Editing Fuller Building (section)

==History==
Architect [[George A. Fuller]] had founded the George A. Fuller Company in 1882.<ref>{{Harvnb|Alexiou|2010|ps=.|p=9}}</ref><ref name="NYCL p. 2">{{harvnb|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1986|ps=.|p=2}}</ref> Unlike other architecture firms of the time, Fuller's firm intended to handle all aspects of building construction except for the design, similar to the modern general contractor.<ref>{{Harvnb|Alexiou|2010|ps=.|p=10}}</ref><ref name="NYCL p. 3">{{harvnb|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1986|ps=.|p=3}}</ref> Following Fuller's death in 1900, his son-in-law Harry S. Black took over as president of the Fuller Company and made it a subsidiary of the new United States Realty and Construction Company.<ref name="NYCL p. 3" /><ref>{{harvnb|Alexiou|2010|ps=.|pp=103–104}}</ref> Shortly after Fuller's death, Black constructed what is now the Flatiron Building at [[Fifth Avenue]] and [[23rd Street (Manhattan)|23rd Street]] for the company's headquarters.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 9, 1902|title=Flatiron Structure to be Called the Fuller Building|language=en-US|page=3|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1902/08/09/118475079.html|access-date=June 3, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> That structure was supposed to be called the "Fuller Building" in honor of the late Fuller, but its triangular [[Clothes iron|flatiron]] shape led to the popular name "Flatiron Building" instead.<ref name="NYCL p. 3" /><ref>{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Lance Jay|url=http://www.archdaily.com/515780/urban-design-for-an-urban-century-shaping-more-livable-equitable-and-resilient-cities/|title=Urban Design for an Urban Century: Shaping More Livable, Equitable, and Resilient Cities|last2=Dixon|first2=David|last3=Gillham|first3=Oliver|date=June 21, 2014|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons|Wiley]]|isbn=978-1-118-45363-6|edition=2nd|location=Hoboken|access-date=April 11, 2021|archive-date=May 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511235030/https://www.archdaily.com/515780/urban-design-for-an-urban-century-shaping-more-livable-equitable-and-resilient-cities|url-status=live}}</ref> By the 1920s, the center of business in Manhattan had moved northward to Midtown.<ref name="nyt19281202" /><ref name="NYCL p. 3" />

=== Development ===
[[File:57th St Madison Av td 17 - Fuller Building.jpg|thumb|Viewed from across Madison Avenue and 57th Street]]
In May 1928, the Fuller Company purchased the Central Church at Madison Avenue and 57th Street for $3 million.<ref name="nyt19280510" /> The United States Realty and Construction Company founded a subsidiary, the GAF Realty Company, to construct a 30-story building on the site. The board of GAR Realty consisted of officers from the [[National City Bank of New York]] and the Fuller Company, which were to occupy the building.<ref name="nyt19280510" /><ref name="nyht19280510">{{cite news|date=May 10, 1928|title=Skyscraper Will Be Built on Church Site: 30-Story Building Planned for Central Presbyterian Plot on Madison Avenue|page=41|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1113451790}}}}</ref> Walker and Gillette were hired to draw the plans.<ref name="nyt19280510" /> The plans were revised to 39 stories by September 1929, when the official blueprints were filed with the [[New York City Department of Buildings|Manhattan Bureau of Buildings]].<ref name="nyt19280908">{{Cite news|date=September 5, 1928|title=39-Story Building Planned On Madison Avenue Corner|language=en-US|page=54|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1928/09/05/95606417.pdf|access-date=April 9, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

To fund the construction, United States Realty sold $5 million in [[Bond (finance)|bonds]] and $3 million from [[debenture]]s in January 1929.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 20, 1929|title=Bond Sales Provide Capital for Fuller Bldg|page=D1|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1111945756}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=January 14, 1929|title=Bond Flotations.; New Issues to Be Marketed for Investment and Realty Corporations. Fuller Building.|language=en-US|page=40|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1929/01/14/95708968.pdf|access-date=April 9, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=January 11, 1929|title=The Day's New Investments|pages=23|work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1118568/fuller-building/|access-date=April 10, 2021|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410151615/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1118568/fuller-building/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Fuller Company planned to name the new structure "Fuller Building", transferring the name from the Flatiron Building.<ref name="nyht19281202" /><ref name="NYCL p. 4">{{harvnb|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1986|ps=.|p=4}}</ref> The Fuller Company labeled both entrances of its new building prominently, likely in an attempt to prevent the structure from being mislabeled like its predecessor had been.<ref name="NYCL p. 4" /> In June 1929, twenty-four mechanics received craftsmanship awards for their work on the Fuller Building.<ref>{{cite news|date=June 23, 1929|title=Twenty-four Mechanics Will Receive Certificates: Skill of Workers on Fuller Building Gains Recognition|page=D2|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1113613195}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=June 22, 1929|title=Mechanics to Get Awards.; Twenty-four Workers on Fuller Building Chosen for Craft.|language=en-US|page=34|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1929/06/22/94166186.pdf|access-date=April 9, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The building was completed on September 7, 1929.<ref name="AF 1930-06" /> Two days later, the Fuller Company moved its offices to the 16th through 19th floors of the building, becoming its first tenant.<ref name="nyt19290908" /><ref name="nyht19290908" />

