Met Life Tower

This is the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower at One Madison Avenue and 23rd Street. Click here for closeup. Designed by Napoleon LeBrun & Sons and completed in 1909, it reigned as the world's tallest building (700 feet) until 1913, when the Woolworth Building surpassed it (792 feet). The building was modeled after the St. Mark's Campanile in Venice, Italy and is a National Historic Landmark. The tower itself was an add-on to the 1893 building which encompasses a full city block. Click here for article. The tower lit at night is one of NYC's most prominent and recognizable sights along with the Empire State Building, the New York Life Insurance Building and a handful of others. It can be seen from around the city and outer boroughs - one of the most spectacular views is coming into Manhattan from Brooklyn via one of the bridges. As part of a 3 year restoration completed in 2002, a computerized colored lighting system was installed - the system allows them to achieve any colors in the spectrum. The color schemes can be changed for holidays or special events ...