Located in midtown Manhattan at 200 Lexington Avenue, the New York Design Center (NYDC) is an essential resource to designers and architects. The country's oldest furniture and design building, the NYDC houses a variety of residential & contract showrooms, diversity of product lines, and on-going support of design trade associations that make it an invaluable resource to the design trade.

The 16-story, 500,000 square foot building was constructed in 1926 as the New York Furniture Exchange, and was available only to wholesale buyers. Until the mid-1970's, when mass market furniture relocated permanently to High Point, North Carolina, regional markets were held each winter and summer attracting a nationwide audience.

In the late 1970's, the NYDC's Board of Directors, made up of industry professionals, cited change in the market conditions, and began to convert the building's focus towards interior design and architecture. In 1981, the building emerged as the New York Design Center.

Millions of dollars have been spent over the past two decades on the metamorphosis of the building. In the lobby, the spectacular atrium ceiling was renovated and reopened, display cases, a redesigned security desk containing state-of-the-art video security were added. The historic exterior has been maintained.

With an influx of new tenants and resources, the building has undergone transformation and modernization. Today, the NYDC houses nearly 100 showrooms representing over 300 lines of fine, traditional, contemporary, and contract furniture, fabrics, floorcoverings, wallcoverings and decorative accessories. The NYDC also serves as the headquarters for the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA), The Greater New York Home Furnishings Association (GNYHFA) and Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA).

Through building outreach programs with various universities and design schools, building sponsored scholarship funds, and design competitions and receptions, the NYDC is able to foster strong ties with the consumer, as well as with the designer. Expanding on its strong relationships with the city's museums, guilds, and major corporations, the NYDC is involved in various industry-related exhibitions, seminars, and special events.

These efforts keep the NYDC constantly in the forefront of New York's design community, making it the most comprehensive resource for the industry.