One Landmark Square

One Landmark Square
One Landmark Square in Stamford, Connecticut
General information
Architectural style Neo-Futurism
Location 1 Landmark Square
Stamford, Connecticut
Coordinates 41°03′17″N 73°32′17″W / 41.054700°N 73.538015°W / 41.054700; -73.538015Coordinates: 41°03′17″N 73°32′17″W / 41.054700°N 73.538015°W / 41.054700; -73.538015
Construction started 1970
Completed 1973
Cost

US$35,000,000 (equivalent to $192,946,027 in 2017)

[1]
Owner SL Green Realty
Height
Roof 295 ft (90 m)
Technical details
Floor count 22
Floor area 300,000 sq ft (28,000 m2)
Lifts/elevators 7
Design and construction
Architect Victor H. Bisharat
Developer F. D. Rich Company
References
https://www.emporis.com/buildings/129193/one-landmark-square-stamford-ct-usa

One Landmark Square, also known as Landmark Tower, or simply Landmark, is a 22-story, 295 ft (90 m) skyscraper located at One Landmark Square in Stamford, Connecticut. It is currently the second tallest building in Stamford, after Trump Parc Stamford, and was the tallest building between New York City and Boston from 1970 until 2010.[2][3] One Landmark Square was designed by renowned Jordanian architect Victor Hanna Bisharat, who designed many other buildings in Downtown Stamford during the city's urban renewal efforts in the 1970s and 80s.[4]

Bisharat believed that a building with curved surfaces was more interesting than one with flat sides and straight lines,[3] and that all of his buildings must have "shape, life, and character."[5] He has also said "I am emotional, I don’t feel straight lines...Nothing in nature is a straight line, the bird, the fish, the snowflake. Everything has curves."[6]

The building has been described as an imposing tower with a swooping form[7] and scalloped-shaped entrances [8], also called wings,[6] and has been compared to the TWA Flight Center, designed by Eero Saarinen,[7] and the Cathedral of Brasília, designed by Oscar Niemeyer.[9]

History

In 1960, F. D. Rich Company successfully gained control of the Stamford downtown urban renewal project, which was estimated to cost over $250 million dollars. The original project plan included 14 office buildings known as Stamford Forum, three moderate income housing developments, and a luxury hotel.[10] Landmark Tower was planned as the centerpiece of the entire 118-acre renewal area, as designed by Bisharat. [3] Bisharat said Robert Rich, then co-owner of F. D. Rich, accepted his design for Landmark Tower when he watched Bisharat "draw it on a napkin when the two were drinking martinis at 4:30 one morning."[11]

Lawsuits against the city and the Urban Redevelopment Commission regarding inadequate relocation housing following the use of eminent domain caused 8 years of delays to Rich's construction downtown, including Landmark Tower.[8] This delay allowed the Rich to construct Bisharat's other famed buildings at High Ridge Park off the Merritt Parkway in North Stamford.[12] Construction of Landmark finally began in 1970, almost 10 years after receiving initial approval for the project, and was completed three years later in 1973.

During construction in 1972, Bisharat said Landmark Tower was, in his mind, a sculpture and not an office building. He was quoted saying “If you stand at the bottom of one of the wings and you look up and see the curving shell above it, you will have the urge to play with them...You will want to sculpt.”[6]

In the 1970s, Landmark featured a large ice-skating rink at the corner of Atlantic and Broad Streets, a penthouse restaurant called the "Landmark Club", and housed art from the Whitney Museum's Stamford Branch.[13] Five other buildings were built around Landmark Tower, in the mid 1970s to the early 1980s, to form Landmark Square. Landmark buildings 2 thru 6 were designed by the famous architect, Moshe Safdie, and were constructed by F. D. Rich Company.[4]

By the mid-80s, the Rich Company was feeling the impacts of the early 1980s recession as major companies merged, moved, and laid off workers. Numerous other buildings were built in the declining market in order to maintain their contract with the Stamford Urban Redevelopment Commission and make construction deadlines. The loses due to overbuilding were insurmountable for F. D. Rich Company and lenders eventually foreclosed on many of the Rich Companies properties, including Landmark Tower.[14] The entire Landmark Square complex went to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in 1991. [15]

