550 Madison Avenue

550 Madison Avenue, is an iconic postmodern 647ft, 37-story highrise skyscraper located at 550 Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Designed by Philip Johnson, it was formerly the headquarters of Sony Corporation of America. The tower was purchased by the Olayan and Chelsfield for $1.4 billion in 2016.HistoryDesignThe building was designed by architect Philip Johnson and partner John Burgee and was completed in 1984. It is close - in concept - to the 1982 Humana Building by Michael Graves. It became immediately controversial for its ornamental top (sometimes mocked as "Chippendale", after the open pediments characteristic of the famous English designer's bookcases and other cabinetry), but enjoyed for its spectacular arched entrance way, measuring about seven stories in height. With these ornamental additions, the building challenged architectural modernism's demand for stark functionalism and purely efficient design. The effect the building had on the public at large has been described as legitimizing the postmodern architecture movement on the world stage.