Built as a residential tower meant to generate income for the Museum, this midblock curtain wall skyscraper was controversial.

Cesar Pelli expanded the Museum of Modern Art's circulation system, renovated some of its galleries, and added the skyscraper.

First proposed and outlined in 1976, the slender 52-storey glass tower was built to help pay for the extension and renovation of the museum -- presently the lower floors of the tower house museum exhibition spaces, expanding museum's floor area considerably.

At the moment there are plans for further expansion of the museum premises, also affecting the tower. Plans by the Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi include the extension to adjacent plots, removal of the glass atrium, as well as altering the south facade of the tower. The expansion is planned to be complete by 2004.

The glass facade consists of variously tinted blue-green opaque glass and has a series of recessed terraces at the top.