New York City is filled to the brim with iconic buildings, and 8 Spruce has landed itself a spot on that list. However, the history of the building and what makes it so iconic is seemingly unknown to many of its residents and fellow New Yorkers. 8 Spruce, from its unique shape to its renowned architect, has a special place in NYC history. 

In 2006, construction began on what was then known as the Beekman Tower and New York by Gehry, and was completed in 2010, with an opening in February of 2011. With its 76 floors, standing 870 feet high, 8 Spruce became the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere. Though it was surpassed in height by the Central Park Tower in 2020, it remains among the tallest residential buildings in New York City.  

Part of what makes 8 Spruce so iconic is the fact that it was designed by Frank Gehry, whose famous designs have been seen in cities from Prague to Sydney, earning him many awards including the Pritzker Architecture Prize, National Medal of Arts, and the Henry C. Turner Prize for Innovation in Construction Technology. 8 Spruce was Gehry’s 5th building in New York City and his first ever skyscraper. Noted for its stainless steel and glass exterior, the building’s undulating waves give it a unique and dynamic appearance that stands out in the city’s skyline. In 2011 the building was even awarded the Emporis Skyscraper Award for its architectural excellence and was referred to as “the finest skyscraper to rise in New York since Eero Saarinen's CBS Building” by New York Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff. 

Not only is 8 Spruce architecturally innovative, but it has also become a symbol of modern luxury living in New York City with its soaring bay windows, deco-inspired doorknobs, panoramic views, 50-foot swimming pool, and fitness center. Since 2011, 8 Spruce Street has been a testament to Frank Gehry's architectural prowess and a reminder that New York City is always willing to embrace what’s unique.