Landmarks holds public hearing on Paul Rudolph’s Modulator Building duplex interior

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday held a public hearing on a Research Department proposal to designate the Modulator Building apartment duplex — the third- and fourth-floor interior by architect Paul Rudolph — as a New York City interior landmark.

Margaret Herman, director of research for the commission, presented the item (LP-2684). Matt Postel summarized the nomination, describing the interior as “a late twentieth century modern interior by the American architect Paul Rudolph” that includes the entrance hall, living rooms, kitchen, balconies, bedrooms, bathrooms and original fixtures and built-in furnishings from the interlocking double-height spaces.

The nomination would designate the entire third and fourth floors of the building at 246 East 50th Street (the Modulator Building) and the historic fixtures and components of the interlocking spaces. Postel told commissioners the duplex was constructed in phases and received a temporary certificate of occupancy in June 1994. He said the duplex later became home to the Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture and is “the only publicly accessible interior by the architect in New York City.”

Speakers at the hearing were uniformly supportive. Kelvin Dickinson, identified as president of the Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture, asked the commission “to support the designation of Paul Rudolph's duplex,” arguing the space “is the only place in New York City where the public can experience Rudolph's ideas about space, modular systems and light.” Andrea Goldwyn spoke for the New York Landmarks Conservancy in favor; Lucy Levine spoke for the Historic Districts Council; and Liz Witekus (DOCOMOMO US) and other preservation groups also urged designation.

Vice Chair Bland described a personal connection to Rudolph’s work and asked for assurances that landmark designation would not be nullified if the space became private; Mark Silverman, general counsel, said the property would remain designated even if access conditions changed. Members of the public who spoke included representatives of the Paul Rudolph Institute and several preservation organizations; the commission also received written support from the Iconic Houses Foundation, the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project and eight individuals.

Commissioner Ginsburg moved to close the public hearing; Commissioner Bland seconded, and the commission closed the hearing by voice vote. Chair Carroll said the commission will notify the public when the item returns for a vote, which she said should be “in the near future.”

Why it matters: the nomination highlights a late modern interior by a nationally known architect and seeks to preserve both architectural form and original fixtures that supporters say are rare and publicly accessible.

Lesser details: the nomination lists Paul Rudolph (architect), Ernst Wagner (Rudolph’s partner, who later stewarded the space), and the Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture as principal people and organizations associated with the duplex. Dickinson noted Ernst Wagner died in late 2024 and voiced support for continuing Wagner’s stewardship.

The commission has not yet voted on designation; the hearing record is closed and the item will be scheduled for a decision at a future public meeting.