Greetings!
After learning about the fate of the former enclosed observatory on floor 71
(now Cowperwood's corporate headquarters. Previously Morse/Harvey Architects,
I think) I've grown increasinly intrigued about the other spaces inside the
spire of this fabulous building. Is the Cloud Club still derelict? Will it be
restored by the new owner of the building? And whatever happened to Walter
P. Chrysler's original duplex apartment? Anybody knows? Am I asking too many
questions?
Manuel.
Some of the spaces under the top of the Chrysler Building are occupied by Dr. Weiss, a dentist. He practices there and, I believe, has the old Walter P. Suite as part of his office. Years ago, I was there and saw a great deal of the underside of the top.
Fantastic! Thank you ED and Mr. Gerlak for your kind replies. Actually,
and at the risk of going a bit "over the top" (I guess in this case it's
more like going "under the top", heh), an appointment with dr. Weiss
wouldn't be out of the question on an oncoming trip to NYC. If his fees are
not too steep, of course! :^) I bet I wouldn't be his first patient
armed with a camera! ^)
One further question, if you'll excuse the abuse: The Building is rated as
77 stories high, the Cowperwood facilities being at the 71st floor, inside
the first sunburst according to their brochure
(see http://www.cowperwood.com/brochure0304.html ) If that is so, and
assuming it's one floor per sunburst floor 77 should be the very last of
those, the one with a single window per side. Do you know if this is
correct? I ask because it's my guess (based on their apparent small size)
that floors 75, 76 and 77 are merely increasing the building's floor count
and not much more, perhaps a sort of attic for either dr. weiss' or the
building's janitorial body. Maybe there's where Chrysler's first set of
tools used to be housed!.
What a place to sneak into! :^D
Sorry for the long rant.
His fees are high - how else can you pay for that great space. But he is there because he likes the Chrysler Building and appreciates the setting. He does great art deco fillings! The upper floors that you mention are structural elements for the stainless steel top. There is a fire "tower" (hole in the middle) on all the floors through which Post & McCord hoisted the building finial that was put up on a Saturday morning in great secrecy to overtop the Bank of Manhattan building.
Actually, right now an architectural firm is working on a ballroom near the very top of the Chrysler Building...Many years ago there used to be some sort of ballroom up there, so they are now renovating it and putting in plush fashions...