Knox Building
Also known as: Republic National Bank Building
Why it's listed
Rising ten stories at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 40th Street, this Manhattan building was constructed in 1901-02 as the headquarters of the Knox Hat Company. Colonel Edward M. Knox bought the corner lot and hired architect John H. Duncan, who had also designed the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Brooklyn and Grant's Tomb. Duncan applied features familiar from his residential work, including a fully rusticated facade, large-scale ornament and a two-story mansard roof crowned with torch and eagle cresting. The design also served as an advertisement for the hat company. The building housed the company's offices and main retail store, with other space leased to businesses. It was converted in 1964-65 by Kahn & Jacobs for Republic National Bank, when the mezzanine was removed and the ground floor was fitted with plate glass. The upper facade remains largely intact, and its site opposite the New York Public Library gives the Beaux-Arts design a prominent setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the finest Beaux-Arts commercial buildings in New York City, designed by the notable architect John H. Duncan. Its position opposite the Public Library shows the design to full advantage. It also recalls the Knox Hat Company and its prominent place among Fifth Avenue retailers at the turn of the century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82003381, listed June 3, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 452 5th Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | June 3, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003381 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1901-02 |
| Architect / builder | John H. Duncan |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered in 1964-65 for use as the headquarters of Republic National Bank; the exterior retains a high degree of integrity and the condition is marked good. The owner is listed as Republic National Bank. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.75225, -73.98204 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82003381.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q5818159
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.