ISSUE NO. 2 | OCTOBER 14, 2020
Dear 555 Community,

As you may remember, we launched 555 Madison Connects in February. When COVID-19 hit our city, we quickly pivoted to more frequent email updates providing information to our community as details unfolded in an effort to keep us all connected in real time.

Fall this year feels like a hopeful reboot, a time for renewal and a time to reclaim some of the normal routines in our lives. Workers are returning to the office, cultural institutions are reopening, and city life is carrying on. To celebrate that, we’ll resume our more formal monthly newsletter program with the goal of sharing the news you need about the community that makes 555 Madison so special.

In this issue, you’ll learn a bit about our COVID-related enhancements, from our HVAC upgrades to our new bike room. We will also share a bit of 555 history and the tenant stories that help you get to know your neighbors better.

Please note: while we send this update to our designated tenant contact, we encourage you to share this newsletter and all issues with your entire staff so we can keep our community connected and informed. Happy reading!
The Management Team
Rodney Corporation
HVAC EXCELLENCE
A Breath Of Fresh Air In The Age Of COVID
This month’s employee spotlight is on John Byers. He launched an industry first-of-its-kind invention at 555 Madison Avenue designed to improve HVAC systems. His work was well underway before COVID-19 hit but we are certainly glad it’s in place now.
 
The new system provides an automated way to clean, disinfect and deodorize supply fan coil units at a much more frequent rate than current industry standards have set. All this translates into cleaner air and a more efficient system. It also reduces maintenance and energy costs.

Beyond John’s improvements, additional enhancements to how we manage the air in the building have been made in direct response to COVID-19 and are based on guidance from government agencies and health officials.

For example, we’ve increased the fresh air intake for the building by 20-40%. We’ve limited the amount of recirculated return air, and doubled the frequency with which we replace the air filters. We have also upgraded the intake air fan supply filter media from 7 MERV to 14 MERV.

Lastly, we are in the process of implementing a UV ray filtration system which further cleans and disinfects air as it passes through our main air ducts. The UV filtration will be operational by mid-October.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
John Byers
Meet John Byers. He is the man of the hour and the man leading the charge when it comes to air circulation at 555 Madison. John is the Chief of Engineering at 555 Madison.

John, with the assistance of his son, Acting Chief Engineer Sean Byers, oversaw all HVAC upgrades and COVID-related enhancements described in the previous article.

John recently celebrated 40 years of service with Local 94 Operating Engineers this past year. John is a dedicated husband of 39 years who enjoys spending time with his wife, four children and six grandchildren.

John, thank you for your invaluable service.
Commuting By Bike, No Problem!
Not ready to venture back on the subway? No worries. We have opened a bike room for tenants. If you would like to use the bike room, please let us know by emailing Aleisa Sulaman at aleisa.sulaman@rodneycorporation.com. Bikes and scooters are not allowed in the main lobby, so you will need to enter through the 56th Street service entrance. We’ll update your ID to provide access via 56th Street.

TENANT SPOTLIGHT
Kahn Brothers
The Kahn Brothers set up shop at 555 Madison Avenue in July 1995 — making them the tenants with the longest history in the building. The investment firm serves institutional and high-net-worth clients, providing investment management through its registered investment advisor, Kahn Brothers Advisors LLC, and brokerage services through Kahn Brothers LLC.

“We have a value-oriented approach to security analysis and money management,” says Tom Kahn. “We are serious about analysis. We really study the businesses we invest in. We are interested in how a company is going to do over the next 3-5 years, not how they are going to perform in the short term over the next 6 months.” 

A lifelong commitment, a rigorous analytical approach, and, of course, family ties are qualities that have continued to distinguish the Kahn Brothers throughout the years.

The origins of the business date back to a firm established by Irving Kahn, Tom’s father, in the 1930s. That business was eventually sold to Lehman Brothers and then Irving and his two sons — Tom and Alan — set up the Kahn Brothers as an independent operation in 1977. Irving passed away at the age of 108 but worked until the age of 106. Alan has since retired and today Tom is running the business. His son Andrew Kahn has been with the firm for the last decade.

When asked why a financial firm that was established downtown moved to 555 Madison Avenue, Tom explains longevity and family prompted the move. “It’s a funny story really. We were downtown for 30 years. My father was not one for retirement and I couldn’t get him to stop traveling by subway to the office. One day he slipped and fell on a subway step, but he still insisted on commuting downtown after that. So, I decided to relocate the office closer to his home uptown. 555 Madison Avenue was all about the location. My dad could take a quick taxi or a bus. It was convenient.”

