Bertelsmann Building, 1540 Broadway (1987-1992)
It took a Herculean effort to build this 1 million square-foot building at the heart of Times Square: It was hemmed into an irregular site by strict zoning rules and further restricted by an unyielding program of office and retail space; yet the building's dual purposes are seamlessly interwoven in Childs's final design. An entrance on Broadway leads to a five-story retail atrium, and a separate entrance on 45th Street leads to offices on the upper floors. These distinct functions are reflected on building's multi-colored exterior: the Broadway side is clad in monochrome blue glass, while the 45th Street side is covered in green glass with silver and white details. The overall visual effect is that of two separate structures intersecting and enveloping one another to create a towering whole punctuated by a tall spire rising out of the building's center.

© Addison Thompson. Reproduced with the permission of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.