Walk through Lower Manhattan and you’ll see it. It’s hard to miss. A massive, shimmering slab of aluminum and glass that cuts a distinct silhouette against the chaotic skyline of the Financial District. Most people call it 28 Liberty Street NYC, but if you’ve lived here long enough, or if you’re a bit of an architecture nerd, you probably still think of it as One Chase Manhattan Plaza. It’s a beast. Seriously. We’re talking about 2.2 million square feet of office space packed into a landmark that basically redefined how we think about corporate headquarters in America.
It’s big.
When David Rockefeller commissioned the building in the late 1950s, people thought he was nuts. Lower Manhattan was struggling. Everyone was moving midtown. But Rockefeller? He stayed. He built this 813-foot-tall skyscraper designed by Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), and in doing so, he basically saved Wall Street from becoming a ghost town. It was the first International Style skyscraper in the area, a bold, silver middle finger to the dark, cramped streets of the old city.
The Design That Changed Everything for 28 Liberty Street NYC
If you look at the building today, it feels kind of normal, right? But in 1961? This was alien technology.
Bunshaft didn't just build a tower; he built a plaza. This was a radical move at the time. By elevating the building on a 2.5-acre plaza, he created a massive public space in one of the densest neighborhoods on earth. You’ve got to realize that before this, buildings in New York mostly followed the "wedding cake" setback rules to let light hit the street. 28 Liberty Street NYC threw that out the window. It used a sheer, vertical rise that was only possible because they bought up two city blocks and closed a whole street (Cedar Street) to make it happen.
The exterior is all about that anodized aluminum. It catches the light differently depending on the time of day. In the morning, it’s a bright, clinical silver. By sunset, it turns this weird, glowing amber. It’s gorgeous, honestly. And the windows? There are thousands of them, all recessed slightly to give the facade a sense of depth that modern all-glass towers often lack.
That Plaza and the Art You Can't Ignore
You can't talk about this place without mentioning the art. It’s not just "office building art" where they slap a print in the lobby. We’re talking about a massive Jean Dubuffet sculpture titled "Group of Four Trees." It looks like a giant, hand-drawn cartoon come to life, standing in stark contrast to the rigid, mathematical lines of the tower behind it. It's weird. It’s whimsical. And it’s exactly what the space needs.
Then there’s the Sunken Garden by Isamu Noguchi.
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It’s a circular, subterranean water feature that you can look down into from the plaza. It’s got these large basalt rocks sourced from Japan and a fountain that creates a constant, rhythmic white noise. It’s a vibe. It’s one of those spots in the city where you can actually hear yourself think, even though you’re surrounded by thousands of bankers and tourists.
The Fosun Era: A Massive Identity Shift
For decades, this was the Chase building. Period. But in 2013, the Chinese investment firm Fosun Property bought the building for $725 million. That was a huge deal. It signaled a shift in who was owning the skyline.
Fosun didn't just sit on the asset. They dumped a ton of money into a massive renovation. They knew that a 1960s office building, no matter how iconic, needed to compete with the shiny new toys at the World Trade Center and Hudson Yards. They rebranded it as 28 Liberty Street NYC, which sounded a bit more modern and less "big bank."
They opened up the retail space.
Previously, the ground floors were pretty much closed off. Now? You’ve got over 200,000 square feet of retail and dining. The most famous addition is undoubtedly Manhatta, the restaurant by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. It sits on the 60th floor and offers 360-degree views. You can eat a fancy meal while looking down on the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s one of those "I’ve made it" New York experiences. If you go, get the bread. Just trust me.
What’s Inside? (It’s Not Just Cubicles)
The tenant list is a weirdly fascinating mix of old-school law and new-school tech/media.
- Milbank LLP: The massive law firm takes up a huge chunk of the upper floors.
- Alamo Drafthouse: This was a game-changer. Putting a multi-screen cinema in the basement of a landmark office tower? Genius. It brought life to the building after 5:00 PM.
- Wolters Kluwer: A global information services company.
- Fosun: Obviously, the owners have their footprint here too.
The floor plates are massive—about 30,000 to 40,000 square feet each. Because the building uses a "core-and-shell" design with peripheral columns, the interior spaces are remarkably open. You don't have a bunch of pillars ruining your view or your office layout. It’s a designer’s dream.
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Why Does It Still Matter?
Architecture critics like Ada Louise Huxtable used to rave about this place. She called it a "monumental achievement." But why does a 60-year-old skyscraper still matter in 2026?
Sustainability.
Wait, don't roll your eyes. It’s actually interesting. Retrofitting an old giant like 28 Liberty Street NYC is much more environmentally friendly than tearing it down and building something new. Fosun went for LEED Gold certification. They upgraded the HVAC systems, swapped out the lighting, and improved the glass efficiency. It’s a case study in how to keep a mid-century landmark relevant in a world that is obsessed with carbon footprints.
Also, it’s a survivor.
The building stood through the decline of the Financial District in the 70s, the boom of the 80s, the tragedy of 9/11, and the transformation of the neighborhood into a residential hub. It’s the anchor of the "New" Lower Manhattan. When you stand on that plaza, you’re standing on the spot where David Rockefeller decided that New York wasn't going to give up.
Things Most People Get Wrong About 28 Liberty Street NYC
People often think it’s just a private office building. It’s not. The plaza is public. You can sit there. You can eat your lunch there. You can stare at the Dubuffet trees and wonder what the artist was thinking.
Another misconception is that it’s "protected" from change because it’s a landmark. While the exterior and the plaza are landmarked (designated by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2009), the interior has been completely gutted and modernized. It’s a "zombie" building in the best way possible—historic on the outside, cutting-edge on the inside.
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Is it perfect? No. Some people find the vast plaza a bit cold in the winter. The wind tunnels created by these massive towers can be brutal. But in the spring? It’s one of the best spots in the city.
Practical Tips for Visiting or Working Nearby
If you’re heading to 28 Liberty Street NYC, don't just look at it from the street.
- Enter through the plaza: Approach from the Pine Street side to get the full scale of the Dubuffet sculpture.
- Go to the movies: The Alamo Drafthouse downstairs is one of the best cinema experiences in Manhattan. Their "Press Room" bar is filled with vintage printing press blocks—a nod to the area's history.
- Check the events: The plaza often hosts outdoor film screenings, food festivals, and art installations. It’s become a community hub, not just a corporate one.
- Transportation: It’s basically on top of every subway line. The 2, 3, 4, 5, J, and Z trains are all within a two-minute walk. The Fulton Center hub is right there.
The Future of the Slab
What’s next? Probably more diversification. As the "office market" continues to evolve, expect 28 Liberty to lean even harder into its lifestyle offerings. We might see more experiential retail or even gallery spaces. The building has proven it can adapt. It’s gone from a fortress of finance to a multi-use vertical city.
It’s a testament to the idea that good design is timeless. You don't need a curvy facade or a pointy spire to be iconic. Sometimes, you just need a perfectly proportioned box and the guts to build it where no one else will.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
If you’re planning a trip to the Financial District, make 28 Liberty a central stop. Start by grabbing a coffee at a nearby shop and sitting on the plaza for twenty minutes just to watch the people move through the space. Then, head down to the lower levels to explore the retail corridor—it's a great shortcut when the weather is bad. Finally, if you have the budget for it, book a reservation at Manhatta about thirty minutes before sunset. Watching the lights flicker on across the city from 60 stories up is the best way to understand why this building has remained a cornerstone of New York for over half a century.