Ford Foundation Building Tours

Home to a private foundation set up by automobile moguls Henry and Edsel Ford, the Ford Foundation Building is a 12-story office building that dates back to 1967. Designed by architects Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloothe, the building features a garden atrium that’s open to the public. 

A much-loved example of midcentury design, the Ford Foundation building is a designated landmark of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Explore the interior garden courtyard, where a reflecting pool, plants, and shrubbery offer a peaceful reprieve from the busy streets of midtown Manhattan. 

The building also features a gallery space that showcases work that tackles social justice issues. Many architecture-focused tours of Manhattan visit the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, in addition to other NYC landmarks such as the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Station, and the United Nations Headquarters.  

The Ford Foundation Building has entrances on East 42nd and East 43rd streets between First and Second avenues. The nearest subway stop is Grand Central–42nd Street, served by the 4, 5, 6, 7, and S trains. 

The garden is open during office hours Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays when the gallery has an exhibition on view. The garden is a hidden gem, so it’s generally calm and uncrowded.

The Ford Foundation Building is one of several landmarks in Midtown West. The United Nations Headquarters complex—a collaborative effort from a group of architects that included Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer—is less than five minutes from the Ford Foundation building on foot, as are the art deco-style Daily News and Chrysler buildings, and the lavish Beaux Arts-style Grand Central Terminal.