General

The Alwyn Court is an apartment building located at 180 West 58th Street, at the southeast corner with Seventh Avenue, in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.

Architecture and Design

• Built between 1907 and 1909

• Designed by Harde & Short in the French Renaissance style

• 13 stories tall

• Facade is entirely clad with elaborate terracotta ornamentation in the Francis I style

• Considered one of New York City's most ornate buildings

• Features a main entrance on Seventh Avenue and 58th Street

• Interior octagonal courtyard with a painted facade by artist Richard Haas

History

• Originally built with 22 elaborately decorated apartments, two on every floor

• Initial apartments typically had 14 rooms and 5 bathrooms

• Named after Alwyn Ball Jr., one of the building's developers

• Quickly became one of New York City's most expensive apartment buildings

• Interior was subdivided into 75 apartments in 1938

• Made a New York City designated landmark in 1966

• Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979

• Converted to cooperative apartments in 1980

• Facade was restored in the late 1990s and early 2000s

Current Features

• Now contains 75 co-op apartments

• Amenities include a 24-hour doorman, live-in superintendent, bike room, and storage bins

• Houses the Petrossian caviar bar at its base

• Pet-friendly building

• Allows pied-à-terre and foreign buyers

Location and Surroundings

• One block south of Central Park

• Near Carnegie Hall, Columbus Circle, and the Theater District

• Close to several luxury developments along Seventh Avenue

The Alwyn Court stands out for its incredibly ornate facade and rich history, representing a transition in New York City's luxury housing from private mansions to high-end apartments at the turn of the 20th century.