Beaux-Art and French-Renaissance-style buildings and spaces in NYC
July 14 marks the celebration of Bastille Day, or the national day of France. The day is the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, a significant moment during the French Revolution and now celebrated as a national holiday. National events traditionally feature a military parade and fireworks, and the day is also marked by firemen’s balls, concerts, picnics, and less formal celebrations all across the country.
Because July 14 fell on a Monday in 2025, L'Alliance New York held its Fete National Francaise, the largest Bastille Day celebration in New York City, on Sunday. Four blocks of Madison Avenue between East 59th and 63rd Streets were closed to car traffic to celebrate French food, arts, sports, dance, and cinema. After the street fair closed, the celebrations continued with a French music festival at SummerStage in Central Park. The event typically draws a large crowd, and those who wish to observe the holiday on a smaller scale had no shortage of French restaurants, art exhibitions, or designer retail to visit in New York City.
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Additionally, a person could honor the holiday by admiring the grand Beaux-Arts style architecture in New York City. The name of the artistic style is taken from Paris’s L’Ecole des Beaux-Arts, one of the world’s most prestigious architecture schools at the turn of the twentieth century. The aesthetic is loyal to the tenets of Classicism, but goes further in slathering on layers of ornamentation. The 1893 Chicago World's Fair introduced America to Beaux-Arts architecture, and wealthy Americans appreciated it as a mark of European sophistication.
Many noted American architects studied at the L'Ecole des Beaux-Arts and brought their newly learned talents to beautify our cities and become patrons of the country's growing upper class. Our best-known examples were constructed at the turn of the 20 century, resulting in what some call the City Beautiful Movement and the Gilded Age. Iconic examples of Beaux-Arts architecture in New York include Grand Central Terminal, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building that houses the main branch of the New York Public Library.
With the surge of wealth and 'robber barons' at this time, the style made its mark in residential architecture with rows of opulent mansions lining Fifth Avenue and some of our grandest apartment houses ever built. See our list of favorite Beaux-Arts and French Renaissance-style apartment buildings below.
With the surge of wealth and 'robber barons' at this time, the style made its mark in residential architecture with rows of opulent mansions lining Fifth Avenue and some of our grandest apartment houses ever built. See our list of favorite Beaux-Arts and French Renaissance-style apartment buildings below.
Downtown
Completed in 1912 | Converted in 2018
5 availabilities from $2,550,000
All images of 49 Chambers Street via Douglas Elliman
Around the block from City Hall Park, the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank was converted to 99 luxury condominiums, though not at the expense of the Beaux Arts architecture that was instrumental in its designation as a New York City Landmark. This meant that Hall des Lumieres, an immersive art museum operated by the firm behind Atelier des Lumieres in Paris, could not proceed without the approval of the Landmarks Preservation Commission ("Landmarks"), but it was unanimously approved the project in July 2020 and it opened two years later. More recently, Gustav Klimt: The Immersive Experience opens on July 15, the day after Bastille Day.
49 Chambers Street, #PHB (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Completed in 1897 | Converted in 2009
3 availabilities from $2,375,500
141 Fifth Avenue (Corcoran Group)
In the late 19th century, 141 Fifth Avenue was built in the Beaux Arts style as the Merchants Bank of New York. More than 100 years later, the building in the heart of the Ladies Mile Historic District was painstakingly restored to its original glory amidst a residential conversion. The apartments are located on the top 10 floors and remain rich in original architectural details.
141 Fifth Avenue, #3AB
$5,695,000 (-5.1%)
Flatiron/Union Square | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths | 3,000 ft2
141 Fifth Avenue, #3AB (Serhant)
185 Fifth Avenue
Completed in 1902 | Converted in 2026
Listings coming soon
Flatiron Building
Originally named the Fuller Building in honor of its developer/builder, the landmarked Flatiron Building was quickly renamed in honor of its unique shape and eventually became the namesake for its surrounding neighborhood. The triangular building is covered in an ornate Beaux-Arts facade, but this has been hidden under scaffolding for years--first as part of an exterior renovation, then as part of a condo conversion. Thousands of terra-cotta pieces are being meticulously restored to their former glory, the building's six-foot-tall cornice at the top was restored, and the limestone and brick facade are also being restored. Interiors are set to feature interiors by Studio Sofield and high-end finishes and materials throughout. Units in the narrow end of the building can likely expect uniquely shaped breakfast nooks.
