101 Park – AKC Gets Its New Digs

By Amy Fernandez

“We’re movin on up, To the East Side…To a deluxe apartment in the sky…”

Remember that one? Well, as the dog world knows by now, AKC is indeed moving.  And somehow, when you take a peek at them comfortably ensconced in their new corporate digs over at 101 Park, that catchy tune just pops into your head.  Technically, it’s just a shade east of their former headquarters over at 260 Madison Ave. And actually, it’s just one floor closer to the sky. But oh my goodness, 101 Park Avenue is deluxe by any definition.

AKC is the new fifth floor tenant and the website has plenty of glossy photos showing off the brand new office cubes where 100 staff members will toil away. It’s a pretty new place. Built in 1982, the Kalikow building is officially the 64th tallest, a mere shrimp among Manhattan skyscrapers. But don’t let that less than towering presence deceive you.

What it lacks in height, it definitely makes up for with prestige. Seinfeld fans may recognize it. George Costanza worked there. It has also been a backdrop for films ranging from The Fisher King to Gremlins 2. It also serves as actual office space for corporate giants like Morgan Stanley, Kelley Drye &Wren, and Nespresso to mention of few of AKC’s new Fortune 500 roommates.

Needless to say, this hood aint cheap.  Rental space runs in the ballpark of $75-$200 per square foot. And AKC’s new crash pad also spans a few inches on the ground and third floors, where the entire AKC art collection, currently the world’s largest dog art collection, is going to be unified and displayed under one roof in ongoing, curated exhibitions.

So there is a method in this madness. This extremely alluring location in posh Murray Hill happens to be a stone’s throw from Grand Central, also making it an extremely accessible and therefore convenient lure for dog loving tourists. And hopefully, that strategy will raise AKC’s public profile, restore some luster to its tarnished image, and ultimately reinvigorate this game. They won’t be fryin’ any fish in the kitchen, but they just may finally recapture their piece of the pie thanks to this gamble.

Photos courtesy of The American Kennel Club. 

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Posted by chesliepickett on Oct 2 2018. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.