=== 1930s to 1980s ===
In the building's first two decades, its commercial tenants included Kaskel and Kaskel, a [[haberdasher]] that moved to the corner storefront in the Fuller Building.<ref>{{cite news|date=May 21, 1929|title=$3,000,000 Will Be Paid by Haberdashers: Kaekel & Kaskel Take Lease on Store in Fuller Building|page=45|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1109366234}}}}</ref> as well as McGibbon & Co., one of the city's oldest linen merchants.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 22, 1931|title=McGibbon, Linen Merchant, Soon Will Move to 57th Street: Sixty-five Years in New York Trade, Firm Will Locate on Madison Ave. in May|page=E1|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1114170855}}}}</ref> Storefront and basement space was also leased to Sally Gowns Inc. and McGibben & Co., both clothing companies,<ref>{{cite news|date=August 26, 1931|title=Real Estate News and Projects: Dress Dealers Lease Space in Fuller Building Sally Gowns Takes Quarters in Plaza Zone; Garment Section Renting Active|page=34|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1114282174}}}}</ref> and Edward Garratt Inc., furniture dealer.<ref>{{cite news|date=May 13, 1941|title=Real Estate: Furniture Firm Rents Quarters In East 57th St Edward Garratt, Inc., Has Store and Fourth Floor Space in Fuller Building|page=33|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1263550881}}}}</ref> Galleries moved to the building as well, including the [[F. Kleinberger Galleries]],<ref>{{cite news|date=February 28, 1936|title=Art Firm Leases Large Space on Madison Ave.|page=34|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1330798068}}}}</ref> the Pierre Matisse Gallery,<ref name="nyt19311209">{{Cite news|last=Jewell|first=Edward Alden|date=December 9, 1931|title=Art; Matisse Presents Gromaire. Another Davies Exhibition. Young Americans Hold Forth. Fine and Applied Arts Merge. Mrs. Force in Radio Talk. Etching Show Opens Today.|language=en-US|page=34|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1931/12/09/98086488.pdf|access-date=April 10, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> the French Art Galleries,<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 13, 1936|title=Galleries; Two More New Show Places Open|language=en-US|page=X11|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1936/12/13/85443545.pdf|access-date=April 10, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and manuscript and autograph dealer Thomas F. Madigan Inc.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 16, 1940|title=Madigan Rents Fuller Building Display Space: Pealer in Old Manuscripts Takes 57th St. Gallery; London Furrier Leases|page=26|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1320080033}}}}</ref> The office story tenants included the [[French Consulate General, New York City|French Consul]],<ref>{{Cite news|date=January 13, 1932|title=French Consul Lease in Fuller Building; Will Move From East Fortieth Street, Where Office Has Been for Years.|language=en-US|page=43|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/01/13/100684801.pdf|access-date=April 10, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> food processor [[Standard Brands]],<ref>{{Cite news|date=April 22, 1956|title=Quick Turnover in Office Space; Subleases Made of 100,000 Square Feet on Floors of Fuller Building|language=en-US|page=277|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/04/22/91136179.pdf|access-date=April 10, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> book publisher Jordanoff Aviation Corporation,<ref>{{cite news|date=October 14, 1943|title=Large West Side Parcel Leased for Long Tern|page=34|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1268056041}}}}</ref> developer [[Paul Tishman]],<ref>{{cite news|date=April 26, 1949|title=Paul Tishman Organizes Own Building Firm: Joseph P. Blitz Will Be Official of New Concern|page=37|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1335420908}}}}</ref> financier Frederick Lewisohn, former New York governor [[Herbert H. Lehman]], and businessman [[Bernard Baruch]].