1902
1902
1902: Joseph Durst, a tailor from Gorlice, Austria (present-day Poland), arrives in the United States with three dollars to his name.
1904
1904
27 October 1904: The New York City subway system opens.
Peter Dougherty
1907
1907
15 October 1907: Joseph Durst marries Rose Friedwald in
New York.
New York.
The Durst family
1912
1912
1912: Joseph Durst becomes a partner in the Durst & Rubin dress manufacturing business.
The Durst Organization Archive
1915
1915
1915: Joseph Durst buys his first building, the Century Building, at One West 34th Street.
Courtesy NYC Municipal Archives
1925
1925
1925: New York City becomes the most populous city in the world, overtaking London, which had held the distinction for a century.
1926
1926
13 December 1926: Joseph Durst acquires Temple Emanu-El, located at Fifth Avenue and
43rd Street.
43rd Street.
The Seymour B. Durst Old York Library, Postcard Collection
1928
1928
8 May 1928: Joseph Durst joins the Committee of One Hundred of the Jewish Education Association.
The Durst family
1928
1928
13 November 1928: Joseph Durst purchases his first residential property, a fifteen-story apartment building at Fifth Avenue and
85th Street.
85th Street.
Courtesy NYC Municipal Archive
1929
1929
October 1929: The stock market crash signals the onset of the
Great Depression.
Great Depression.
1930
1930
1930: The last farm in New York City, Benedetto Farm at Broadway and 213th Street, is sold.
1930
1930
7 April 1930: Joseph Durst joins the executive committee of the Jewish Education Association.
The Durst Organization Archive
1931
1931
25 October 1931: The George Washington Bridge, linking New York City and New Jersey, opens
to traffic.
to traffic.
1935
1935
7 March 1935: To reduce street noise, the city prohibits
organ grinders.
organ grinders.
1936
1936
27 July 1936: Joseph Durst acquires the Park Hill Theatre and store building in Yonkers, NY.
Yonkers Public Library Collection, Herald Statesman file
1938
1938
1938–39: Demolition begins on the Sixth Avenue El, starting in Greenwich Village and
moving north.
moving north.
1939
1939
22 January 1939: At Columbia University, the uranium atom is split for the first time.
1941
1941
20 January 1941: Joseph Durst joins the board of the Hebrew Free
Loan Society.
Loan Society.
The Durst Organization Archive
1944
1944
1944: The Durst Organization acquires 205 East 42nd Street. Constructed in 1927, the building was designed by Starett and Van Vleck, an architecture firm specializing in large New York City department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor.
The Durst Organization Archive
1945
1945
1945: Roy Durst earns a Bronze Star medal from the United States Army for his military service in
World War II.
World War II.
The Durst family
1945
1945
19 March 1945: The Hebrew Free Loan Society elects Joseph Durst
as President.
as President.
1947
1947
11 April 1947: In an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson breaks the color barrier in Major League Baseball.
1948
1948
1948: The Durst Organization main office moves to 205 East
42nd Street.
42nd Street.
The Durst Organization Archive
1954
1954
1954: The Hebrew Free Loan Society re-elects Joseph Durst for a tenth consecutive term.
1955
1955
12 May 1955: Demolition begins on the Third Avenue El.
The Durst Organization Archive
1958
1958
1958: 200 East 42nd Street, later known as 655 Third Avenue, is completed. Emery Roth & Sons designed the 29-story building.
The Durst Organization Archive
1958
1958
22 May 1958: The “Vertigo Room” opens at 200 East 42nd Street to promote Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo. Alfred Hitchcock, James Stewart and Kim Novak are among those in attendance.
The Durst Organization Archive
1961
1961
1961: 733 Third Avenue, a 24-story building designed by Emery Roth & Sons, is completed.
The Durst Organization Archive
1962
1962
1962: Seymour B. Durst begins his Old York Library, devoted exclusively to New York City history. Over the following decades, the collection would grow to some 10,000 books, maps, prints, signs, and other historical items.
The Seymour B. Durst Old York Library, Postcard Collection
1963
1963
1963: Roy Durst manages the installation of central air-conditioning at a Durst office tower, allowing for hot & cold air to be supplied simultaneously. This building was the first in New York to offer this tenant amenity.
The Durst Organization Archive
1964
1964
9 February 1964: The Beatles make their first U.S. television appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, in CBS-TV Studio 50 on Broadway, later renamed The Ed Sullivan Theater.
