A 1902 Beaux Arts Wedge at Broadway

Start at 175 Fifth Avenue and let the building pull your eyes upward. Daniel Burnham designed this 1902 tower as a sharp Beaux Arts wedge, pressing its stone facade into the three way junction with 23rd Street. From the sidewalk, the form shifts with every step, broad face, narrow edge, then a sudden sweep of sky.

The current exterior carries scaffolding and black netting from restoration work, yet the 22 story tower still makes a whole avenue feel briefly triangular, a neat trick in a city built on grids. Stand near the corner, then walk toward Broadway for the full taper and the changing rhythm of windows. A park next door gives you a pause after the crossing, with planters, umbrellas, traffic, and the skyline folding around the facade.

Give the Flatiron Building ten minutes, let the angles do the work, and keep your attention pointed up.