Editing MetLife Building (section)

=== Structural features ===
200 Park Avenue was built atop two levels of railroad tracks underground, which feed directly into Grand Central Terminal. The [[Substructure (engineering)|substructure]] of the building uses foundational columns that extend into the track levels, descending some {{Convert|55|ft}} below street level into the underlying bedrock.<ref name="nyt19590920" /><ref name="nyht19600501" /> The substructure includes more than 300 columns, each {{Convert|18.5|in}} across and clad with {{Convert|2|in}} of concrete. Ninety-nine columns were built specifically for the Pan Am Building; these columns were installed within several inches of existing steel members such as [[third rail]]s, but had to be isolated from the other steel.<ref name="nyht19600501" /><ref name="nyt19610312">{{cite news |last=Fowler |first=Glenn |date=March 12, 1961 |title=Framing Begins for Skyscraper: Columns Lowered Through Grand Central Terminal to Rest on Bedrock |page=R1 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |id={{ProQuest|115226480}}}}</ref> The new columns weighed between {{Convert|22|and|44|ST|LT t}}.<ref name="nyt19610312" /><ref>{{cite news |date=April 23, 1961 |title=Frame of Pan Am Tower Avoids, Train Vibration |page=D7 |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1325309076}}}}</ref> Approximately two hundred existing columns, which supported the former baggage building on the site, were reinforced.<ref name="nyht19600501" /><ref name="nyt19610312" /> The work involved abridging the tops of many existing columns and installing horizontal beams weighing up to {{Convert|36|ST|LT t}}.<ref name="nyht19600501" /> A "triple decker sandwich" made of lead, asbestos, and sheet steel was installed under each level of tracks to provide insulation.<ref name="nyt19590920">{{cite news |date=September 20, 1959 |title=Skyscraper Here to Rise Like Vine: Old Building Will Linger While New One Is Begun at Grand Central |page=R1 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |id={{ProQuest|114649780}}}}</ref><ref name="nyht19600501" />

[[File:MetLife building rooftop view from The SUMMIT at One Vanderbilt.jpg|thumb|Rooftop view from [[One Vanderbilt]]|alt=Rooftop view of the MetLife Building at 200 Park Avenue as seen from One Vanderbilt]]

The [[superstructure]] was constructed similarly to bridge spans. To fabricate the floor slabs, builders used a process called composite action, in which [[concrete]] was bonded with [[structural steel]] panels to create a stronger structure.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Auerbach |first=George |date=February 3, 1962 |title=Bridge Methods Used on Floors; 'Composite Action' Adapted for Pan Am Building |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/02/03/archives/bridge-methods-used-on-floors-composite-action-adapted-for-pan-am.html |access-date=December 25, 2018 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=December 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226035225/https://www.nytimes.com/1962/02/03/archives/bridge-methods-used-on-floors-composite-action-adapted-for-pan-am.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Steel panels were fabricated, rather than concrete floors, because steel panels were lighter and could be constructed regardless of unfavorable weather. Over {{Convert|56|acre|m2}} of steel panels are used in the floor plates, each of which contains wire and cable ducts.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 6, 1960 |title=Steel Floors Set in New Skyscraper |language=en-US |page=R4 |work=The New York Times |url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/03/06/99728586.pdf |access-date=March 25, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501235334/http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/03/06/99728586.html |url-status=live}}</ref> A standard floor slab could handle loads of {{Convert|50|lb/ft2}}.<ref name="nyht19600710">{{cite news |last=Lyman |first=Richard B. |date=July 10, 1960 |title=Tower Plans Large Phone Service Area: Wolfson Center To Aid Tenants |page=1C |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1324097951}}}}</ref> The building's steel frame weighs over {{Convert|45000|ST|LT t}} in total.<ref name="nyt19610312" /> The roof of the building contains [[NOAA Weather Radio]] Station KWO35, a [[National Weather Service]] radio station.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Weather Service New York, NY Tour NOAA Weather Radio Page |website=National Weather Service |date=July 19, 2016 |url=https://www.weather.gov/okx/Tour_NOAA_Wx_Radio |access-date=March 27, 2021 |archive-date=March 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321033115/https://www.weather.gov/okx/Tour_NOAA_Wx_Radio |url-status=live}}</ref> Since 1990,<ref>{{cite book |last=Frank |first=Saul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fKk2OgAACAAJ |title=City Peregrines: A Ten-year Saga of New York City Falcons |publisher=Hancock House |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-88839-330-2 |series=Act Series}}</ref> there has also been a [[peregrine falcon]] nest on the building's roof.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gronewold |first=Nathanial |date=August 25, 2009 |title=Peregrine Falcons Back From the Brink, but Face New Threats in New York |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/08/25/25greenwire-peregrine-falcons-back-from-the-brink-but-face-21168.html?pagewanted=2 |access-date=November 21, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