1966
1966
1966: 201 East 42nd Street, later known as 675 Third Avenue, is completed. Emery Roth & Sons designed the 32-story building.
The Durst Organization Archive
1966
1966
1 July 1966: Douglas Durst joins The Durst Organization.
The Durst family
1968
1968
1968: Seymour B. Durst purchases Henry Miller’s Theater at 124 West 43rd Street, later part of the site of the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park.
The Durst Organization Archive
1968
1968
20 February 1968: The Durst Organization acquires the east blockfront of Broadway between 44th and 45th streets.
1969
1969
1969: 825 Third Avenue, a 40-story building designed by Emery Roth & Sons, is completed. It is the last Durst project on Third Avenue.
The Durst Organization Archive
1970
1970
1970: 1133 Avenue of the Americas is completed, and The Durst Organization main office moves in. Emery Roth & Sons designed the 45-story building.
The Durst Organization Archive
1972
1972
1972: Joseph Durst serves his final term as president of the Hebrew Free Loan Society, for a total of 27 consecutive years.
The Durst Organization Archive
1973
1973
1973: Seymour Durst and financier Irving Kahn establish the New York City Job and Career Center to teach job skills to the city’s high
school students.
school students.
The Durst Organization Archive
1977
1977
26 April 1977: Legendary discotheque Studio 54 opens at 254 West 54th Street.
1977
1977
12 November 1977: The “Statements in Steel” show opens at the Ingber Gallery in New York, featuring artwork by David Durst.
Collection of Seymour B. Durst
1978
1978
1978: The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) elects Seymour B. Durst as Chairman.
1984
1984
1984: 1155 Avenue of the Americas, a 41-story building designed by Emery Roth & Sons,
is completed.
is completed.
The Durst Organization Archive
1984
1984
3 September 1984: Jody Durst joins The Durst Organization.
Collection of Jody Durst
1987
1987
1987: Led by Douglas Durst, the Durst family partners with the McEnroe family to start an organic farm with a large composting facility.
1989
1989
1989: 114 West 47th Street is completed. Fox & Fowle design the 26-story building.
The Durst Organization Archive
1989
1989
1989: Seymour B. Durst installs the National Debt Clock on West
42nd Street.
42nd Street.
The Durst Organization Archive
1991
1991
April 1991: The last Horn & Hardart Automat Restaurant closes; it was located at 200 East 42nd Street/655 Third Avenue.
The Seymour B. Durst Old York Library, Postcard Collection
1993
1993
11 September 1993: Ruth W. Messinger, President of the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, issues a proclamation for “Seymour Durst Day.”
The Durst Organization Archive
1994
1994
1994: 1133 Avenue of the Americas is renovated with a new lobby featuring a marble and bronze concierge station and updated elevator system.
Suko Presseau /
The Durst Organization
The Durst Organization
1995
1995
1995: The Durst Organization main office moves to 1155 Avenue of
the Americas.
the Americas.
The Durst Organization Archive
1995
1995
1995: 200 East 42nd Street /
655 Third Avenue is
completely renovated.
655 Third Avenue is
completely renovated.
Suko Presseau /
The Durst Organization
The Durst Organization
1995
1995
3 November 1995: Kristoffer (Kris) Durst joins The Durst Organization.
The Durst Organization Archive
1998
1998
1998: David Durst publishes his book The Menemsha Mussels.
Bivalve Press
1999
1999
1999: Four Times Square, the nation’s first green skyscraper, is completed. The 48-story building was designed by Fox & Fowle.
The Durst Organization Archive
2001
2001
16 July 2001: Helena Durst joins
The Durst Organization.
The Durst Organization.
Collection of Helena Durst
2002
2002
2002: Led by Douglas Durst, the Durst family partnered with the New York Water Taxi, a Durst affiliate. The New York Water Taxi offers commuter and sightseeing service to points in New York Harbor, along the Hudson River and East River. On January 12, 2017, New York Water Taxi is acquired by New York Cruise Lines.
The Durst Organization Archive
2004
2004
2 August 2004: Groundbreaking ceremony for the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park.
© Steve Friedman 2004
2004
2004
2004: 85-foot broadcast antenna with the capacity to support 17 TV and 18 FM station signals is installed at 4 Times Square. The antenna was extended 30 feet in 2014.
