The
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
Tower (also Met Life Tower) at One
Madison Avenue, New York City was
the world's tallest building from
1909 to 1913, when it was surpassed
by the Woolworth Building. As its
address suggests, it is located at
the southern end of Madison Avenue,
directly across the street from Madison
Square Park. The Met Life Tower as
it looks today.The tower is a later
addition to the original 11-story,
full-block office building (the "East
Wing") that was completed in
1893. The Campanile in Venice, Italy
served as an inspiration when the
building was commissioned by the Metropolitan
Life Insurance Company in 1907 and
served as world headquarters of the
company until 2005. Napoleon LeBrun
& Sons designed the 700 feet (213
m) tower with 52 floors, more than
twice the height of its old world
counterpart, and completed the building
by 1909 with help from the Hedden
Construction Company. The completion
of the Woolworth Building in 1913
ended the Met Life Tower's reign as
the tallest building in the world.
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