It was the center of the world. For a solid decade and a half, if you weren’t at Condé Nast 4 Times Square New York NY, you basically didn't exist in the world of high fashion or "important" media.
Walking through those doors felt like stepping into a movie. Specifically, The Devil Wears Prada. But here’s the thing: it wasn't just a movie set. It was a real, breathing, high-stress ecosystem where Anna Wintour and Graydon Carter shared an elevator bank with the chaos of 42nd Street.
Now? It’s different. The building is still there—a massive, green-tinted skyscraper officially known as the H&M Tower or the Durst Building. But the soul of the place changed when the magazines packed up and moved to the World Trade Center in 2014.
People still search for the "Condé Nast building" in Times Square because it represents an era of New York that felt more glamorous and, honestly, a lot more expensive than the one we have now.
The Frank Gehry Cafeteria and Other Myths
You can’t talk about Condé Nast 4 Times Square New York NY without talking about the cafeteria. It’s legendary. Frank Gehry designed it with these undulating glass panels that looked like frozen waves.
It wasn't just a place to grab a salad. It was a social hierarchy in physical form.
Editors from Vogue, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker would sit at specific tables, and the "cafeteria politics" were as intense as any boardroom meeting. If you were a lowly assistant, you’d pray you didn't spill your sparkling water near someone important.
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The building itself, completed in 1999, was a pioneer in "green" architecture. The Durst Organization pushed for recycled materials and energy-efficient systems way before it was trendy. It’s kinda ironic that a building famous for its environmental consciousness was also the home of an industry built on fast-moving trends and extreme luxury.
Why 4 Times Square Mattered
Location is everything. By putting the most prestigious magazine publisher in the middle of the gritty, neon-soaked Times Square, the Durst family helped "clean up" the neighborhood.
Before Condé moved in, that area was still shaking off its 70s reputation. Suddenly, you had models, photographers, and world leaders walking past the Elmos and the tourists. It was a weird, beautiful friction.
- The building stands 48 stories tall.
- It has four massive electronic signs on each side of its spire.
- The Nasdaq MarketSite is located at the base.
Life Inside the "Green" Skyscraper
Working at Condé Nast 4 Times Square New York NY meant dealing with the elevators. Oh, the elevators. They were notorious.
Because the building was so high-tech for the late 90s, the elevator system was supposed to be ultra-efficient. In reality, it led to some of the most awkward 30-second silences in corporate history. Imagine standing next to a silent, sunglasses-wearing Anna Wintour while the car stops at every floor on its way to the top.
The offices were a maze of fashion closets and mahogany desks. The New Yorker had its own floor that felt like a library, while Glamour or Self felt like a high-end boutique.
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The Move That Changed Everything
When the news broke that Condé Nast was moving to 1 World Trade Center, it felt like the end of an era. And it was.
The move was partially financial and partially about rebranding. Times Square had become too "touristy," and the downtown vibe was supposedly the new frontier. But many long-time staffers hated it. They missed the Gehry cafeteria. They missed the central location.
Today, 4 Times Square is occupied by companies like Nasdaq and BMO. It’s still a prestigious address, but it doesn't have that "fashionista" hum anymore. The H&M sign on the top is a constant reminder of how the building's identity shifted from content creation to retail dominance.
What's Left for the Modern Visitor?
If you go to Condé Nast 4 Times Square New York NY today, don't expect to see a fashion show in the lobby.
Security is tight. You can see the Nasdaq billboard outside, which is basically the most photographed part of the building. Honestly, the best way to experience the history of the place is to stand across the street near the TKTS booth and look up at the spire.
That spire was designed to be a "communication hub," and for a long time, it really was the heartbeat of American culture.
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- Visit the Nasdaq MarketSite: You can't go into the old offices, but the base of the building is very much open to the public eye.
- Check the Architecture: Look for the integrated solar panels on the upper floors—it’s a relic of early 2000s green tech.
- Walk to Bryant Park: It’s just a few blocks away, and it’s where many of those Condé Nast editors spent their lunch hours when they weren't in the Gehry cafeteria.
Actionable Takeaways for History Buffs and Real Estate Nerds
If you’re interested in the legacy of this iconic New York spot, here’s how to actually dig deeper.
First, read The Glossy by Elizabeth Spiers or The Kingdom of Power by Kim Masters. These books give you the raw, unpolished truth about what went on inside those walls. The real stories aren't in the press releases; they’re in the memoirs of the people who survived the "devil wears Prada" years.
Second, if you're a real estate professional, study the Durst Organization's "green" initiatives from 1999. It’s a masterclass in how to build for longevity. Even though the primary tenant left, the building’s infrastructure allowed it to pivot and remain a Class A property in one of the most competitive markets on earth.
Lastly, don't just see it as an office building. See it as a monument to a specific time in New York history when print media was king and Times Square was transitioning from its "Midnight Cowboy" roots into the commercial behemoth it is today.
The glory days of Condé Nast 4 Times Square New York NY might be over, but the building remains a steel-and-glass testament to an era of unbridled ambition and very, very expensive lunches.