Woolworth Building

Woolworth Building
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Name	Woolworth Building
Caption	The Woolworth Building viewed from Brooklyn
Location	233 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City
Coordinates	40, 42, 44, N...
Start date	1910
Completion date	1913
Opening	April 24, 1913
Height	792 ft
Floor count	57
Architect	Cass Gilbert
Developer	Frank Winfield Woolworth
Structural engineer	Gunvald Aus & Kort Berle
Main contractor	Thompson-Starrett Company
Architecture firm	Cass Gilbert

Woolworth Building is a historic skyscraper located at 233 Broadway in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert and financed by retail magnate Frank Winfield Woolworth, it was the world's tallest building upon its completion in 1913, surpassing the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower. Often called the "Cathedral of Commerce" for its ornate Gothic Revival style, the building remains an iconic fixture of the New York City skyline and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966.

History

The project was conceived by Frank Winfield Woolworth, founder of the F. W. Woolworth Company five-and-dime store chain, who sought a monumental headquarters to symbolize his company's success. Woolworth purchased the site, which was part of the old Erasmus Hall land grant, and hired architect Cass Gilbert in 1910. The building's construction coincided with a period of intense skyscraper competition in New York City, often called the Great Skyscraper Race, which also included the rival Bank of Manhattan Trust Building and later the Chrysler Building. President Woodrow Wilson famously activated the building's lights via a telegraph button from the White House during its grand opening ceremony on April 24, 1913. For decades, it served as the corporate home for the F. W. Woolworth Company until the company's decline and the sale of the building in 1998.

Architecture

Cass Gilbert designed the Woolworth Building in the Gothic Revival style, drawing inspiration from European cathedrals and secular buildings like the Palais de Justice, Brussels. The facade is clad in gleaming white terracotta and detailed with intricate Gothic tracery, gargoyles, and pinnacles. The spectacular, vaulted lobby, often compared to a Byzantine cathedral, features a magnificent mosaic ceiling, stained glass, and sculpted busts including depictions of Gilbert, Woolworth, and engineer Gunvald Aus. This opulent design earned the building its famous nickname, the "Cathedral of Commerce," from the Reverend S. Parkes Cadman during the opening dedication.

Construction and engineering

The structural frame is a pioneering steel frame construction, engineered by Gunvald Aus of the firm Gunvald Aus & Kort Berle. The Thompson-Starrett Company served as the general contractor. Construction was remarkably fast, with the steel skeleton rising at a rate of one-and-a-half stories per week. Innovations included the use of caissons sunk to bedrock and a specialized derrick designed by Louis Horowitz. The building also featured advanced systems for its time, including a high-speed elevator system by the Otis Elevator Company and its own power plant. The total cost was approximately $13.5 million, which Woolworth famously paid in cash.

Cultural impact and legacy

Upon completion, the Woolworth Building was instantly celebrated as a marvel of modern engineering and architectural beauty, influencing the design of subsequent skyscrapers like the Chicago Tribune Tower. It has been featured in countless films, including *King Kong* (1933) and *Man on a Ledge* (2012), and is a frequent subject in photography and art, notably in works by painter Georgia O'Keeffe. Its status as a National Historic Landmark and a New York City designated landmark secures its preservation. The phrase "Cathedral of Commerce" entered the popular lexicon, encapsulating the era's blend of commercial ambition and architectural grandeur.

Later use and renovations

After the F. W. Woolworth Company vacated, the building was sold to the Witkoff Group in 1998. Major renovations began in the 21st century to adapt the tower for mixed-use. A significant conversion by architects Thierry W. Despont and SLCE Architects transformed the upper thirty floors into luxury residential condominiums, branded as the Woolworth Tower Residences, which opened in 2018. The lower portion remains commercial office space. These sensitive renovations, which preserved the historic lobby and exterior, were overseen with approval from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and have been recognized with awards from the Municipal Art Society of New York.

Category:Skyscrapers in Manhattan Category:Gothic Revival architecture in New York City Category:National Historic Landmarks in New York City