55 Central Park West, often called the Shandor Building or “Spook Central,” is one of the most iconic locations from the Ghostbusters movie. Featured prominently in the film, this art deco building served as the eerie and supernatural setting for Dana Barrett’s apartment and the gateway for the arrival of Gozer, the Gozerian.
Originally intended to be shot at 1 Fifth Avenue in Greenwich Village, the production team settled on 55 Central Park West due to local objections. The filmmakers added additional upper stories and Gothic elements to the building digitally and through set design, giving it the foreboding look that fit the film’s tone.
Historical and Supernatural Details
The building was designed with a unique magnesium-tungsten alloy and structural elements that, in the film’s lore, made it a super-conductive portal between dimensions. Built by the fictional architect and cult leader Ivo Shandor, the building became a focal point for Gozer worshippers, who aimed to summon their deity and bring about the apocalypse.
Dana Barrett (played by Sigourney Weaver) lived in apartment 2206, where she experienced supernatural events, including eggs frying themselves and the chilling sight of a Terror Dog in her refrigerator. Later, both Dana and her neighbor Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) were possessed by Zuul and Vinz Clortho, Gozer’s terror dogs, to prepare for the deity’s arrival.
Memorable Scenes at the Shandor Building
The movie’s climax takes place on the building’s rooftop, transformed into the Temple of Gozer. This is where the Ghostbusters face Gozer, and where the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man makes his destructive debut in New York City. The combination of practical effects, miniatures, and CGI made the building one of the most memorable movie locations in cinematic history.
Visit Today
55 Central Park West remains a residential building, but fans of Ghostbusters often visit the site to marvel at its cinematic history. While the rooftop scenes were filmed on a soundstage, the exterior and its prominent location along Central Park make it an iconic stop for movie enthusiasts exploring New York City.
