NYC's Flatiron Building lights up for the first time as it undergoes transformation to apartments

The 1902 skyscraper, one of the world's earliest, is being retrofitted as luxury homes.

1 minute read

June 17, 2026, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Close-up on top corner of Flatiron Building at golden hour.

The Flatiron Building in New York City. | Roberto Orgiu / Shutterstock

New York City's iconic Flatiron Building was lit up for the first time since it was completed 124 years ago, reports Soo Kim in Newsweek.

The 24-story building, one of the world's first skyscrapers, is being converted into private residences. "Images of its historic lighting, including a never-before-released new image of the building’s façade, which were shared with Newsweek as an exclusive first, show the upper half of the historic structure glowing softly in the early evening, offering a rare glimpse of the tower as it enters a new chapter."

According to Kim, the building is being renovated to preserve its facade while converting interior spaces into homes that will cost upwards of $15 million. "The project is part of a wider trend of historic structures being restored and repurposed across New York City and the country, with nearly half of America’s 125 million buildings being 50 years old, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA)."

Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in Newsweek

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

Skyscrapers in Jersey City.

New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers

Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.

September 4, 2026 - The Cool Down

A New Jersey train approaches people waiting at the station.

Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds

A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.

September 15 - Mass Transit

A tall, gray power plant billows smoke into a blue sky.

EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants

Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.

September 15 - New York Times

A white RAPID bus. The lower half is light blue, and says RAPID in purple text. The bus is half visible, appearing from the left side of the image.

Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses

Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.

September 15 - KJZZ

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.