Famous NYC Buildings: The Woolworth Building

Famous NYC Buildings: The Woolworth Building

by Jeff Myers

The Woolworth Building, is a lovely Neo-Gothic skyscraper found at 233 Broadway in lower Manhattan. It is among the 50 tallest buildings in the United States. It was built in 1913 and until the construction of 40 Wall St and the Chrysler Building in 1930, it was the tallest in the country. It's still among the top 25 tallest buildings in New York City.

<strong>Designed by Cass Gilbert</strong>

One of the fun points about the Woolworth Building is that its designer was Cass Gilbert, an Ohioan who was also the architect for the U.S. Supreme Court building. Gilbert considered a ground breaker in the development of skyscrapers. Gilbert made thirty plans for the building over a two year span before he made a decision on the final one.

<strong>Commissioned by Frank W. Woolworth</strong>

Frank Woolworth pioneered the Woolworth Company, a chain of "5 and 10" stores. When he comissioned the building, he paid for the $13,500,000 skyscraper in cash.

<strong>Struggles with Lewis Pierson</strong>

The Woolworth building also housed the Irving Bank, whose president was Lewis Pierson. The Irving Bank was a major building tenant and Pierson's needs had to be considered. He and Woolworth frequently had animated discussions over their conflicting visions of what the building should look like.

<strong>Old Observation Deck</strong>

The observation platform was located on the 57th floor, but was closed to the general public in 1945.

<strong>National Historic Landmark</strong>

The Woolwprth Building has been a National Historic Landmark since 1966.

<strong>Columbia Records</strong>

Beginning in 1913, Columbia Records was one of the first renters and had a very well-known studio in house. The studio was in use as early as 1917.

<strong>Frank Woolworth's Private Office</strong>

The office is designed in the baroque French Empire style and is decorated in marble.

<strong>Unplanned Heights</strong>

The initial plan was that it was only supposed to be a twelve to sixteen story office building at the corner of Broadway and Park Place, but Woolworth kept taking more land. The height of the building grew in the same way.

<strong>Caricatures</strong>

The Woolworth building's colonnade galleries are decorated with caricatures of the skyscraper's benefactors. When rental agent Edward Hogan found out he had not been included among the caricatures produced by Paul Jenewein, he was very upset and insisted that his caricature be put in also.



Jeff Myers has had an interest in famous Big Apple buildings like the <a href="http://new-york-buildings.com/nyc-buildings/woolworth-building-6/">Woolworth building</a> for many years. He has written many articles about this this subject that can be read <a href="http://new-york-buildings.com/nyc-buildings/">here</a>.

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