We often gaze at the frightening and beautiful, Rem Koolhaas-designed One Madison Square, sure that it’s a baby’s breath from toppling. But despite the psychotic design and the economic chaos now engulfing the building--developers have defaulted on the mortgage, owing lenders $200 million--it is still, aside from the Flatiron Building, the prettiest thing near Madison Square.
We caught it at 7 am on a recent morning and wondered (a) what magnitude of quake would tip 60 floors and (b) who pays 40 gazillion to live in fear?