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History

The Stark Tower was designed by Tony Stark with the intention to serve as a gleaming beacon of modern architecture.[6] The building was constructed in the intersection of 58th and Broadway,[7] in the vicinity of Columbus Circle, and approximately 10 blocks north of the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building. The Stark Tower is part of the Stark Tower Complex, built as a world-class financial and business facility to complement Midtown Manhattan's business district.[4] The Stark Tower was completed after four years of excavation and construction.[6] Though the tower itself cost $600 million to build, the land on which it stands was suspiciously cheap considering its prime location.[8]

Stark Tower (Columbus Circle, Original) from New Avengers Vol 1 3 001

The Stark Tower's original appearance

Shortly after the building's inauguration and following the formation of the New Avengers, Stark donated the top three floors to serve as the team's base of operations, which he originally intended to use as his personal home.[6] The Stark Tower's status as the New Avengers' headquarters resulted in the building being colloquially known as the "Avengers Tower". Unfortunately, this new purpose also inhibited conventional occupancy; though certain specialty enterprises found the building's unique infrastructure to be invaluable.[4] As a consequence of the destruction of his house, New Avengers member Spider-Man moved to the Tower together with his wife Mary Jane Watson and his aunt May.[9]

The return of the Sentry to prominence after years of having subconsciously erased the world's memories of him resulted in the rematerialization of his Watchtower atop the Stark Tower, fully integrated into the building's architecture.[10]

Stark Tower (Columbus Circle, Original) from New Avengers Vol 1 14 001

With the Watchtower on top

After the superhuman civil war, the Stark Tower became the base of operations of the newly-formed, government-sanctioned Mighty Avengers.[11] When the Hulk returned to Earth after being exiled by the Illuminati, the Stark Tower was severely damaged during a fight between Iron Man and the Hulk.[12] The tower was repaired by Stark using his resources as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director. However, that resulted in the Tower officially becoming property of S.H.I.E.L.D.. So, when Norman Osborn replaced Tony Stark, he gained access to the Tower, which became the base of operations of his own Avengers.[13]

During Osborn's siege of Asgard, the Sentry was killed by Thor after being taken over by his evil alter-ego, the Void. As a consequence of this, the Watchtower faded out of existence. Following Osborn's impeachment and the reinstatement of the real Avengers, the government gave ownership of the Stark Tower back to Tony Stark. Additionally, Thor and the Asgardians gifted Heimdall's observatory to the Avengers as a sign of solidarity between Earth and Asgard. The observatory was placed atop the building.[14]

Stark Tower (Columbus Circle, Original) from Avengers Vol 4 18 001

Ruins

When the Asgardian god of fear, the Serpent, returned, he had a set of seven magical hammers possess different superhumans, turning them into the Worthy. A hammer that landed in Manhattan took over The Thing, turning him into Angrir. During his rampage through Manhattan, Angrir tossed his hammer through Stark Tower

Residents

Notes

  • The Stark Tower measured 1,138 ft. (1,707 ft. including the Sentry's Watchtower. The Watchtower also added 20 floors (reaching a total of 113 floors).[4]

See Also

Links and References

References

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