====Helipad <span class="anchor" id="Helicopter service"></span>====
The initial plans for the Pan Am Building were altered in March 1961 to provide for a [[helipad]] on the east side of the roof.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Witkin |first=Richard |date=March 24, 1961 |title=Heliport Slated Atop Skyscraper: 59-story Pan Am Building, Behind Grand Central, to Take 2-engine Craft |language=en-US |page=33 |work=The New York Times |url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1961/03/24/118029848.pdf |access-date=March 25, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501235440/http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1961/03/24/118029848.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Clausen p. 310">{{harvnb|Clausen|2005|p=310|ps=.}}</ref> The helipad garnered controversy immediately after it was announced, and opponents of the plan cited noise and safety concerns.<ref name="Clausen p. 310" /> The heliport's opening required approval from the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA), the city government, and the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Fleason |first=Gene |date=August 30, 1961 |title=On 59-Story Rooftop --A Helicopter Station: New Straight-Up-and-Down Craft-- Pan Am Building |page=21 |work=New York Herald Tribune |id={{ProQuest|1325845863}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Witkin |first=Richard |date=September 21, 1962 |title=Pan Am Building to Get Heliport; 25-passenger Craft Would Operate 60 Stories Up With Added Power |language=en-US |page=31 |work=The New York Times |url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/09/21/83522514.pdf |access-date=March 25, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501235343/http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/09/21/83522514.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false |url-status=live}}</ref> Lawyers for the building's owners applied for permission to operate the heliport in August 1963,<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 1, 1963 |title=Pan Am Building Moves For Heliport Approval |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/08/01/archives/pan-am-building-moves-for-heliport-approval.html |access-date=August 11, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811165454/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/08/01/archives/pan-am-building-moves-for-heliport-approval.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[New York City Planning Commission]] confirmed in early 1964 that the owners had sought a permit for the heliport.<ref name="Clausen p. 311">{{harvnb|Clausen|2005|p=311|ps=.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 12, 1964 |title=Renewal is Voted in City Hall Area |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/12/renewal-is-voted-in-city-hall-area.html |access-date=August 11, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811165456/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/12/renewal-is-voted-in-city-hall-area.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[New York City Board of Estimate]] gave final approval to the heliport in January 1965,<ref name="Clausen p. 312">{{harvnb|Clausen|2005|p=312|ps=.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Witkin |first=Richard |date=January 15, 1965 |title=Pan Am Heliport is Voted by City; Estimate Board Unanimous – Fight by Citizens Group May Be Taken to Court City Sanctions Pan Am Heliport; Civic Group Weighs Court Fight |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/01/15/archives/pan-am-heliport-is-voted-by-city-estimate-board-unanimous-fight-by.html |access-date=August 11, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811165453/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/01/15/archives/pan-am-heliport-is-voted-by-city-estimate-board-unanimous-fight-by.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and test flights began that March,<ref name="Clausen p. 312" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 3, 1965 |title=Copter Test Flights To Be Made Today At Pan Am Heliport |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/03/archives/copter-test-flights-to-be-made-today-at-pan-am-heliport.html |access-date=August 11, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811165451/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/03/archives/copter-test-flights-to-be-made-today-at-pan-am-heliport.html |url-status=live }}</ref> amid continued opposition to the heliport.<ref name="Clausen p. 312" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Schanberg |first=Sydney H. |date=March 24, 1965 |title=Assembly Gets Bill to Block Use Of Pan Am Building's Heliport; Measure Would Ban Flights in Congested Area – Test Runs Started March 3 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/24/archives/assembly-gets-bill-to-block-use-of-pan-am-buildings-heliport.html |access-date=August 11, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811165502/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/24/archives/assembly-gets-bill-to-block-use-of-pan-am-buildings-heliport.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Helicopter service started on December 22, 1965.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hudson |first=Edward |date=December 22, 1965 |title=Heliport Opened Atop Skyscraper: Pan Am Building Terminal Starts Shuttles Today |language=en-US |page=26 |work=The New York Times |url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/12/22/95921350.pdf |access-date=March 26, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501235356/http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/12/22/95921350.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false |url-status=live}}</ref> The service was operated by [[New York Airways]], which flew [[Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight|Vertol 107]] [[helicopter]]s from the rooftop helipad to Pan Am's terminal at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] (JFK).<ref name="Schneider">{{Cite news |last=Schneider |first=Daniel B. |date=July 25, 1999 |title=F.Y.I. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/25/nyregion/fyi-729590.html |access-date=March 25, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812100032/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/25/nyregion/fyi-729590.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Clausen p. 314">{{harvnb|Clausen|2005|p=314|ps=.}}</ref> There was a ticket office for the heliport at the base of the building. Passengers would check in at the ticket office, then take an express elevator to the 57th floor, an escalator to the heliport lounge, then another elevator to the roof. The flight to JFK lasted an average of six minutes and twenty seconds.<ref name="Clausen p. 314" /> The New York City government renewed the heliport's operating license in 1966, despite continued opposition to the heliport.<ref name="Clausen p. 321">{{harvnb|Clausen|2005|p=321|ps=.}}</ref> For a short period starting in March 1967, the company also offered service to [[Teterboro Airport]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hudson |first=Edward |date=February 17, 1967 |title=Teterboro Added to Copter Routes; Service, Beginning March 1, to Link Bergen, Kennedy and Pan Am Building |language=en-US |page=36 |work=The New York Times |url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1967/02/17/82593094.pdf |access-date=March 26, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501235337/http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1967/02/17/82593094.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false |url-status=live}}</ref> All helicopter service stopped on February 18, 1968, because of insufficient ridership,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hudson |first=Edward |date=February 16, 1968 |title=Helicopter Service From Roof Of Pan Am Building Suspended |language=en-US |page=1 |work=The New York Times |url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/02/16/77171397.pdf |access-date=March 25, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501235337/http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/02/16/77171397.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false |url-status=live}}</ref> as well as disagreements over funding.<ref name="Clausen p. 321" /><ref>{{cite news |date=February 9, 1968 |title=Pan Am Building Helicopter Service May Be Suspended |page=8 |work=The Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|133328368}}}}</ref><ref name="p915695121">{{cite news |last=Duggan |first=Dennis |date=February 9, 1968 |title=Money Squabble Threatens to Halt Copter Flights to Pan Am Building |page=25A |work=Newsday |id={{ProQuest|915695121}}}}</ref>