<ref name="nyt19950611" /> A committee was formed in 1935 to protect the interests of the building's bondholders.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 5, 1935|title=Fuller Building Group Formed|page=25|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1243875003}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=January 5, 1935|title=To Guard Fuller Building Bonds|language=en-US|page=24|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1935/01/05/93770073.pdf|access-date=April 10, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The Penroy Realty Company. led by Miami-based realtor Kenneth S. Keyes, bought the building on behalf of "out-of-town" investors in January 1949. At the time, the Fuller Construction Company still maintained its executive offices there.<ref name="nyht19490101" /><ref>{{Cite news|date=January 1, 1949|title=Miami Interests Buy The Fuller Building|language=en-US|page=24|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1949/01/01/96609503.pdf|access-date=April 8, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Shortly afterward, the building received a $3 million first mortgage from [[MassMutual|Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance]].<ref>{{cite news|date=February 19, 1949|title=Fuller Building Is Refinanced For $3,000,000: Massacsetts Mutual Makes Loan on 40-Story Office Structure on Madison|page=22|work=New York Herald Tribune|id={{ProQuest|1327124484}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=February 19, 1949|title=$3,000,000 Loan Placed; Financing Obtained for Fuller Building on Madison Ave.|language=en-US|page=25|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1949/02/19/86767543.pdf|access-date=April 8, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>  In January 1961, investor [[Lawrence Wien]] purchased the building's 33-year lease from the Fuller Building Corporation, with two options for 25-year renewals.<ref>{{Cite news|date=January 19, 1961|title=Lease Acquired on Tall Building: Investor Gets Skyscraper at 595 Madison Ave. -- 'Village' House Sold|language=en-US|page=48|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1961/01/19/118014600.pdf|access-date=April 9, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Four months later, a syndicate headed by Irving Brodsky and Richard Gittlin bought a 99-year [[leasehold]] for the land from the Fuller Building Corporation.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 11, 1961|title=Leasehold Sold on Madison Ave.; Syndicate Acquires 99-year Rights to Fuller Building|language=en-US|page=62|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1961/05/11/101462317.pdf|access-date=April 9, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>  Leases on {{Convert|100000|ft2}}, about half of the office space, were set to expire in 1962, and it was renting at a rate below the average for the neighborhood. As a result, the owners decided to renovate the building's mechanical features such as acoustical ceilings, fluorescent lighting, and air conditioning. Simultaneously, new or existing tenants signed leases for the remaining office space.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 4, 1962|title=Buyers Renovate Fuller Building: Rent Increases Help Create Sound Operating Basis|language=en-US|page=50|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/09/04/83519602.pdf|access-date=April 9, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 1968, Brodsky signed a contract to purchase the Fuller Building on behalf of the [[Fred F. French|Fred F. French Company]], which paid cash to cover the $4.2 million mortgage.<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 30, 1968|title=News of Reality: Skyscraper Sale; Contract Signed to Acquire Fuller Building at 57th St.|language=en-US|page=73|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/10/30/76899152.pdf|access-date=April 8, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

