flatiron

Flatiron refers to several distinct entities, most commonly the Flatiron Building, a landmark skyscraper in New York City. Completed in 1902 and designed by architect Daniel Burnham, the building is noted for its triangular footprint, which mirrors the shape of a traditional 19th‑century flat‑iron. Standing 285 feet tall, it was the world's tallest steel‑frame building at the time of its construction and has since become a symbol of early twentieth‑century architectural innovation. The structure is located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue, Broadway, and 23rd Street in Manhattan's Flatiron District, a neighborhood that developed in the late nineteenth century around the skyscraper and now contains a mix of commercial, residential, and retail spaces.

The term flatiron is also applied to other objects and institutions whose shapes or functions echo that wedge form. In computing, Flatiron is a software company that delivers data analytics platforms for the life sciences and other sectors, headquartered in California. Flatiron School is a private coding bootcamp based in New York City that offers intensive programming courses. Flatiron Brands, a manufacturer of small metal parts, has been in operation since the early twentieth century and specializes in precision components for automotive and consumer products. Additionally, the Flatiron building type in engineering refers to certain geometric frustums with reduced angles at the top, used in structural and architectural contexts.

Across these varied uses, the name flatiron generally connotes a distinctive, sharp‑pointed structure, whether architectural, technological, or industrial, and reflects a design that emphasizes compactness and efficiency.