2005
2005
2005: The Helena, at 601 West 57th Street, is completed. Designed by Fox & Fowle, the 38-story building is the first voluntary LEED Gold–certified residential tower in New York City.
Aerial Exposures /
The Durst Organization
The Durst Organization
2005
2005
2005: New, sustainable windows are installed at 200 East 42nd Street/655 Third Avenue.
Suko Presseau /
The Durst Organization
The Durst Organization
2006
2006
3 January 2006: Alexander Durst joins The Durst Organization.
Action Sports International
2007
2007
2007: The Epic, at 125 West 31st Street, is completed. Designed by FXFowle, the 58-story building is the first project of the Durst Fetner Residential (DFR) team.
Durst Fetner Residential
2008
2008
2008: The 55-story Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park opens. Designed by Cook + Fox, it is among the most environmentally advanced commercial skyscrapers in the world.
Robert Boucher / The Durst Organization
2009
2009
12 February 2009: The Durst Organization main office moves to One Bryant Park.
Gary Spector Photography /
The Durst Organization
The Durst Organization
2009
2009
17 February 2009: David Neil joins The Durst Organization.
The Durst Organization
2010
2010
2010: The Bank of America Tower at
One Bryant Park receives LEED Platinum certification, becoming the first commercial high-rise in the country to achieve
this distinction.
One Bryant Park receives LEED Platinum certification, becoming the first commercial high-rise in the country to achieve
this distinction.
U.S. Green Building Council
2010
2010
2010: Main lobby at 655 Third Avenue is renovated with turnstile security and additional lobby improvements.
2010
2010
May 2010: The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park finally has its official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Al Gore, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and other dignitaries join members of the Durst family in celebrating this landmark building.
Robert Boucher /The Durst Organization
2010
2010
9 December 2010: A joint venture with Spireworks, The Durst Organization illuminates the spires of 4 Times Square and One Bryant Park for the first time.
2011
2011
2011: The Durst Family donates the Seymour B. Durst Old York Library collection to the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library at Columbia University.
2012
2012
10 October 2012: H&M signs a lease for 42,500 square feet on three floors at the retail space at 4 Times Square, and to brand the four 70’x70’ signs at the top of the building as well as the two commercial street level signs.
The Durst Organization
2013
2013
2013: $15 million capital improvement program at 205 East 42nd Street includes new life safety systems, windows, bathrooms, and LED lighting
Paúl Rivera/archphoto
2013
2013
2013: The Durst Organization begins the green roof program, installing over 1 acre of green roofs throughout the portfolio.
The Durst Organization
2013
2013
6 January 2013: The New York City Council unanimously grants final approval for VIA 57 WEST, designed by Bjarke Ingels.
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)
2013
2013
A $10 million building enhancement program is completed at 1133 Avenue of the Americas, including a renovated lobby, elevator upgrades and an LED sculpture by artist Leo Villareal.
Paúl Rivera/archphoto
2013
2013
18 April 2013: The New York City Department of Sanitation and The Durst Organization announce that The Helena is the first in the city to offer its residents regular food scrap collection through the city’s Organics Collection Program.
The Durst Organization
2013
2013
10 May 2013: One World Trade Center reaches its full height of 1,776 feet (541 meters), becoming the tallest building in North America.
John Lyons/The Durst Organization
2013
2013
6 June 2013: Bee hives are implemented on the roof of One Bryant Park.
The Durst Organization
2014
2014
2014: The Durst Organization acquires a 90 percent stake in the Halletts Point mixed-use development in Astoria, Queens.
Studio V Architecture
2014
2014
31 October 2014: Topping out event at VIA 57 WEST.
The Durst Organization
2015
2015
2015: The Durst Organization celebrates the company's centennial.
2015
2015
6 February 2015: Topping out event at EŌS.
The Durst Organization
2015
2015
May 2015: Juana Garcia becomes the first female captain at New York Water Taxi.
New York Daily News
2016
2016
14 January 2016: Groundbreaking for the Halletts Point project.
Michael Priest Photography
2016
2016
5 February 2016: Topping out at FRΛNK 57 WEST
Michael Priest Photography
2016
2016
18 March 2016: VIA 57 WEST opens.
Richard Berenholtz
2016
2016
1 July 2016: EŌS opens.
MARCH