Walk down Sixth Avenue between 51st and 52nd Streets and you’ll see it. 1285 Ave of the Americas NYC isn’t just another glass box in a city full of them. It’s a massive, 1.8-million-square-foot beast of a building that basically anchors the Rockefeller Center submarket. Most people just call it the UBS Building. Honestly, though, calling it by one tenant's name kinda does a disservice to how much history and heavy-hitting business actually happens inside those walls.
It’s huge. It’s 42 stories of pure mid-century modernism designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the same firm that did the Burj Khalifa and One World Trade Center. But 1285 is different. It’s got that 1960s "Mad Men" energy but polished for a 2026 world where office space has to be more than just desks and bad coffee. If you’ve ever wondered why some of the world's biggest law firms and investment banks refuse to leave this specific block, it comes down to the bones of the building and some very savvy management by RXR Realty.
What Makes 1285 Ave of the Americas NYC Different?
Most Manhattan skyscrapers feel cramped the second you walk in. 1285 is the opposite. It occupies an entire block front. That’s rare. You don't see that often in Midtown anymore. Because it’s so wide, the floor plates are massive—some are over 45,000 square feet. For a law firm like Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, which has been a staple tenant here for years, that kind of space is gold. You can fit a lot of lawyers on one floor.
The Connectivity Secret
People forget that 1285 Ave of the Americas NYC is basically a gateway. It’s connected to the Rockefeller Center concourse. You can walk underground from 1285 all the way to 30 Rockefeller Plaza without ever feeling a drop of rain or a snowflake. That sounds like a small thing. It isn't. When it’s February in New York and the wind is whipping off the Hudson, being able to grab lunch, go to the bank, and hit the subway without a coat is a massive flex.
The lobby recently got a serious face-lift too. It used to feel a bit dated, maybe a little too much "corporate 1960." Now? It’s all light, high ceilings, and high-end finishes. RXR and David Werner, who took a massive stake in the building years ago, knew they had to compete with the new shiny towers at Hudson Yards. They did it by leaning into the building’s scale.
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The Big Players Inside
You can’t talk about 1285 Ave of the Americas NYC without talking about UBS. They’ve had their name on the top for a long time. But the roster is deeper than just one Swiss bank. We’re talking about names like BBDO Worldwide. If you’re into advertising, that’s hallowed ground. They’ve been creating iconic campaigns from this building for decades.
Then there’s the legal side. Beside Paul Weiss, you’ve got other firms that handle the kind of M&A deals that make the front page of the Wall Street Journal. These aren't the kind of tenants that move because a new building has a "meditation pod." They stay because 1285 offers stability and a prestigious address that actually means something to clients in London, Tokyo, and Dubai.
A Weird Piece of History
Here is a fun fact most people miss: The building was originally known as the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States building. When it opened in the early 60s, it was the largest building ever occupied by a single company. Imagine that. One company filling nearly two million square feet. It was a monument to the post-war American corporate boom. Today, it’s a multi-tenant powerhouse, but that sense of "bigness" remains.
Why the Location is Actually Perfect
A lot of tech bros will tell you Midtown is dead and everyone is moving to Chelsea or the Flatiron. They're wrong. 1285 Ave of the Americas NYC sits in the middle of what's arguably the most productive few blocks in the world.
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- Proximity to Transit: You’ve got the B, D, F, and M trains right at your doorstep. Plus, the N, R, W are just a block away at 49th Street.
- The Food Scene: You aren't just stuck with street meat (though the halal carts on 6th are legendary). You're steps from The Modern, Del Frisco's, and the high-end spots in the Ziegfeld Ballroom area.
- The Park: It’s a ten-minute walk to Central Park. If you’re pulling 14-hour days at a law firm, being able to see a tree occasionally is pretty important for your sanity.
The Reality of Renting Here
Look, 1285 Ave of the Americas NYC is not cheap. You’re looking at Class A prices. While the exact numbers fluctuate based on which floor you're on and how much "build-out" money the landlord gives you, you're looking at the top tier of the market. But you get what you pay for. The infrastructure is top-notch. The cooling systems, the elevators (which were modernized recently to reduce wait times), and the security are all what you’d expect for a building housing billions of dollars in assets.
Some people think these older buildings are less "green" than the new LEED-certified towers. Actually, 1285 has undergone significant retrofitting. It's surprisingly efficient for a building its age. They've updated the HVAC systems and lighting to meet modern NYC energy standards, which are getting stricter every year with things like Local Law 97.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s this idea that Midtown office buildings are empty shells post-COVID. If you walk into 1285 on a Tuesday morning, you’ll see that’s just not true. The "flight to quality" is a real thing. Companies are leaving "B" and "C" grade buildings, but they are doubling down on "A" grade spots like 1285. They want their employees to want to come to the office, and having a lobby that looks like a five-star hotel helps.
How to Navigate the Building
If you're heading there for a meeting, don't just wing it.
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- Security is tight. You’ll need a government-issued ID. No ID, no entry. No exceptions.
- The Entrances: There are entrances on both 51st and 52nd Streets. If you’re taking an Uber, tell them the specific street, not just "Sixth Avenue," or you'll be stuck in that nightmare 6th Ave traffic while your meeting starts without you.
- The Concourse: If you have time to kill, go downstairs. The underground connection to Rockefeller Center is full of shops and quick-bite places that are way better than the tourist traps on the street level.
Actionable Steps for Business Visitors
If you are looking to lease space or just visiting 1285 Ave of the Americas NYC, keep these points in mind to make the most of the experience.
- Check the Amenities: If you’re a tenant, make sure you’re utilizing the building’s conference facilities. They are some of the best-maintained in the RXR portfolio.
- Plan for Traffic: Sixth Avenue is a parking lot from 3 PM to 6 PM. If you have a flight out of JFK or Newark after a meeting, use the subway to get to Penn Station or Grand Central. It’ll save you 40 minutes, easily.
- Explore the Art: The building often features significant art installations in the lobby. It’s part of the SOM legacy—integrating corporate life with high culture. Take thirty seconds to actually look at the pieces; they’re usually world-class.
- Leverage the Neighborhood: Using the Rockefeller Center connection isn't just for avoiding rain. It's a great way to host "walking meetings" or find a quiet corner in the Concourse for a quick private call away from the office floor.
1285 Ave of the Americas NYC remains a cornerstone of Manhattan business because it adapted. It didn't just sit there and get old; it evolved. Whether you're a tourist staring up at the glass or a CEO signing a twenty-year lease, this building represents the grit and polish that makes New York City’s commercial real estate the most watched market on the planet.
For those tracking the NYC office market, the move-in of new major tenants and the renewal of legacy firms at 1285 is a primary indicator of Midtown’s overall health. Keep an eye on the occupancy rates here; they usually tell you more about the future of the city's economy than any pundit on the news.