Dag Hammarskjold Tower Condominium

The Dag Hammarskjold Tower at 240 East 47^th Street on the southwest corner of Second Avenue is a 43-story residential condominium tower that was built in 1984. It was designed by Gruzen & Partners for the R. H. Sanbar Group, which is based in Britain. The tower has 233 Units.

One of the most distinguish towers on Second Avenue in the United Nations district, this condo is convenient to Grand Central Terminal and public transportation. The tower has excellent proportions and a chamfered corner at 47th Street and 2nd Ave.

The building has a bronze bust of Dag Hammarskjold, who was Secretary General of the United Nations, at its entrance, with a fountain. On the 46th Street side, there is a very handsome small triangular plaza with a fountain. Across the Street, there is a large Plaza named after Hammarskjold between Second and First Avenues on 47^th Street, and it includes: the Katharine Hepburn Garden, a Café, a Greenmarket, and temporary Public Art Exhibits.

The building’s façade of preassembled brick panels is horizontal banded with light-colored panels and staggered on the top four floors with a black-glass top.  The building’s form is further modeled with two projected bays on the avenue with discrete balconies. 

The overall effect of the design befits a building in a diplomatic area filled with consulates, which is to say that it has the air of a custom-made product for a natty client.  

The center portion of the tower’s corner at Second Avenue rises somewhat like the prow of a ship and the building was described by Elliot Willensky and Norval White in their wonderful book, “The A. I. A. Guide to New York City Architecture, as “an understated tower with simple, faceted balconies.”

Beautiful and luxurious, the 43 story Tower is a white glove building with extensive service staff, video security, and on-site parking. Most apartments have balconies and the upper floors revel in outstanding views of the Chrysler Building, the UN, and the East River with its iconic bridges.