As part of the famous International Toy Center, this building was a purveyor of toy trains and was responsible for 95 percent of all toy transactions in 1981.
The Toy Building, built in 1909, is located across from Madison Square Park and General Worth Square where Broadway and Fifth Avenue intersect. The building is a high-end residential conversion with a 40,000 sf courtyard space.
The landscaped courtyard has a strong diagonal to recall the orientation of adjacent Broadway where trolleys once trundled. A selection of natural stone materials and timber benches provide the walking and seating surfaces. The space is illuminated in the evening hours with panels of walkable glass lit from below along the same diagonal orientation. The lush planting palette of shade tolerant species creates a calming oasis. The structural frame of the original building is retained as a frame on two sides and serves as an armature for vertical infill with vines.
As part of the famous International Toy Center, this building was a purveyor of toy trains and was responsible for 95 percent of all toy transactions in 1981.
