Percival Kestreltail
Demolition of the original JPMorgan Chase building at 270 Park Avenue, April 2021.
bamboo, while the lobby doorhandles are carved from white oak.
As with Citicorp Center, the architects of Bank of America Tower sought to create usable public space as they attempted to feather the building into its Bryant Park neighborhood. One challenge was to preserve the landmarked façade of the historic Henry Miller / Stephen Sondheim Theatre which stood on the building’ s footprint. The front was propped up with a steel armature while a modern theatre was built within the Bank of America Tower, eventually reattaching to the restored façade, complete with a billboard on top.
This also led to the creation of Anita’ s Way, a public passageway that connects 42nd and 43rd Streets, serves as an alternative entrance to the theatre and is sometimes used as a public performance space. The Urban Garden Room, designed by Margie Ruddick, is a privately owned public space( POPS), which serves as an extension of Bryant Park. Floor to ceiling windows surround the quiet, interior garden with brilliant light, public seating and several large plant-covered sculptures. Ruddick explained,“ we designed four living green sculptures that transform the tall, narrow room into a contemplative space.” The building’ s public-facing designs also included a new glass subway entrance on Sixth Avenue that blends in seamlessly with the architecture of the lobby.
The Bank of America Tower did have its detractors. In July 2013, after the building had been open for a few years, The New Republic’ s article,“ Bank of America’ s Toxic Tower,” criticized the LEED certification vs. real-world statistics. It claimed that LEED certifications, although admirable and good for publicity and tax breaks, had nothing to do with measuring a building’ s energy efficiency once it was completed and occupied by the tenant. Despite this, Bank of America Tower stands as an example of environmental design that will continue to inspire and influence future environmentally conscious corporate construction.
JPMorgan Chase Tower
The merger of JP Morgan and Chase Manhattan Bank in 2000 triggered a series of events that would culminate in the present skyscraper at 270 Park Avenue. The original tower, again designed by SOM, was built by the chemical company Union Carbide in 1960. They later decided to move their headquarters to Connecticut, and by 1983 Manufacturers Hanover Trust had taken ownership of the building. By 1991, Chemical Bank absorbed Manufacturers Hanover and made 270 Park Avenue its new home. In 1995, Chemical Bank merged with Chase Manhattan, which migrated its staff from One Chase Manhattan Plaza— leaving its namesake plaza behind.
By 2000, newly merged JPMorgan Chase already exceeded the tower’ s capacity, and space was leased in various other locations. By 2018, after years of planning, zoning changes, air rights purchases and challenges by preservationists, the firm announced it would dismantle the former Union Carbide building and replace it with a grander headquarters at the same location.
At the time, the Union Carbide building was the tallest structure to be voluntarily dismantled, although this distinction has since been surpassed. But that was only the first challenge. As with the original tower, the new tower would not have a basement, but instead would straddle the tracks leading to Grand Central Terminal on stilts.
JPMorgan Chase boasts that 270 Park is an all-electric tower with energy sourced from an upstate New York hydroelectric power plant. It will also use AI to power environmental controls, such as air quality and lighting throughout the office space. As with most office towers since the Bank of America Tower, 270 Park is designed to achieve both a LEED Platinum certification and a WELL Health-Safety Rating.
Considering the long list of banks that merged to eventually become JPMorgan Chase, 270 Park Avenue is American banking history in skyscraper form. With its energy efficiency, artwork, public plaza and bright office space, it is the latest grand statement by a financial institution to be made in New York.
E. James Smith’ s company, Time-Lapse NOW, produces artistic time-lapse videos for developing construction projects. He resides in New York City’ s East Village, where he writes articles about architectural history, creates documentaries, edits financial podcasts and records albums with the E. James Smith Band. He can be reached at ejames @ ejamessmith. com.
www. MoAF. org | Winter 2026 | FINANCIAL HISTORY 37