Landmarks Preservation Ccnmission April 23, 1985, Designation List 179 LP-1449 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING, ground floor interior consisting of the central Fifth Avenue entrance lobby extending westward to the eastern wal 1 of the elevator banks; mezzanine interior consisting of the upper part of the Fifth Avenue entrance lobby extending westward to the eastern wal 1 of the elevator banks; arrl the fixtures arrl interior corrponents of these spaces including, but not limited to, wall surfaces, ceiling surfaces, floor surfaces, escalators, light fixtures, indicator signs, directory boards, service doors, and revolving doors; 630 Fifth Avenue, Borough of Manhattan. Built 1934-35; architects The Associated Architects. Landmark Site: Borough of Manhattan Tax Map Block 1266, Lot 1 in part consisting of the larrl on which the described building is situated. On September 20, 1983, the Landmarks Preservation Ccnmission held a public hearing on the proposed designation of the International Building, ground floor interior consisting of the central Fifth Avenue entrance lobby extending westward to the eastern wal 1 of the elevator banks; mezzanine interior consisting of the upper part of the Fifth Avenue entrance lobby extending westward to the eastern wall of the elevator banks; and the fixtures and interior canponents of these spaces including, but not limited to, wal 1 surfaces, ceiling surfaces, floor surfaces, escalators, light fixtures, indicator signs, directory boards, service doors, and revolving doors; arrl the proposed designation of the related Landmark Site (Item No. 4). The hearing had l:::leen duly advertised in accordance with the provisions of law. Nineteen witnesses spoke in favor of designation. There were no speakers in opposition to designation. The representatives of Rockefeller Center, Inc., expressed support for a limited designation. DESCRIPI'ION AND ANALYSIS The grourrl floor interior with accanpanying mezzanine floor interior of the International £uilding, built in 1934-35 to the designs of the Associated Architects, is one of the grandest and most dramatic interior spaces in the Rockefeller Center complex and a major component of the Center's secorrl largest building. The International Building in its fonn and siti ng is aligned along an east-west axis at the northern end of the Center, arrl the main lobby fol lows that axis. This four-story high space with its sleek materials arrl streaml ined forms draws visitors and tenants from Fifth Avenue up the high speed escalators to the mezzanine and into corridors leading to elevator banks rising the height of the 41-story building. While a wide array of sculpture adorns the exterior of the bui lding, the lobby gains its effect, mt primarily from its art, but from the form of the space and its decorative finishes. The elements of the design and rich materials are not onl y characteristic of modernist ic design, but are also some of the finest exampl es of their type. Al l appropriately enhance the progressive and international image of cne of New York's finest office buildings. Incorporation of sculptural pieces in 1975 and 1978 have only enhanced that effect. 1

The International Building and Rockefeller Center Rockefeller Center is one of the rrost important architectural projects ever urrlertaken in America. It was unprecedented in scope, near visionary in its urban planning and unequaled for its harmonious integration of architecture, art and landscaping. The complex grew out of an ill-fated plan to build new midtown quarters for the Metropolitan Opera Company. When the original scheme col lapsed, the project was transformed into the private carrnercial enterprise of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Construction of the original complex began in 1931 and ended with the completion of the fourteenth building in 1939. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1874-1960) was born in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from Brown University in 1897 he joined his father's office and for some years h

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