Axa Equitable Center

AXA Equitable Building
View to the northwest (September 2009)
Location within Manhattan Axa Equitable Center (New York City) Axa Equitable Center (New York) Axa Equitable Center (the United States)
General information
Status	Completed
Type	Commercial building (offices and retail); skyscraper
Address	787 Seventh Avenue (between 51st and 52nd Streets) New York City, New York, United States
Coordinates	40.761733°N 73.981802°W / 40.761733; -73.981802
Completed	1985
Height
Roof	229.3 m (752 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	54
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Edward Larrabee Barnes
Structural engineer	Severud Associates

The AXA Equitable Center (originally The Equitable Tower or Equitable Center West) is an American 752-foot (229.3 m)-tall skyscraper, located at 787 Seventh Avenue between 51st and 52nd Streets in Manhattan, New York City.

Construction and tenants

It was built in 1985 in the postmodern style by architect Edward Larrabee Barnes. It houses the headquarters for AXA Financial, which consists of a number of subsidiaries of French-based insurance and banking company AXA, such as AXA Equitable Life Insurance and Mutual of New York. Other cornerstone tenants include Stifel Nicolaus, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods; BNP Paribas, New Mountain Capital, Sidley Austin LLP, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, UBS, and Citigroup.

The structure is mainly composed of steel. The facade is of brown granite in a gridiron pattern with a white background. The tower rises through two setbacks on the north and south sides, indicated by recessed bays on the facade. The plain top has vertical striping, and the east and west sides end in arched windows. The Equitable boardroom is located at the ends. The building has 54 floors and 142,660m², with a majority of offices.

On February 9, 2016 CALPERS announced that it has purchased the AXA Equitable Center for $1.9 billion.

Amenities

The skylighted entrance atrium features a large (22.3 x 10.8 meters) mural by Roy Lichtenstein called Mural with Blue Brushstroke, which he completed in 1986. The Atrium at 787 Seventh Avenue is used for after-business and weekend events.

AXA Center is connected to the extensive Rockefeller Center underground concourse. Pedestrian traffic moves through this tower (via an arched galleria at 7th Avenue), across the open mall (between West 51st and 52nd Streets), and into the eastern Equitable Tower.

The AXA complex includes the AXA Equitable auditorium, with 487 seats, and the AXA Equitable Production Group studio. The auditorium is a versatile meeting and event space. It is often used for events including product launches, corporate meetings, live television premiers and broadcasts, award ceremonies. It has full theater capabilities. The auditorium, along with the AXA Equitable Production Group's full production studio, services many corporate clients in the New York City area.

Other AXA buildings

• The Tour AXA, the former headquarters of AXA, is in the La Défense business district of Paris, France. The building was renovated in 2011. It is 225 meters tall to the roof.
• The AXA Center in Perth, Australia is 75 meters (246 ft) high and has 20 floors. Its construction was finished in 1975.
• Tour AXA in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was completed in 1974.

See also

• Tallest buildings in New York City
• List of tallest buildings in the United States

External links

• 787nyc.com (requires Adobe Flash), the building's official website
• aepgny.com, the AXA Equitable Production Group's website