History of 24 West 40th Street, Manhattan, NYC
The building located at 24 West 40th Street in Manhattan, New York City, was constructed in 1925 as the headquarters for Scientific American magazine. Commissioned by Munn & Co., Inc., the publishers of Scientific American, this 16-story structure was designed by architect Ely Jacques Kahn of Buchman & Kahn. Although Kahn was known for modernist and Art Deco work, for this building he adopted a French Renaissance style, featuring brick and terra cotta materials and emphasizing verticality through side-by-side arches with slender colonnettes. A pyramidal roof with French dormers and spiky finials crowns the building.
At the time of its construction, the block of 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues was transitioning from brownstone residences to modern office buildings. The Scientific American Building stood out among these exceptional buildings erected in the first half of the 20th century.
The building also housed the Association for the Establishment and Maintenance for the People in the City of New York of Museums of the Peaceful Arts, founded in 1914 to promote education in science and industry. The association maintained a large library and exhibited innovations to support industrial progress.
In December 1928, The Miller Company, a manufacturer of lighting fixtures, leased two floors, filling the building to full occupancy. The building weathered the difficulties of the Great Depression and World War II, changing ownership in 1943, but remained a significant landmark associated with scientific and industrial education.
Little alteration has been made to Ely Jacques Kahn’s original design, preserving the building's historic character as a tribute to the scientific community it was built to serve.
24 West 40th Street, also known as the Scientific American Building, is located in the Garment District of Manhattan, NYC. It was constructed in 1925 and stands 17 stories tall, offering a total of 76,116 square feet. The building is known for its prime location near Bryant Park, providing stunning views and easy access to multiple subway lines and Grand Central Terminal. It features full floor units with direct elevator access and owner-controlled HVAC systems.
Transportation at 24 West 40th Street, Manhattan, NYC
24 West 40th Street is located in Midtown Manhattan, providing excellent transportation options for commuters and visitors.
Subway Lines Nearby
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- B, D, F, M
- N, Q, R, W
- 7, S (Shuttle)
- PATH trains
Major Nearby Subway Stations
- 34 St-Hudson Yards (8 min walk)
- 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal (8 min walk)
- Grand Central Terminal (approx. 0.22 miles)
- Times Square (approx. 0.25 miles)
Bus Routes Serving the Area
- 108, 119, 160, BXM2, BXM4, M1, M4, M5, M7, M12, M20, M42, M55, QM10, QM12, QM24
Nearby Bus Stops
- 6 Av & W 40 St
- W 40th St & 6th Ave
- 10 Av & W 40 St
- W 42 St & 11th Ave
Cross Streets
24 West 40th Street is situated between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas), close to Bryant Park in the Garment District neighborhood.
