Submitted by Kristi Wachter on
Daniel Burnham, Frederick Dinkelberg
About the Building
The Flatiron Building is a landmark in New York City - its distinctive triangular shape, prominent location, and extensive ornamentation have made it one of the most recognized buildings in the city.
The building is covered with Italian Renaissance terra cotta ornament.
The little pointed extension at the corner is known as the cowcatcher.
One reason the building is notable is that it's an early New York example of steel-frame construction.
History
Even before the building went up, the site was known as the Flatiron ("Eno's flatiron", after the owner, Amos Eno).
Originally, the building was known as the Fuller Building; it held offices for the Fuller Construction Company. When it was built in 1902, it was one of the tallest buildings in New York City.
Other early tenants included the publisher of American Architect and Building News.
The roof sculpture was added in 2002 to mark the building's 100-year anniversary.
Today, the building houses publishing companies, including Macmillan. There are plans to turn it into a luxury hotel.
