Lawrence Wien

Lawrence Arthur Wien (May 30, 1905 – December 10, 1988) was an American lawyer, philanthropist, and real estate investor. Wien pioneered the concept of real estate syndicates. in New York City. He had four siblings: Mortimer E. Wien, Sidney A. Wien, Leonard Wien, and Ms. Bernard T. Hein.

In 1958, his son-in-law Peter L. Malkin became a partner in his law firm, which was renamed Wien,Lane & Malkin (now Wien and Malkin). His syndicates purchased, or controlled through long-term ground leases, many of New York City's most prominent landmarks, including the Empire State Building (which he bought with partner Harry Helmsley in 1961 from Henry Crown), the Equitable Building, the Graybar Building, the Fisk Building, the Garment Centre Capitol Building, the Fifth Avenue Building, the Lincoln Building as well as many prominent hotels including the Plaza Hotel, the Taft Hotel, Hotel St. Moritz, the Lexington Hotel, and the Hotel Governor Clinton.

Wien also participated in transactions in Newark, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Las Vegas.

Philanthropy Wien was a major benefactor of the arts and education. In 1956, he commissioned the statue of Associate Justice Louis Brandeis of the United States Supreme Court which sits on the campus of Brandeis University. In 1958, he donated $8.5 million to Brandeis University to endow the Wien International Scholarship which pays the tuition, room & board, and travel expenses for 50 foreign students per year. In 1959 he created a national scholarship at Columbia Law School; Wien contributed over $20 million during his life to his alma mater Columbia including $6 million for the construction of a new stadium at Baker Field, now known as the Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. In 1969, he donated $1.2 million to the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts where he served as vice chairman and a trustee for 20 years.

Recognition

Honorary degrees Doctor of Laws: Columbia University, Brandeis University, Long Island University, Fairfield University, St. John's University Other honorary degrees: Canisius College and The Juilliard School

Named for Wien Wien Hall: a dormitory at Columbia University Wien International Scholarship Program: Scholarship instituted for international students at Brandeis University; over 800 students have attended Brandeis on such scholarships since 1958 The main reading room at Butler Library at Columbia University Lawrence A. Wien Stadium: home of the Columbia University Lions football team Wien Soccer Stadium at Columbia University Wien Professorship of Real Property Law at Columbia Law School Wien National Scholarship Program at Columbia Law School, awarded annually to students from each of the 11 Federal Circuit Court jurisdictions Wien Faculty Building at Brandeis University Wien Walk: Pathway running from the 60th Street entrance of Central Park to the Central Park Zoo in Manhattan Wien Walk 2 at Lincoln Center Columbia Wien Prize in Social Responsibility The Lawrence A. Wien Center for Dance and Theater (890 Broadway)