Japan Society

DESIGNED BY PROMINENT JAPANESE ARCHITECT JUNZO YOSHIMURA IN 1969-71, IN ASSOCIATION WITH GEORGE G. SHIMAMOTO OF GRUZEN & PARTNERS, THIS BUILDING IS AN EXAMPLE OF MID-20TH-CENTURY MODERNISM. INSPIRED BY JAPANESE TRADITION, THE CHARCOAL-COLORED ELEVATIONS INCORPORATE SUCH DISTINCTIVE FEATURES AS ANGLED RAILINGS AND SUNSCREENS FABRICATED IN METAL. JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER 3RD, WHO SERVED AS THE SOCIETY'S PRESIDENT FROM 1952 ΤΟ 1969 AND AS ITS CHAIRMAN FROM 1969 TO 1978, DONATED THE LAND AND PLAYED A ROLE IN THE SELECTION OF THE ARCHITECT. BEYER BLINDER BELLE ADDED A FIFTH FLOOR IN 1996-97. NEW YORK LANDMARKS PRESERVATION FOUNDATION 2011