Building: 860 United Nations Plaza

860 U.N. Plaza is a modernist masterpiece that echoes the finest apartment houses of the 1920s, a quiet, private oasis a short walk from the heart of Manhattan. Its walls of windows framed in bronze and aluminum offer residents rich natural light and dazzling, protected views, from sunrises over the East River to sunsets that make the midtown east skyline glow.

The approach is along a private driveway that leads to a dramatic bronze and glass awning bordered by planters lush with seasonal foliage. Residents are greeted by uniformed doormen, and led via a red carpet into one of New York’s most iconic lobbies. Designed around a peaceful inner garden with stately trees, the luminous double height lobby has the feel of a modern cathedral, illuminated by Venini chandeliers and distinguished by period artwork and walls lined with mosaic and kevazingo wood.

Part of a pioneering multi-use complex with two apartment towers atop a seven-story office base, 860 opened in 1965 and immediately took its place among the city’s best cooperative houses. The brainchild of architects Max Abramovitz and Wallace K. Harrison, authors of the neighboring United Nations complex, Lincoln Center and the Time-Life Building, it epitomizes the mid-century modern International Style and incorporates features that distinguished New York’s great apartment houses—solid plaster walls, high ceilings, fireplaces, and rosewood parquet floors.

From the outset, U.N. Plaza has attracted accomplished urbanites from the worlds of entertainment, the arts, fashion, finance, law, media, medicine, and politics. Today, U.N. Plaza counts among its owners many professionals in architecture, interior design, and real estate—connoisseurs of the special value and discrete charm of co-op apartment houses and admirers of landmark design.

The 860 tower houses 168 apartments that start at the seventh floor and extend to the 38th and range from generously scaled one-bedrooms (measuring over 1000 square feet) to 48 duplexes with five bedrooms and six bathrooms, working fireplaces and private elevators.

Glass curtain walls offer distinct vistas for every room, from the gardens of the United Nations to dazzling panoramas of modern Midtown, the Chrysler Building the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, the Citicorp Center, and the brand-new One Vanderbilt.

A staff of 47 representing an apartment-to-employee ratio of 7-to-1 anticipates every need. A Resident Manager and Assistant Manager are always on-premises. Concierge, doorman services, and a reception desk are manned 24 hours while dedicated HVAC, Handymen, and Security and Package room teams attend to any needs throughout the day.

AMENITIES

A large, newly-renovated private gym complete with Pilates, Peloton bicycles, cardio and stretching equipment, and free weights.

Club 39, a lounge featuring a golf simulator, billiard table, and ping pong, is available for private events and boasts a caterer’s kitchen and bar.

A library, a bicycle storage room, in-house dry cleaning, laundry room.

Each apartment comes with a spacious private storage unit at no additional cost. Staff rooms can be purchased separately.

Short stay parking along the long driveway is available for residents and visitors.

An attached indoor heated garage.

A roof deck with 365° views.

Three passenger and one service elevators.

U.N. Plaza is a smoke-free building.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

860 U.N. Plaza is walking distance from Midtown offices and surrounded by fine restaurants, supermarkets, specialty food stores, both big-brand and quirky retailers. A weekly farmer’s market at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on Second Avenue and 47th Street with its organic produce vendors, fishmonger and artisanal bakers.

The neighborhood’s schools include PS 59 (aka Beekman Hill International School); PS 18; The Montessori Family School; The Beekman School; and the United Nations International School, most served by school bus services.

An entrance to the FDR Drive is moments away.

U.N. Plaza has only one neighbor on its two-acre block: the adjacent children-only MacArthur Park.

U.N. Plaza is pet-friendly, and animal companions can run freely at an expansive dog run at Peter Detmold Park just across the street.

Building description provided by 860 West Tower, Inc.