Italian-born Constantino Nivola, a modernist sculptor, designed this playground in the courtyard of the Stephen Wise Towers in 1964. Elements included large sand-cast pyramids, pictured here.

Also in the complex, these squat horses and mural were commissioned by the Public Housing Authority as "an experiment" when the towers opened. Reportedly, the horses were vandalized almost immediately after installation.

Known as "The Cube" or "Astor Place Cube," this sculpture was installed in 1967 and is by artist Bernard (Tony) Rosenthal. The Cor-Ten steel structure weighs 1,800 pounds and rotates about an axis at one of its corners. Rotating the cube is a popular activity in the square, often requiring the involvement of multiple people. "The Cube" was installed as part of "Sculpture and the Environment," organized by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in 1967. Though the sculpture was meant to be installed for 6 months, residents petitioned to keep it at Astor Place permanently.

Isamu Noguchi's "Red Cube" is a 28-foot high cube balancing on one corner, much like Rosenthal's Alamo at Astor Place. This piece was funded by the Public Works of Art Program and installed in 1968. A cylindrical hole punched through the cube directs the viewer's gaze towards the sky.

Jean Dubuffet's "Group of Four Trees," is located outside 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza. Upon the unveiling of its design, the New York Times called it "a weird cross-pollination mammoth Alice-in-Wonderland mushrooms and a jigsaw puzzle for giants." The sculpture was installed in 1971 and was a gift of David Rockefeller, the then-chairman of the Chase Manhattan Bank. At the time of its installation, it was the largest outdoor sculpture in New York.

Clement Meadmore's "Swing" was commissioned as part of the Public Arts Council's Neighborhood Environmental Sculpture Program. Meadmore's works had been previously selected as part of the "Sculpture in Environment" exhibition in October of 1967. "Swing" was installed in 1972.

"East-West Gate" by Yu Yu Yang is located at 88 Pine Street, the owners of a ship planned as a floating university called the "Queen Elizabeth I." The ship sank near Hong Kong in 1972. The piece commemorates this event

Andrew Menard's 1988 sculpture, "With or Without Reason" inverses the relationship between a sculpted figure and its pedestal. The figures and their pedestals, made of epoxy resin and styrofoam, were meant to gradually yellow with exposure to the sun. The sculpture was on view from May 1st, 1988 until April 1st, 1990. It was funded by the Public Art Fund.

Joel Shapiro's sculpture, an eleven-foot tall steel human-like figure, stood at the Doris C. Freedman Plaza from July until December of 1990. It is one of over 70 works that have been exhibited on the plaza at the South-East entrance of Central Park.