Flatiron Building, July 2025 (CityRealty)
114 East 25th Street
Completed in 1921 | Converted in 2025
No public availabilities
Armorie (Adellco via Corcoran Sunshine) | https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/flatiron-union-square/armorie-114-east-25th-street/189473
The Beaux-Arts style building at 114 East 25th Street dates back to 1921, and served as a publishing house for many years. Over 100 years later, amidst its conversion to boutique condominium Armorie, the building experienced one of the fastest sellouts in years. All 20 units plus the grade-level commercial space entered contract with one buyer, likely an investor, with an asking price of $71 million in April 2025. More recently, a new offering plan was reportedly filed for the building.
All interiors feature high ceilings, European oak hardwood floors, oversized casement windows, kitchens with custom walnut millwork and integrated Miele appliances, and primary suites with generous closet space and serene baths. Residents will arrive to an attended lobby with cold storage, and amenities are set to include a fitness center and rooftop terrace with dining and lounge areas.
All interiors feature high ceilings, European oak hardwood floors, oversized casement windows, kitchens with custom walnut millwork and integrated Miele appliances, and primary suites with generous closet space and serene baths. Residents will arrive to an attended lobby with cold storage, and amenities are set to include a fitness center and rooftop terrace with dining and lounge areas.
Midtown
180 West 58th Street
Completed in 1910 | Converted in 1980
3 availabilities from $1,600,000
Designed in the style of King Francis I, The Alwyn Court has been described as "one of the finest buildings of its type in New York City" by the Landmarks Preservation Commission and "the city's most ornate building" by architecture critic Carter Horsley. Stylized fire-breathing crowned salamanders, the King's royal symbol, stand guard over the building's entrance, and nearly every square inch of the facade is covered with elaborate terra cotta ornamentation in the shape of cherubs, flowers plants, and animals.
The Alwyn Court, #5F (Corcoran Group)
1 Central Park South
Completed in 1907 | Converted in 2007
20 availabilities from $900,000
From Central Park
Designed in the French Renaissance style, The Plaza is one of New York City's most iconic buildings in one of its most iconic locations - on Fifth Avenue, directly across from Central Park. Its white marble base, ornate entrances, and mansard roof make it a must-see for architecture enthusiasts and wealthy tourists alike. Following the partial conversion to condos, residents have access to all the hotel's amenities and services, including The Palm Court.
The Plaza, #801 (Compass)
Upper East Side
795 Fifth Avenue
Completed in 1930 | Converted in 1959
4 availabilities from $2,800,000
The Pierre Hotel was completed in 1930, and became an architectural icon in New York almost immediately. The hotel's slanted roof was inspired by the Royal Chapel at Versailles, and the apartments on top were designed to make the most of direct views of Central Park and the New York City skyline.
The Pierre, #2407 (Sothebys International Realty)
26 East 63rd Street
Completed in 1901 | Converted in 1983
No public availabilities
The Leonori (Douglas Elliman)
Located one block from Central Park, and a stone’s throw from the Bastille Day festivities, The Leonori was originally constructed at the turn of the 20th century as a hotel with a rooftop dining room. Today the upper levels house the building’s penthouses, and the elegant building has attracted the likes of Samuel L. Jackson.
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Completed in 1906 | Converted in 1987
5 availabilities from $999,000
Originally known as the Fred Leighton Building, this opulent exterior features a French Renaissance style design, attractive red masonry, a rounded corner, and Elizabethan and Flemish Gothic details throughout the facade. Ten years after it was declared a New York City Landmark, it was converted to a luxurious cooperative.
