Walk out of the Lexington Avenue–53rd Street subway station and look up. You can't miss it. It’s that towering, faceted shard of blue-green glass that seems to change color depending on how much humidity is sitting over Midtown that afternoon. Most people just call it the Boston Properties building, but the official address is 599 Lexington Avenue New York NY 10022, and honestly, it’s one of the few skyscrapers from the 1980s that doesn't look like a dated relic of corporate excess. It’s actually kind of elegant.
Completed in 1986, this 50-story giant was a massive gamble for Mort Zuckerman and his team at Boston Properties. At the time, this specific corner of Midtown East wasn't the polished corporate corridor we know today. It was a bit of a transition zone. But they hired Edward Larrabee Barnes—the same guy who designed the IBM Building just a few blocks away—and he decided to slice the corner of the building at a 45-degree angle. That wasn't just for aesthetics. It was a genius move to create a public plaza and keep the building from feeling like a giant wall of glass suffocating the sidewalk.
The Design Physics of 599 Lex
Most skyscrapers are just boxes. 599 Lexington Avenue is a bit more neurotic than that, in a good way. The triangular entry plaza is famous among architecture nerds because it houses a massive Frank Stella sculpture titled "Saltonia." If you’ve ever walked through the lobby, you know it feels more like a contemporary art gallery than a place where hedge fund managers go to grind through spreadsheets. The lobby is high—very high—and uses a mix of granite and glass to pull the outside light in.
It’s about 650 feet tall.
Think about the engineering for a second. Because of that clipped corner, the structural loads have to be distributed differently than a standard square tower. It’s a steel-frame masterpiece. When the wind kicks up off the East River, you want to be in a building that was over-engineered, and this one was. It occupies a site that used to be home to a bunch of low-rise storefronts and a pharmacy, basically transforming the entire footprint of 53rd and Lex into a high-octane business hub.
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Who Actually Works at 599 Lexington Avenue New York NY 10022?
This isn't a building for startups running on venture capital and hope. This is "old-school meets new-money" territory. For decades, the anchor tenant was the law firm Shearman & Sterling (now A&O Shearman after their massive merger). When a firm like that takes up hundreds of thousands of square feet, the building becomes a literal pillar of the global legal and financial world.
But it’s not just lawyers.
You’ve got companies like Cogent Partners and various private equity groups tucked away on the higher floors. The views from the top 10 floors are, frankly, ridiculous. You can see the Chrysler Building so clearly it feels like you can touch the art deco gargoyles, and the North view gives you a clean shot of the 59th Street Bridge.
- Location: Corner of 52nd and Lexington.
- Subway Access: Literally on top of the E, M, and 6 lines.
- Vibe: High-gloss corporate professionalism.
Actually, the subway access is probably the building's biggest selling point. You can leave your desk at 5:00 PM and be on a train by 5:03 PM without ever getting rained on. In New York, that’s the ultimate luxury.
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The Real Estate Value Play
From a commercial real estate perspective, 599 Lexington Avenue New York NY 10022 is what brokers call "Class A" office space, but that label feels a bit too generic. It has stayed relevant because Boston Properties didn't just build it and forget it. They’ve poured millions into retrofitting the mechanical systems and keeping the LEED certifications up to date.
Is it expensive? Obviously.
Rents here consistently track with the top of the Midtown market. You’re paying for the 10022 zip code, sure, but you’re also paying for the security, the lobby prestige, and the fact that the building doesn't sway like a reed in a storm. Interestingly, even as many companies shifted toward Hudson Yards or the Far West Side over the last few years, the "Grand Central Submarket"—which this is technically a part of—has held its ground. People still want to be near the elite dining of Midtown East. You're steps away from The Grill and The Lobster Club. That matters for a certain type of business deal.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people confuse 599 Lex with the Citigroup Center (601 Lexington) right next door. You know, the one with the slanted roof that looks like it was sliced by a samurai sword? While 601 gets all the "structural disaster averted" documentaries on the Discovery Channel, 599 is the quieter, more stable sibling. It doesn't have a giant weight at the top to keep it from falling over. It just works.
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Some critics back in the 80s thought the blue glass was too "flashy" for a neighborhood defined by the sober gray stone of the Waldorf Astoria. But time has been kind to it. The glass has a reflective quality that actually helps it disappear into the sky on cloudy days. It’s a chameleon.
The Practical Side of 10022
If you're heading here for a meeting or looking to lease space, there are some logistical realities you should know. The freight entrance is on 52nd Street. Don't try to bring a delivery through the main Lex entrance; the security guards are professional but they don't play around.
The building also has an incredible fitness center for tenants, which was one of the first "lifestyle" amenities added to a major Midtown tower before it became a trendy thing to do. It was ahead of the curve.
Actionable Insights for Visiting or Leasing
If you're looking at 599 Lexington Avenue New York NY 10022 as a potential home for your firm, or even if you're just visiting for a high-stakes meeting, keep these points in mind:
- The Transit Secret: The 51st Street (6 train) and 53rd Street (E/M trains) connections are joined underground. If you’re coming from the West Side, the E train is your best friend.
- Lunch Strategy: Don't just eat at the fast-casual spots on the ground level. Walk two blocks over to 2nd Avenue for a much better variety of non-tourist food that won't cost $25 for a salad.
- Security Protocol: This is a high-security building. You will need a government-issued ID to get past the turnstiles. No exceptions. If you're hosting a meeting, make sure your guests are registered in the building's system at least an hour before they arrive to avoid the "lobby wait of shame."
- The View Value: If you are negotiating a lease here, the "sweet spot" is the mid-30s floors. You get above the surrounding noise and smaller buildings without paying the absolute premium of the "trophy" top five floors.
The building stands as a testament to the era when Midtown East was being redefined. It’s a mix of sharp angles and soft light. Whether you’re an architecture student or a CFO looking for 50,000 square feet of prime real estate, 599 Lex remains one of the most consistent performers in the Manhattan skyline. It’s not just a block of glass; it’s a machine for doing business at the highest possible level.