After two years of construction, Tower 49 opened its doors to a roster of international and high profile tenants in 1984. Tower 49 is designed by the renown architectural company, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). The original tenants included, The First Boston Corporation (now Credit Suisse), Saks Fifth Avenue and Bank Generale. Many of the original tenants and successors continue to occupy or lease space more than 25 years after Tower 49 opened.In 1992, Tower 49 began art programming in the main lobby, establishing Tower 49 Gallery. The expansive wall and ceiling heights are a great space for exhibiting site-specific installations, paintings and sculptures. Over the years, Tower 49 Gallery has exhibited artists including: Frank Stella, Mark Di Suvero Jules Olitski and Shigeno Ichimura. For the past 7 years Tower 49 Gallery has been working with The Arts Student League of New York as well.