Architecture of the Rockefeller Center
The Rockefeller Center is a marvel of modern architecture and urban planning. Its design is a testament to the collaborative efforts of a team of architects with expertise in various fields. The center’s design superbly demonstrates how tall buildings can be seamlessly integrated into the cityscape.
30 Rockefeller Plaza, originally called the RCA Building and now known as either 30 Rock or the Comcast Building, is the centerpiece of the complex. This Art Deco masterpiece designed by Raymond Hood exudes elegance with its clean lines and impressive height. Its limestone entrance rises above its neighbors in a series of stepped verticals, with aluminum spandrels creating a vertical pattern of lines that emphasize the building’s height.
The center boasts a remarkable collection of art in almost all of its buildings, its expansive underground concourse, its ice-skating rink, and its annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The center is a ‘city within a city’, housing corporate headquarters, offices, television studios, theaters, shops, and restaurants. Its status as a National Historic Landmark is a recognition of its architectural significance and its role in shaping the city’s identity.
