The New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIANY) and the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) are partnering to offer guided monthly architectural tours. John Arbuckle, Assoc. AIA, will lead the Madison Avenue: High Fashion and Historic Preservation tours. These 2-hour tours will discover the history behind Madison Avenue's landmark buildings, and explore how high fashion retail has been incorporated into the district to create a world-famous shopping destination.

Madison Avenue has evolved from brownstones built in the 1870s and 1880s, to lavish Beaux Arts townhouses by celebrated architects such as McKim, Mead & White, Carrère & Hastings, and Ernest Flagg, to luxury apartment buildings designed by Rosario Candela, Emery Roth, and others. Since early in the twentieth century, many of those historic residential buildings have been transformed to accommodate prestigious stores.

The tours will examine architecture from 1870 to the present on and near Madison in the East 60s and 70s, an area entirely within the Upper East Side Historic District, and consider how landmark designation has preserved the avenue's distinctive character. “We are honored to partner with AIANY to introduce the eclectic architectural history of Madison Avenue as well as the landmark & zoning regulations that have maintained and enhanced our district over the years,” notes Madison Avenue BID President Matthew Bauer. “The residential and retail character of Madison Avenue is intrinsically linked in our buildings, and we are so pleased that John Arbuckle and AIANY will bring the engaging stories of both uses to visitors to our community.”

Open to the public, tour tickets are $20 and are available on Thursday, August 1 from 5pm-7pm; Thursday, September 5 from 5pm-7pm; Saturday, October 5 from 1pm-3pm and Saturday, November 2 from 1pm-3pm.

To register: https://calendar.aiany.org/2019/06/26/madison-avenue-high-fashion-and-historic-preservation/