Billionaires’ Row: Tycoons, High Rollers, and the Epic Race to Build the World’s Most Exclusive Skyscrapers

“A captivating portrait of the powerful mix of ego, money, and competition that—a century after the construction of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings—continues to transform the city’s skyline.”—Kate Ascher, professor, Columbia University, and author of The Heights

What does the proliferation of luxury residential skyscrapers along 57th Street teach us about the exclusive world of high-end real estate developers and its impact on New York’s built form?

Along Manhattan’s 57th Street, between Park Avenue and Broadway, sits tens of billions of dollars worth of real estate. In her book, Billionaires’ Row (Crown Currency, 2023), Katherine Clarke explores how this once run-down stretch of Midtown became the home of a series of slender, supertall residential towers that embody the global amassment of wealth and its impact on the urban environment.

Join us via Zoom on January 30 for a lively conversation between Katherine Clarke and OHNY Board Vice Chair Saundra Thomas about her experience writing this book. Participants will get glimpses of the fascinating stories behind the development of these skyscrapers and gain insight into the forces that impact of the design of New York’s contemporary residential architecture.

AIA CES credit (1 LU) is available for those who attend this program live.

Purchase Billionaires’ Row: Tycoons, High Rollers, and the Epic Race to Build the World’s Most Exclusive Skyscrapers here or at your favorite local bookstore.

About the Author

Katherine Clarke is a reporter and writer based in New York City. She currently covers the high-end real estate market for The Wall Street Journal. Previously, she wrote for New York Daily News and The Real Deal.

Launched in 2020, OHNY Stacks is a series of book talks exploring the shape, structure, and experience of cities and urban life today. Join us this winter, virtually and in person, for conversations with acclaimed authors that reveal new perspectives on the past, present, and future of life in NYC—and beyond.

This program will take place live over Zoom. The link to join the program will be provided to all ticketholders.