Look up at the Queens skyline and you can’t miss it. It’s that massive, bluish-green glass obelisk that seems to keep watch over the East River. If you’ve ever taken the 7 train or driven across the 59th Street Bridge, you know exactly what I’m talking about. We’re talking about One Court Square Long Island City 11101, a building that is basically the soul of LIC’s transition from an industrial wasteland to a tech and residential powerhouse.
For the longest time, it was just the "Citigroup Building." People called it that because, well, Citigroup owned the narrative of the neighborhood for decades. But things have changed. A lot.
Why One Court Square Long Island City 11101 Still Matters
Architecture is weird because it’s both permanent and totally fluid. When Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) finished this beast in 1989, it was a total anomaly. Imagine this: 658 feet of steel and glass rising out of a neighborhood that was mostly low-slung warehouses and taxi garages. It was the tallest building in New York state outside of Manhattan for nearly 30 years. That’s a crazy long time to hold a record in a city that grows as fast as NYC.
It wasn't just about height, though. It was a statement. Citibank moved thousands of workers there, basically betting that Long Island City could become "Manhattan East." For a while, it felt like they were on an island. You had this sleek, modern skyscraper surrounded by gritty streets and diners. But if you walk around there today, the building is the anchor for a forest of luxury glass towers like Skyline Tower and JACX.
The building itself is roughly 1.5 million square feet. That is a massive amount of office space. To put that in perspective, you could fit about 26 football fields inside this one address.
The Amazon "Almost" Moment
We have to talk about the 2018 elephant in the room. Remember when Amazon announced they were bringing HQ2 to Long Island City? The plan was for them to take over a huge chunk of One Court Square while their permanent campus was built. Speculation went wild. Real estate prices in the 11101 zip code spiked overnight. People were buying condos via FaceTime without even seeing them.
Then, the backlash happened. Local politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and community organizers pushed back against the tax breaks. Amazon pulled out. It was a massive "what if" moment for One Court Square. Savanna, the real estate investment firm that owns the building, had to pivot fast. They had all this space opening up because Citigroup was downsizing its footprint and moving people back to Tribeca.
Honestly, it could have been a disaster for the building. Instead, it became a lesson in diversification.
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Who is actually inside 1 Court Square now?
You might think a building that big would struggle after losing a giant like Amazon, but the tenant list is actually pretty diverse now. It’s not just bankers in suits anymore.
One of the biggest wins for the building was Altice USA. they moved their headquarters there, taking up several floors and even putting their logo at the very top. If you see the "Altice" sign glowing at night, that’s where it is. They aren’t the only ones. Centene Corporation, a major healthcare enterprise, took over a massive block of space—about 500,000 square feet.
Then you’ve got the smaller, more niche stuff. The building has a retail base that includes things like a Court Square Diner (a classic) nearby and more modern additions inside the concourse.
- Altice USA: Occupies the upper reaches, moving from Bethpage to be closer to the city's tech core.
- Centene/Fidelis Care: Huge healthcare presence that kept the building's occupancy healthy after the Amazon debacle.
- The Clinic: Even NYU Langone has a presence in the area, contributing to the "live-work-play" vibe of the 11101 zip code.
The 11101 Vibe: More Than Just an Address
The zip code 11101 is one of the most interesting slices of New York. It’s a mix of old-school Queens and hyper-modern luxury. One Court Square sits right at the intersection of this identity crisis.
The transit is arguably the best in the city. You’ve got the G, E, M, and 7 trains right at the doorstep. You can be in Midtown Manhattan in less than 10 minutes. That is the primary reason why companies keep signing leases here. You get Manhattan views and Manhattan access without necessarily paying the $100-per-square-foot rents that you’d find in Hudson Yards or the Plaza District.
But it’s also about the lifestyle. People who work at One Court Square aren’t just eating at their desks. They’re hitting up Murray’s Cheese Bar or grabbing a beer at Fifth Hammer Brewing. The neighborhood has evolved from a place where people only went to work to a place where people actually want to hang out on a Saturday.
The Architecture: A Product of Its Time
If you look closely at the facade of One Court Square, it has this distinct green tint. That was a very specific choice by SOM. They wanted it to reflect the sky and the water of the East River. It has a "stepped" design towards the top, which is a nod to the classic Art Deco skyscrapers of Manhattan, like the Empire State Building, but executed in a 1980s corporate-cool style.
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The lobby is huge. It’s meant to feel grand and slightly intimidating, which was the vibe for big banks in the late 80s. Today, Savanna has worked to make the building feel a bit more "tech-friendly" and accessible, but you can’t fully hide that "Power Center" DNA.
Misconceptions About One Court Square
People often get a few things wrong about this place. First, they think it’s in Astoria. It’s not. It’s firmly in Long Island City. Second, people think it’s an apartment building. While there are a million apartments around it, One Court Square is strictly commercial.
Another big one: "The building is empty."
Not true. While Citigroup did leave a huge void, the "re-tenanting" of the building has been one of the more successful real estate stories in recent Queens history. It’s currently hovering at a very respectable occupancy rate, especially considering the "death of the office" headlines we’ve seen over the last few years.
What’s Next for the Green Giant?
The future of One Court Square is tied to the future of Long Island City itself. As the neighborhood gets even denser, this building will likely remain the "North Star" of the area. There’s a lot of talk about converting older office buildings in NYC to residential units, but One Court Square is likely too big and too successful as an office hub for that to happen anytime soon.
Instead, expect to see more tech and media companies moving in. The floor plates are huge, which is exactly what creative companies like. They want open-concept layouts that you just can't get in old Midtown buildings with tons of structural columns.
Actionable Insights for Navigating One Court Square
If you’re looking at this building from a business or real estate perspective, here is the ground-level reality:
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For Business Owners: If you’re looking for "Class A" office space, this is the gold standard in Queens. The rents are typically a 20-30% discount compared to similar glass towers in Manhattan, but you get better transit access than almost anywhere in the five boroughs.
For Commuters: The "Court Square" subway complex is a labyrinth. If you’re meeting someone at the building, give yourself an extra five minutes just to navigate the underground tunnels. The exit for the building is very specific—look for the signs that point toward the "Citicorp" or "One Court Square" exits specifically.
For Real Estate Investors: Keep an eye on the surrounding blocks. The "value" of 11101 isn't just in the towers; it's in the rezoning of the smaller industrial lots nearby. The presence of a massive, stable employer base at One Court Square guarantees a certain level of demand for the surrounding apartments.
For Photographers: The best view of the building isn't from the street directly below it. Go to Gantry Plaza State Park at sunset. The way the light hits the green glass from across the water is one of the best shots in NYC.
One Court Square Long Island City 11101 isn't just a building anymore. It’s a landmark that survived the departure of its namesake and the collapse of a "guaranteed" Amazon deal, only to come out the other side as the undisputed anchor of the Queens business world. It’s a survivor.
If you're visiting the area, start your walk at the base of the tower and head west toward the water. You'll see exactly how one building managed to pull an entire neighborhood up with it. It’s a massive piece of the NYC puzzle that most people only see from a distance, but it’s worth a closer look.