9. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Building Tower

Metropolitan Life Building and Tower
Unfinished base of the Met Life tower on left

Harvey Wiley Corbett, who worked as a draftsman for Cass Gilbert designed a tower for Met Life that would have been the tallest building in the world. The new building was to be located on the full block site between East 24th and East 25th Streets, next to the company’s headquarters at the time.

In what can only be described as a cross between Gaudi and Art Deco (with a little Moderne thrown in), MetLife’s new building would have been mountainous. Construction began in 1928, but was never completed. While construction continued throughout the Great Depression, Black Tuesday took its toll. By 1933, construction was terminated. The 28 story stump of 11 Madison Avenue/the North Building stands as a testament to what might have been.