includes the right to use and build in the space above the land without interference by others. This legal ...

over 165 West 57th Street to develop his skyscraper. At the time, the second-story recital hall was described as having 168 seats. CAMI moved to 1790 Broadway in 2005, and 165 West 57th Street was placed on sale for $20 million in 2006. The building was purchased by the Clover Foundation in 2007. The same year,

opened its New York City campus in the building. IESE continues to occupy 165 West 57th Street .

Critical reception

When it was completed, 165 West 57th Street was described by the ''Real Estate Record and Guide'' as being in a "purely modern style". The ''Real Estate Record'' stated, "The facade will add considerable interest to the locality in which it is being erected." Some architectural publications focused on the use of multiple colors of terracotta and brick. ''

Architectural Forum ''Architectural Forum'' was an American magazine that covered the homebuilding industry and architecture. Started in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1892 as ''The Brickbuilder'', it absorbed the magazine ''Architect's World'' in October 1938. Ownership ...

'' characterized the upper stories' facade as having a "rich, cool color", with the terracotta "adding warmth to the color scheme without strong contrast". A brochure from the National Terra Cotta Society described the building as having "a very successful polychrome treatment" that contributed to the overall facade's "beautiful harmony", and ''Good Furniture & Decoration'' characterized the building as having "a golden charm that is all its own". According to architectural writer

Robert A. M. Stern Robert Arthur Morton Stern, usually credited as Robert A. M. Stern (born May 23, 1939), is a New York City–based architect, educator, and author. He is the founding partner of the architecture firm, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, also known a ...

, the "Tuscan overtones" of the design "responded with refinement to the less tutored Italianate vocabulary of Carnegie Hall". The ''

AIA Guide to New York City The ''AIA Guide to New York City'' by Norval White, Elliot Willensky, and Fran Leadon is an extensive catalogue with descriptions, critique and photographs of significant and noteworthy architecture throughout the five boroughs of New York City. ...

'' also cited the building's Tuscan design details. 165 West 57th Street was also shown in exhibits and publications. When it was completed, ''Architectural Forum'' and ''Architecture and Building'' magazines both published images of the building. The Boehms showed a model of the Chalif School building during the 1921

Paris Salon The Salon (french: Salon), or rarely Paris Salon (French: ''Salon de Paris'' ), beginning in 1667 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Between 1748 and 1890 it was arguably the greatest annual or biennial art ...

. The same year, in his textbook about Russian pageants and dancing, Chalif advertised the building as being "unparalleled for its purposes in America" as well as "striking evidence" of the school's success. ''

The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography ''The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography'' is a multi-volume collection of biographical articles and portraits of Americans, published since the 1890s. The primary method of data collection was by sending questionnaires to subjects or the ...

'' of 1927 called the school "a surprisingly beautiful building". An early 1930s catalog for the Chalif School advertised the building as being a "spacious and beautiful" dancing facility that received many architectural accolades. In 1949, after Chalif's death, ''

Dance Magazine ''Dance Magazine'' is an American trade publication for dance published by the Macfadden Communications Group. It was first published in June 1927 as ''The American Dancer''. ''Dance Magazine'' has multiple sister publications, including ''Pointe' ...

'' characterized the building as "the greatest highlight and dream of Chalif's lifetime", noting that Chalif would walk past the building even after other parties had purchased it. Amos Chalif stated in the 2000s that he also walked past his father's school building often. ''The New York Times'' described the building as a "sumptuous dancing school" in 1999.

References

Citations

Sources

* {{portal bar, Architecture, New York City 1916 establishments in New York City 57th Street (Manhattan) Commercial buildings completed in 1916 Commercial buildings in Manhattan Midtown Manhattan New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan School buildings completed in 1916 Schools in Manhattan