Its exterior includes French Renaissance details and is divided into a nine-story base, a twelve-story shaft, and a four-story octagonal pyramidal roof.

The structure was purchased in 1981 by Philippine dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, and the name was changed to the Crown Building in 1983, after its crown-like look when illuminated at night.

[17] By the 21st century, the arts hub had largely been replaced with Billionaires' Row, a series of luxury skyscrapers around the southern end of Central Park.

The lowest two stories contain double-height storefronts divided by limestone pilasters and topped by flat arches with small brackets and rounded corners.

[44] The original main entrance was at the far left (south) end of the Fifth Avenue elevation; it contained four doors, flanked by columns and pilasters.

[57] The hotel units have Japanese-inspired decorations,[52][56] including patterned stone floors, movable doors with rice paper panels,[55] and large murals inspired by the 16th-century painting Shōrin-zu byōbu.

[64] The largest residence in the building is a five-story penthouse that covers 14,000 square feet (1,300 m2); it has a full-floor master suite as well as a piano lounge, a gallery, two pools, two kitchens, four other bedrooms, and a game room.

[78] The New-York Tribune wrote that Heckscher was "highly incensed" that his secret purchase had been announced publicly because he had wanted to give the Whitney mansion to his wife as a surprise gift.

[88] Heckscher formed a holding company called Anahma Realty, which was named after his yacht, though work was delayed likely due to the Spanish flu.

[103] Tenants with full floors in the building included upholstery and decoration distributor Stroheim & Romann,[104] the Consolidated Cigar Company,[105] stockbroker J. P. Benkard & Co.,[106] and oil refiner Cosden & Co.[107] Women's Wear wrote that the building's completion coincided with the increasing concentration of businesses along 57th Street,[108] while the New York Herald Tribune wrote that its construction accelerated its commercial redevelopment.

[114] The Museum of Modern Art moved into a six-room gallery on the Heckscher Building's twelfth floor in November 1929;[115] it was MoMA's first-ever location.

[130][133] The Heckscher Building was offered for sale at a foreclosure auction in early July 1938,[134] and City Bank Farmers Trust paid $4.25 million for the structure that month.

[135] During the 1940s, space in the building was leased to tenants such as dressmaker Wilma Gowns,[136] perfume seller Parfums Charbert,[137] and the Motion Picture Sales Corporation.

[25] The Genesco Building at 730 Fifth Avenue was sold in September 1981 to Ralph and Joseph Bernstein of the New York Land Company, which was initially reported to be representing an anonymous Canadian investment group.

[155][c] In a subsequent criminal case, one witness testified that Ferdinand Marcos was initially reluctant to buy the building, but relented after his wife tearfully pleaded for him to purchase it.

[166] The new owners added 23-karat gold leaf to the building's facade,[42][167] reportedly to compete with the decorations on the then-new Trump Tower across Fifth Avenue.

[174] Other new tenants during that decade included a store for Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A.,[175] a temporary construction office for Donald Trump,[166] the headquarters of fashion brand Pierre Cardin,[176] and a jewelry gallery.

[178] Also during that decade, preservationists had proposed designating the Crown Building as a contributing property to a planned historic district along the midtown section of Fifth Avenue.

[180] A United States House of Representatives committee found that the Bernsteins had been working on behalf of Marcos,[181][182] who had intended the building and several others as a gift for his wife Imelda.

[186] The Bernsteins alleged that they paid $235 million for the Crown Building, Herald Center, and 40 Wall Street,[187][188] but the Philippine government claimed that the sale was never finalized.

[200] The Aquino administration attempted in early 1989 to sell the four Marcos properties to Morris Bailey for $398 million, over the objections of the Bernsteins and Khashoggi.

[196] The Crown Building was sold in February 1991 to real-estate developers Bernard Spitzer, Marvin Winter, and Jerome L. Greene for $93.6 million, only a few thousand dollars above Security Pacific's bid.

[219] Luxury goods store Bruno Magli leased the penthouse,[220] while other office space was occupied by fashion firm Mondo Inc.,[221] lifestyle magazine Playboy,[222] and hotel chain Sun International.

[226] During the 2000s, the building gained tenants such as a Smythson stationery store,[227] a Vidal Sassoon fashion salon,[228] a Gilan jewelry showroom,[229] and the headquarters of the Nina Footwear Corporation (which had acquired I.

[239][240] Though the sale was one of the largest deals in New York City real estate history,[48][237][238] one observer predicted that the retail space alone was worth more than the price paid for the whole structure.

[242] Shvo and Doronin announced plans to convert and redevelop their portion of the Crown Building into the Aman New York, a luxury hotel and residences.

[264] Sutton sold most of his stake in the retail space to Brookfield Properties that month, reportedly due to dissatisfaction over the terms of the refinancing.

[283] The fashion house Chanel opened a two-story store at the Crown Building's base, its first standalone watch-and-jewelry boutique in the United States, in February 2024.

[293] When the Heckscher Building was being planned, the New-York Tribune wrote that the structure exemplified the commercial and architectural changes taking place on Fifth Avenue.

[56] A writer for Town and Country magazine stated that there was an "interesting juxtaposition between Aman's glossy modernism and its new home's old Beaux-Arts bones", describing the interiors as having a serene atmosphere.