By the late 20th century, the Fuller Building had become a center for art galleries. Not only was 57th Street still an artistic hub, but also, building management was willing to accommodate each gallery's specific needs, such as large doorways, minimal window space, and heavy floor slabs.<ref name="nyt19631020" /> Accordingly, by the 1970s, much of the showroom space on the lowest six floors was used mostly by galleries. The building's retail space also remained popular despite being split across multiple levels. As Carter B. Horsley wrote for ''The New York Times'' in 1978, the building was one of the few in the city "that have been successful in maintaining more than two retail floors", aside from specialty buildings.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Horsley|first=Carter B.|date=January 15, 1978|title=The Shops On Madison: A Triumph Of the Small And Smart|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/15/archives/the-shops-on-madison-a-triumph-of-the-small-and-smart-madison-a.html|access-date=April 11, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411045638/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/15/archives/the-shops-on-madison-a-triumph-of-the-small-and-smart-madison-a.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Fuller Company continued to occupy the building until the early 1980s. The [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]] designated the exterior and lobby interior as city landmarks in 1986.<ref name="nyt19950611" />

=== 1990s to present ===
[[Cushman & Wakefield]] took over management of the building in 1990. While the Fuller Building contained over twenty art galleries at the time, several gallery tenants expressed frustration that rents at the building were much higher compared to other buildings.<ref name="nyt19920904" /> By the beginning of 1994, the Fuller Building was more than 25 percent vacant. Within the same year, the office space remained vacant but much of the available gallery space was occupied.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Deutsch|first=Claudia H.|date=September 4, 1994|title=Commercial Property/The Art World; Galleries, Off Critical List, Opening or Expanding|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/04/realestate/commercial-property-art-world-galleries-off-critical-list-opening-expanding.html|access-date=April 11, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411045635/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/04/realestate/commercial-property-art-world-galleries-off-critical-list-opening-expanding.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The mortgage holder [[L&B Group]] retook the building in December 1994 and subsequently started renovating the building. The changes included replacement windows, a facade cleaning, and upgrading the interior to modern standards. By then, the Fuller Building had been overshadowed by the construction of the much taller Four Seasons Hotel on the adjacent lot, which had been completed in 1993.<ref name="nyt19950611" />

In August 1999, Vornado Realty Trust arranged to purchase the Fuller Building for approximately $125 million;<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Bloomberg News|date=August 19, 1999|title=Metro Business; Vornado to Buy Building|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/19/nyregion/metro-business-vornado-to-buy-building.html|access-date=April 10, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410160829/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/19/nyregion/metro-business-vornado-to-buy-building.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=August 19, 1999|title=Business Brief -- Vornado Realty Trust: Pact Is Reached to Acquire New York Office Building|page=B14|work=The Wall Street Journal|issn=0099-9660|id={{ProQuest|398654665}}}}</ref> the next month, the company closed on its purchase.<ref name="The Real Deal 2019">{{cite web|date=March 13, 2019|title=595 Madison Avenue - TRD Research|url-access=limited|url=https://therealdeal.com/new-research/topics/property/595-madison-avenue/|access-date=April 10, 2021|website=The Real Deal|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410160828/https://therealdeal.com/new-research/topics/property/595-madison-avenue/|url-status=live}}</ref> Vornado announced in 2002 that it planned to renovate the base to designs by [[Skidmore, Owings & Merrill]], though this plan received some opposition. The proposal called for replacing the glass above the main entrance with "electronic glass", which could alternate between being transparent or opaque, as well as adding similar glass above the lobby ceiling.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lee|first=Denny|date=January 6, 2002|title=Neighborhood Report: Midtown; Space-age Skin Proposed for an Art Deco Trophy|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/06/nyregion/neighborhood-report-midtown-space-age-skin-proposed-for-an-art-deco-trophy.html|access-date=April 10, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410160829/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/06/nyregion/neighborhood-report-midtown-space-age-skin-proposed-for-an-art-deco-trophy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Coach Inc.]] opened its global flagship store in the building in 2005.<ref>{{Cite press release|title=Coach to Reopen Global Flagship in New York; Expands Into Neighboring Retail Space, Makes Significant Restorations to Landmark Fuller Building|date=November 18, 2005|access-date=April 11, 2021|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/445326044/|publisher=Business Wire}}</ref> Coach abruptly closed its store in January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 24, 2020|title=Coach to Close Flagship Store on Madison Avenue|url-access=limited|url=https://therealdeal.com/2020/01/24/coach-abruptly-shuts-doors-at-vornados-595-madison/|access-date=April 10, 2021|website=The Real Deal New York|language=en-US|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410044334/https://therealdeal.com/2020/01/24/coach-abruptly-shuts-doors-at-vornados-595-madison/|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[Berluti]] flagship opened in part of the former Coach space in December 2020,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Palmieri|first=Jean E.|date=December 4, 2020|title=Berluti Opens New Flagship on 57th Street|url=https://wwd.com/menswear-news/mens-retail-business/berluti-flagship-57th-street-1234669468/|url-status=live|access-date=April 10, 2021|website=WWD|language=en-US|archive-date=February 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217194012/https://wwd.com/menswear-news/mens-retail-business/berluti-flagship-57th-street-1234669468/}}</ref> and a two-level [[Fendi]] flagship store opened in another part of Coach's space in July 2021.<ref name="Palmieri Palmieri 2021">{{cite web | last=Palmieri | first=Jean E. | title=Fendi Makes Splash in New York With Flagship | website=WWD | date=July 15, 2021 | url=https://wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/fendi-flagship-new-york-kim-jones-couture-1234881739/ | access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref> By the end of 2021, the building was 81&nbsp;percent occupied, and its tenants included fashion firms such as [[Bottega Veneta]] and [[Tom Ford (brand)|Tom Ford]].<ref name="Crain's New York Business 2022">{{cite web | title=Plaza District leases by Chubb and Hermes buoy comeback hopes | website=Crain's New York Business | last=Hughes | first=C.J. | date=March 29, 2022 | url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/who-owns-block/plaza-district-leases-chubb-and-hermes-buoy-comeback-hopes | access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref>