The Holidays are filled with movies and television specials filmed in New York. One of the most iconic and recognizable buildings we see is One Times Square.
This building was originally constructed between 1903-1905 with a detailed granite and terracotta facade. The New York Times owned the building and had the area called Time Square. The New Year's Eve ball drop was started in 1907. In 1928 a zipper with news information was added to the building.
In the 1960s the building was purchased and renovated by Allied Chemical. The Exterior was transformed with sleek marble to give the building a more up-to-date look. The transformation stripped away the historic value of the building.
When the building was purchased again, by Jamestown L.P., in the 90's the cost to bring the building up to the 1996 building code was going to cost too much so they decided to use it as an advertisement opportunity. This started out being digital and poster signs, but now it is covered in LED screens. Recently multiple large screens were replaced with one 350 ft long screen. Only the bottom floor of the building remains occupied by a tenant.
https://newyorkyimby.com/2019/05/one-times-squares-300-foot-long-led-screen-nearly-assembled-in-times-square.html
https://www.balldrop.com/article/history-of-times-square-ball-drop
