MetLife Building

The MetLife Building often shows up on the list of ugliest buildings in New York. It is probably because it is built and therefore infringes on our beloved Grand Central Terminal. But it really is a classic mid-century skyscraper.

Built in the early 1960s, it was known as the Pan Am Building until MetLife put its own name on top in 1992 — 11 years after the insurance giant bought it.

Since the building in the middle of an avenue (Park Avenue, to be precise), you get views of it from all over that you do not get with buildings built on the grid.