Though discussions to restart helicopter service were held in 1969,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lindsey |first=Robert |date=August 29, 1969 |title=Copter Service May Be Resumed From Atop the Pan Am Building |language=en-US |page=59 |work=The New York Times |url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1969/08/29/88860788.pdf |access-date=March 26, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501235339/http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1969/08/29/88860788.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false |url-status=live}}</ref> approval was not given until early 1977.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaiser |first=Charles |date=January 21, 1977 |title=Helicopter Flights Approved by Board |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/21/archives/helicopter-flights-approved-by-board-pan-am-building-service-is.html |access-date=March 26, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501235332/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/21/archives/helicopter-flights-approved-by-board-pan-am-building-service-is.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Clausen p. 310" /> Service to JFK resumed that February using [[Sikorsky S-61]]s.<ref name="Schneider" /><ref name="Clausen p. 322">{{harvnb|Clausen|2005|p=322|ps=.}}</ref> On May 16, 1977, about one minute after an S-61L landed and its 20 passengers disembarked, the right front [[landing gear]] collapsed, causing the aircraft to topple onto its side with the [[Helicopter rotor|rotors]] still turning. One of the blades detached, killing four men who were waiting to board and a fifth person at ground level; two other people were seriously injured.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |title=Aircraft Accident Report – New York Airways, Inc., Sikorsky S-61L, N619PA Pan Am Building Heliport, New York, New York, May 16, 1977 |url=http://www.airdisaster.com/reports/ntsb/AAR77-09.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023757/http://www.airdisaster.com/reports/ntsb/AAR77-09.pdf |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 27, 2021}}
* {{cite web |title=TRIS Online Record |id=Accession No: 01077007 |website=Research and Innovative Technology Administration |url=http://ntlsearch.bts.gov/tris/record/tris/01077007.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002060804/http://ntlsearch.bts.gov/repository/record/tris/01077007.html |archive-date=October 2, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McFadden |first=Robert D. |date=May 17, 1977 |title=5 Killed as Copter on Pan Am Building Throws Rotor Blade |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/17/archives/5-killed-as-copter-on-pan-am-building-throws-rotor-blade.html |access-date=March 26, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501235416/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/17/archives/5-killed-as-copter-on-pan-am-building-throws-rotor-blade.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Helicopter service was suspended that day and never resumed.<ref name="Schneider" /><ref name="Clausen p. 324">{{harvnb|Clausen|2005|p=324|ps=.}}</ref> The already-controversial building received further negative attention as a result of the incident, and both New York Airways and Pan Am suffered financially in subsequent years.<ref name="Clausen p. 324" /> During its short periods of operation, the heliport was largely perceived as a nuisance and danger, but its presence was also seen as satisfying what [[David W. Dunlap]] described as "the consummate technological fantasy of airborne travel through skyscraping pinnacles".<ref name="nyt19910818">{{Cite news |last=Dunlap |first=David W. |author-link=David W. Dunlap |date=August 18, 1991 |title=Commercial Property: Pan Am Building; '200 Park Avenue' Preferred |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/18/realestate/commercial-property-pan-am-building-200-park-avenue-preferred.html |access-date=March 26, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928220708/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/18/realestate/commercial-property-pan-am-building-200-park-avenue-preferred.html |url-status=live}}</ref>