5. The Helmsley Building Has One of a Kind Elevators

Amidst the marble and bronze of the lobby, you’ll notice gilded elevators designed in a Chinese motif. The building management tells us that the elevator doors carry symbols of industry, foliage and classical imagery. But even inside, the elevator feels like an art installation. The walls are also painted in Chinese red and framed by gilded wooden molding. Then you gaze up to a cloudscape.