The Chrysler Building gets a long-needed restoration

One of New York’s best-known skyscrapers is set for a major reset. Tishman Speyer has released plans to restore the Chrysler Building after taking over the lease, with money from the agreement going to Cooper Union, which owns the ground beneath the tower. The developer says it will repair the façade, polish the stainless-steel crown and carry out an extensive renovation across the 1.3 million-square-foot building designed by William Van Alen in the 1920s.

Inside, the plan is less about preservation than reworking the tower for contemporary office use. Tishman Speyer says it will redesign at least 75 per cent of the interiors, update mechanical systems and prepare much of the office space so tenants can move in quickly. The 61st floor, where the building’s well-known art deco gargoyles sit, is planned as an amenity level with a lounge, wellness areas and terraces.

Renderings shared by the developer show restrained interiors with light art deco references, plus stone and timber finishes. Details of the architects and interior designers have not yet been released, and landmark protections mean many public spaces will need to be maintained. For now, this is restoration news rather than somewhere to visit, but it is worth watching if you care about how famous buildings are looked after.

For now, this is one for architecture-minded New York visitors to keep an eye on rather than add to an itinerary.

Our summary of a story from Dezeen, published 7 October 2026. Read the original