625 Park Avenue

625 Park Avenue
625 Park Avenue
General information
Type	Housing cooperative
Location	625 Park Avenue, Lenox Hill, Upper East Side, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Construction started	1929
Completed	1931
Height	155 feet (47 m)
Technical details
Floor count	13
Design and construction
Architect	James Edwin Ruthven Carpenter, Jr.

625 Park Avenue is a co-op residential building in the Lenox Hill neighborhood of Manhattan's Upper East Side at the intersection of East 65th Street and Park Avenue. It is noted for its spacious residences, well-known residents,^[1] and having the only triplex apartment in the classic pre-War Buildings of the Upper East Side.

Building[]

The building at 625 Park Avenue was designed by Park Avenue architect James Edwin Ruthven Carpenter, Jr. often referred to by the initialism "J.E.R. Carpenter".^[2] Carpenter has many designs on the avenue, (including 620 Park Avenue across Park Avenue,) and together with Rosario Candela is considered among its primary influencers. 625 Park Avenue was developed in 1929 by builder Louis Kauffman, who would later occupy an apartment in the building. The building is 13 stories tall and houses a total of 32 units.

Triplex[]

The penthouse at '625' is legendary, having even been nominated as Manhattan's best apartment. As a massive three floor penthouse, it has been home to large collections and decoration schemes. Helena Rubinstein decorated the unit with elevated absurdism. Cosmetics rival, Charles Revson, of Revlon, bought the unit upon Rubinstein's death in 1965. He redecorated it in notably spectacular fashion with the help of firm, McMillen. In 1980 he sold to Princess Ashraf of Iran, twin sister of the recently deposed Shah of Iran. In 1995 Henry Kravis bought the unit and has lived there since.

Notable residents[]

Leon Hess – Founder and President of Hess Corporation and one-time owner of the New York Jets.
Sy Syms – Founder and owner of Syms, a clothing retailer, and benefactor of Syms School of Business.
Helena Rubinstein^[3]
Ira Rennert - Philanthropist, and former owner of Hummer
– Politician, New York City mayor for three months in 1932.
David Simon – Son of Mel Simon, and current CEO of Simon Malls.
Henry Kravis – Co-founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
Princess Ashraf of Iran – Twin sister of the deposed Shah.
Hermann and Ursula Merkin - Philanthropists, benefactor of Yeshiva University and Merkin Concert Hall
Charles Revson - Revlon Founder and owner, he acquired the famed triplex after rival Helena Rubinstein's death in 1965.