Changing New York; Fortieth Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
Midtown taken from the Salmon Tower at 11 West 42nd Street facing northeast. From left to right: Bryant Park Studios (80 West 40th Street), Bricken-Casino Building and 1400 Broadway, and the World Tower Building.
1935
Changing New York; Fortieth Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
Midtown taken from the Salmon Tower at 11 West 42nd Street facing northeast. From left to right: Bryant Park Studios (80 West 40th Street), Bricken-Casino Building and 1400 Broadway, and the World Tower Building.
1400 Broadway (at left) and Bricken-Casino Building (no. 1410, at right), December 5, 1935.
These two neighboring building rise to nearly the same height and have similar setbacks and white brick facades. 1400 Broadway actually wraps around no. 1410. Both were designed by Ely Jacques Kahn, though the plans for no. 1400 were filed just before Kahn's partner Albert Buchman retired, so it is credited to both.
The Bricken-Casino Building has been referred to as a wedding-cake-style office building. It (and its neighbor) were completed between 1930 and 1931. The base of the building (obscured here) is rendered in black granite and brass, while the upper levels have contrasting strips of white and black brick. This building was only one of a number of buildings constructed for developer Abraham Bricken. Bricken was Jewish immigrant who began his career in the garment industry. Turning from garment work to the real estate and construction industry, he was immensely successful. Between 1921 and 1929 his Bricken Construction Company built more than $50 million of real estate in the garment district alone.