The location seems to have worked out well for Tom too. While he prefers to get to work early in the morning to see how the markets are performing, he enjoys taking his time on the way home. When the weather is nice, he’ll walk home by the Plaza Hotel and through the park to his apartment on Central Park West, where he and his wife raised three children.

His walking commute is especially handy during the age of COVID. Just like the rest of us, Tom is eager to welcome his full team back to 555 this fall.

New Bike Room
New Delivery & Package Room
Staying Healthy At 555 Madison
We take your health seriously and are committed to offering a clean and safe working environment. 

In addition to some of the steps we are taking like ensuring great air filtration, offering Purell stations, disinfecting public spaces, encouraging social distancing and requiring masks, here are some tips on what you can do to stay healthy.

  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least twenty seconds and use hand sanitizer whenever soap and water are not available.

  •  Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

  • We strongly recommend that you receive an annual flu shot. 

  •  If you are presenting with flu-like symptoms or have a fever, stay home and call your doctor.

REMINDER: Please let your visitors know in advance that our building has strict COVID protocols. Please share our COVID protocols with visitors in advance. Here is a link: https://www.555madison.com/covid-19.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
The Architects of 555
As 555 Madison Avenue was nearing completion in 1961, Real Estate Forum wrote in their November issue: “Undoubtedly the most notable contributions to the structure’s distinct individuality are the superior craftsmanship and originality with which the 300,000 square-foot skyscraper has been conceived. Erected at a cost of more than $8 million, the Madison Avenue building… has been blueprinted by John M. Kokkins, one of the East’s most successful architects, and an imaginative, active builder for his own investment.”

Here are five facts about the architect who imagined and realized 555 Madison Avenue.

1. Born in Greece in 1901, Kokkins emigrated to the U.S., arriving at Ellis Island in 1921. He was the first Greek immigrant to graduate from Columbia University’s School of Architecture.

2. In the 1930s, Kokkins worked for the NYC Department of Parks. He worked on the building of the East River Drive, the Cross-Bronx Expressway, the gate of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and a renovation of Gracie Mansion.

3. Immediately after WWII, Kokkins worked as an architect for the Greek War Relief organization designing hospitals and health centers in an effort to rebuild the country.

4. His first project in Manhattan was the remodeling and sale of 1107 Fifth Avenue. It contained the largest apartment in America at the time.

5. Over the next decade, he worked on many residential projects in Manhattan and on 555 Madison on the commercial side. Kokkins collaborated with Morris, Lapidus, Harrle & Liebman on the 555 Madison Avenue project.

AVAILABLE SPACE AT 555

In response to COVID, we are working with tenants to offer up flexible, built-out space as needed on a short-term basis to help accommodate social distancing needs in the workplace. This could be a few private offices or an entire unit. Tell us what you need and we are happy to help.

Need more permanent space? Here’s what’s available:
11th Floor
5,908 RSF, Pre-built C – Available Immediately (Furnished and wired option available) 

13th Floor
1,434 RSF, Furnished Pre-built – Available Immediately

19th floor
9,733 RSF, Full-floor White box – Available Immediately

If you are interested in any of our available spaces or if you wish us to keep you in mind for future openings, please give us a call. We’re always happy to chat!
Ask Aleisa
You have questions. Aleisa has answers.

Write to Aleisa for guidance on any concern you have or anything you are simply curious about related to 555 Madison. Write to Aleisa Sulaman with the subject line: Ask Aleisa at aleisa.sulaman@rodneycorporation.com. Here’s a recent letter from a colleague and neighbor.
Aleisa Sulaman
Dear Aleisa,

I have a question. While we do have accommodations in our offices for nursing mothers, they are not necessarily ideal. Are there any facilities within the building that have already been designated for this type of use or are there any plans to create one?

Sincerely,
Working Mom.



Dear Working Mom,

Supporting new mothers when they return to work is something we are passionate about. While many companies have their own nursing rooms, we are proud to announce that we have opened a nursing room accessible to all tenants should they need some private space. The room is on the 14th floor. Keys are available in our office. Just email me if you’d like to take a tour!

Thank you for your question!
Aleisa


NEWS TIPS: We also are eager to hear and share your news. Please send story tips and news items about your company and employees for consideration for this newsletter to: newsletter@rodneycorporation.com. Thank you!

Thank you for reading our newsletter!
Reminder October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Schedule your annual screening.