Feature Photo: Christian Mueller / Shutterstock.com
There are certain buildings in New York City that everyone talks about. People travel from all over the world to see the Empire State Building, Grand Central Terminal, the Chrysler Building, or the Statue of Liberty. Those landmarks deserve every bit of attention they receive. But every once in a while, there is a building that captures your imagination in a completely different way.
That is exactly what happened to me with the IAC Building in Chelsea.
The first thing that caught my attention was its unusual shape. At first glance, it simply looks like a striking modern office building. But once someone points out what architect Frank Gehry was trying to accomplish, you can never unsee it. The building resembles a ship under full sail moving along the Hudson River. Suddenly, the twisting glass surfaces stop looking random and begin to look like giant sails filled with wind. Every time I pass by it now, that is all I see.
One of the things I love about Classic New York History is that it is not always about old history. It’s one of the reasons whay I started this site. I don’t want to just lock myself into old history; I want to be a part of finding and living in new history being made. New York is constantly reinventing itself. New history is being made every day through architecture, neighborhoods, businesses, and cultural landmarks. The IAC Building may not have the centuries-old history of Lower Manhattan or the grandeur of some of the city’s classic skyscrapers, but it represents a different chapter in New York’s story, one that reflects the city’s continued willingness to embrace bold ideas and unconventional design.
Located at 555 West 18th Street in Chelsea, the IAC Building serves as the headquarters of IAC, formerly known as InterActiveCorp. The building was designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry and completed in 2007. The project marked a significant milestone in Gehry’s career as his first full building design in New York City. The structure immediately became one of the most recognizable modern additions to Manhattan’s West Side. Standing 10 stories tall, or approximately 145 feet, the building manages to stand out despite being surrounded by a city famous for its architectural icons.
The story behind the design is every bit as interesting as the finished structure. Barry Diller, the chairman of IAC and an avid sailor, worked closely with Gehry during the planning stages. The final design evolved into a structure that resembles a tall sailing vessel moving through the water. The building is divided into two major levels consisting of five floors each. The lower section contains five vertical units, while the upper section contains three. Together, these sections create the appearance of sails stretched across a ship’s frame. The resemblance becomes even more striking because of the building’s location near the Hudson River and Chelsea Piers.
What makes the building even more remarkable is that it was the first major office project in New York City designed by Gehry and the first to be constructed entirely of glass. Rather than using the titanium panels often associated with some of Gehry’s most famous work, the IAC Building features a smooth glass facade. More than 1,400 custom-engineered curtain wall panels were created for the project, and most of them are unique in shape and degree of twist. The glass was manufactured with white ceramic fritting that gives the building its distinctive white appearance while helping control sunlight entering the structure. The result is a building that changes personality throughout the day as light reflects differently across its curved surfaces.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the IAC Building is how it creates the illusion of being much larger than it actually is. Gehry’s design makes the structure appear to be composed of two enormous stories rather than 10 separate floors. The windows stretch the full height of each floor and fade from clear glass into white, creating a visual effect that tricks the eye. The building appears to move even while standing still, something very few office buildings can accomplish. It feels less like a traditional corporate headquarters and more like a sculpture that happens to contain offices.
The building also arrived during an important period in Chelsea’s transformation. What had once been a largely industrial section of Manhattan was evolving into one of the city’s leading art and cultural districts. The nearby High Line, Chelsea galleries, and Hudson River waterfront were helping redefine the neighborhood. Gehry’s design fit perfectly into that environment, bringing a sense of creativity and experimentation to an area that was rapidly becoming one of New York’s most dynamic neighborhoods.
Unlike many famous New York buildings, the IAC Building is not known for a historic event, a famous observation deck, or a place in the city’s early history. Its significance comes from something else entirely. It demonstrates that New York City remains a place where architects, developers, and visionaries are willing to take chances. In a city filled with rectangular office towers, Frank Gehry created something that feels alive. More than 15 years after its completion, it still causes people to stop, look twice, and wonder exactly what they are looking at.
If I were putting together a list of New York City’s most interesting buildings to see, the IAC Building would absolutely make the cut. It may never receive the same attention as some of the city’s most famous landmarks, but it represents something that has always made New York special. It is bold, different, impossible to ignore, and unlike anything else around it. Sometimes history is found in the oldest buildings in the city. Sometimes it is found in the newest ones.