Recent Years

In 1996, Reckson Associates Realty purchased the entire six-building Landmark Square complex, including Landmark Tower, from Metropolitan Life Insurance for $77 million USD. Over the next few years, Reckson would invest another $50 million USD to restore the complex and bring "into the 21st century". Improvements included replacing hundreds of windows with energy efficient glass, renovating the lobbies, bathrooms, and elevators, adding new landscaping to the complex's two plazas, contructing an onsite cafe with indoor seating, and adding a New York Sports Club on-site.[16] Reckson was later acquired by SL Green Realty in 2006 for $4 billion USD.[17]

Official logo for the City of Stamford featuring Landmark Tower, and One Stamford Forum

In 2005, the area that was once the ice rink was demolished to improve pedestrian access to Landmark Square and add ground floor retail. This new retail building was completed in 2006 and includes a large restaurant space and multiple retail outlets.[18] Tenants in the new retail building include HSBC Bank, and Blackstones Steakhouse.[19]

Since 2013, Stamford Downtown has presented Heights & Lights which features Santa Claus rappelling down the side of the 22-story Landmark Tower, a holiday tree lighting, live music, and a fireworks show. Rappelling "Santas" have included manager of the New York Yankees, Brian Cashman, and professional baseball player and manager, Bobby Valentine.[20][21]

Since 2017, the City of Stamford has featured Landmark Tower in their official logo along with One Stamford Forum, another iconic urban renewal building.[22]

Major Tenants

Landmark Tower at One Landmark Square at night

Current

Former

References

  1. ↑ Charles, Eleanor (May 1, 2005). "A Landmark Becomes Less of a Fortress". The New York Times. p. 11. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  2. ↑ "Urban Renewal | F. D. Rich Company". fdrich.com. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  3. 1 2 3 "Tall Tower Is Planned in Stamford". The New York Times. Feb 23, 1969. p. R1.
  4. 1 2 "Past Projects | F. D. Rich Company". fdrich.com. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
  5. ↑ "Architect Reshapes Stamford". The Hartford Courant. Aug 31, 1975. p. 9D. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  6. 1 2 3 "New developments dent legacy of 'father' of Stamford's skyline". StamfordAdvocate. 2018-06-16. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  7. 1 2 Times, Paul Goldberger and Special To the New York. "STAMFORD'S RENEWAL: SUN BELT IN CONNECTICUT". Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  8. 1 2 Horsley, Carter B. (Apr 9, 1972). "Stamford Renewal Chugging Along". The NewYork Times.
  9. ↑ Goldberger, Paul. "On Corporate Image Building". Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  10. ↑ Knight, Michael (Jun 13, 1976). "Stamford A Small Hub Of Wealth And Power". The New York Times. p. 224.
  11. ↑ Tracy, Nancy M. (Jun 27, 1982). "Story Behind Stamford's Redevelopment Is a Rich One". The Hartford Courant. p. B1.
  12. ↑ Charles, Eleanor. "Commercial Property /Stamford, Conn.; A Pioneer Business Park That Confounded Critics". Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  13. ↑ Rice, Andrew (June 2002). "Devil's bargain: Luring big business to Stamford, Connecticut, nearly destroyed it". Architecture. Vol. 91 (No. 6). VNU Business Media, Inc. p. 45-52. ISSN 0746-0554.
  14. ↑ Dunlap, David W. "Stamford Reinvents Its Downtown Once Again". Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  15. ↑ Rosenkrantz, Holly (Jun 3, 1996). "Metropolitan Life seeks buyer for Landmark Square complex". Fairfield County Business Journal. 35 (23): 3.
  16. ↑ Charles, Eleanor. "In the Region/Connecticut; A New Type of Landlord Buys Stamford Properties". Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  17. ↑ Deutsch, Claudia H. "SL Green Acquires Reckson Associates for $4 Billion". Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  18. ↑ Charles, Eleanor. "A Landmark Becomes Less of a Fortress". Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  19. ↑ "Stamford steakhouse flipped to Greenwich restaurateur". StamfordAdvocate. 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  20. ↑ "Yankees GM Brian Cashman rappels down the One Landmark Square building in Stamford, CT". yesnetwork.com. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  21. ↑ "Heights & Lights | Stamford Downtown - This is the place!". stamford-downtown.com. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  22. ↑ "City of Stamford Economic Development". www.choosestamford.com. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
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