Uris Buildings Corporation

[4] Percy started the business in 1920 with his father Harris H. Uris (c. 1867–1945),[2] a Lithuanian immigrant and former ornamental iron worker.

The brothers first focused on residential development, including emergency housing during World War II.

[2] They stopped building apartments in 1950, pulling out due to dissatisfaction with rent controls that were imposed during war but never discontinued.

They owned their developments personally until they incorporated in 1960 forming Uris Buildings, a public company.

[4] Percy handled most financial aspects of the business, such as buying and selling property, negotiation of loans, financing, rental pricing, and profit calculation.

[6] Projects outside of New York included the Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC that was built with five stories underground in order to have the desired space while conforming to the district's height restrictions.

[1] In Philadelphia, Uris built the first modern building in the city's central business district redevelopment known as Penn Center in 1953–1954.

[1][8] Famous real estate investor Harry Helmsley credits Uris with "having a profound effect on shaping the Park Avenue skyline above 45th Street".

[8] Arthur C. Kaufmann, CEO of Gimbels in Philadelphia and member of a Citizens' Advisory Committee for the project disavowed it.

This building was under authority of the Art Commission due to its location near the scenic Benjamin Franklin Parkway.