Fred Leighton Building, #10W
$5,175,000
Park/Fifth Ave. to 79th St. | Cooperative | 3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths
Fred Leighton Building, #10W (Sothebys International Realty)
Completed in 1911 | Converted in 1987
No public availabilities
521 Park Avenue via Sotheby's International
521 Park Avenue was designed by William Boring, an American-born architect who studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts before returning to New York and joining the firm of McKim, Mead and White. The limestone building has been honored with numerous international design awards, including a gold medal for architecture from the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900.
Upper West Side
171 West 71st Street
Completed in 1902 | Converted in 1984
1 availability for $10,950,000
(Brown Harris Stevens)
Architecture critic Carter Horsley describes The Dorilton as "one of New York's most spectacular architecturally." With its dramatic entrance gate, Beaux Arts facade, and marvelous sculptures, it is easy to see why. The building has been meticulously restored to its original splendor, and the apartments inside have received the same attention.
The Dorilton, #910A (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
344 West 72nd Street
Completed in 1904 | Converted in 2014
4 availabilities from $2,275,000
The anchoring base of Riverside Park has been renovated to its former glory and updated with the features and amenities today's buyer has come to expect. The landmarked building is distinguished by its rusticated limestone base, red brick and limestone facade, and cherubs carved above the cornice.
The Chatsworth, #303
$5,395,000
Riverside Dr./West End Ave. | Cooperative | 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths | 2,751 ft2
The Chatsworth, #303 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
2109 Broadway
Completed in 1904 | Converted in 1990
5 availabilities from $835,000
Sotheby's
The Ansonia was originally designed as a luxury hotel; in the years that followed, it became a highly coveted residential building and a New York City Landmark. Many apartments retain original architectural details, yet have been modernized with new kitchens and renovated baths. The roof garden, corridors, staircases, and elevators have been beautifully restored.
The Ansonia, #5/109
$3,500,000 (-5.4%)
Broadway Corridor | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths | 2,650 ft2
The Ansonia, #5/109 (Compass)
135 Central Park West
Completed in 1905
No public availabilities
With its limestone facade and French and English architectural influences, The Langham is considered one of the most beautiful buildings on Central Park West. Apartments boast features like high ceilings, gorgeous crown moldings, three decorative fireplaces, formal dining rooms, and windowed kitchens.
164 West 74th Street
Completed in 1901 | Converted in 2019
No public availabilities
All images of The Marbury via Compass
In the process of transforming The Marbury from a hotel to a condominium, the interiors were brought up to contemporary standards while its historic Beaux Art facade was restored, much to the approval of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Gracious residences boasts high ceilings, oversized windows, top-of-the-line infrastructure, and peaceful primary suites.
151 Central Park West
Completed in 1908 | Converted in 1958
1 availability for $10,000,000
(Ajay Suresh for Wikipedia)
Located on the Gold Coast of Central Park, The Kenilworth is designed in the French Second Empire style. The building is surrounded by a dry moat, and architecture critics Elliot Willensky and Norval White describe it as a "cubical, russet-brick wedding cake topped by a grand convex mansard roof."
The Kenilworth, #11N (Compass)
100 West 80th Street
Completed in 1900 | Converted in 2014
1 availability for $7,495,000
The Orleans (Brown Harris Stevens)
From the time it was constructed as a hotel, The Orleans has attracted attention for its Beaux-Arts style, soaring height, and views of Central Park and the Museum of Natural History. Following a 2014 conversion to condos, this New York City Landmark beautifully combines Old World grandeur on the outside with modern conveniences and amenities on the inside.
The Orleans, #5B (Compass)
Brooklyn
100 Amity Street
Completed in 1898 | Converted in 2019
No public availabilities
All images of Polhemus Residences via BKSK Architects/Douglas Elliman
On a cobblestone street in Brooklyn, the Polhemus Memorial Clinic has been transformed into Polhemus Residences, a collection of luxury residences beneath a limestone and brick facade. The French Renaissance-style limestone facade and narrow cornices were beautifully restored to its former glory, but the interiors have been renovated with high ceilings, grand proportions, and luxurious amenities.
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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