Federal Plaza

Federal Plaza is a complex of United States federal government buildings located in Manhattan, New York City, near the New York County Courthouse and the African Burial Ground National Monument. The plaza is situated near the Brooklyn Bridge and is close to the World Trade Center site, where the National September 11 Memorial & Museum is located. It is also near the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the New York Stock Exchange. The area is served by the New York City Subway system, including the J/M/Z trains at the Fulton Street station and the R train at the Cortlandt Street station, which is also close to the National Museum of the American Indian.

● History

The construction of Federal Plaza began in the early 1960s, during the administration of President John F. Kennedy, and was completed in 1967, under the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The project was managed by the General Services Administration and was designed by the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, in collaboration with Victor Lundy, who also designed the Sundrome at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The complex was built on a site that was previously occupied by the New York City Police Department headquarters and the New York City Municipal Building, which is now located near the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. The plaza is also close to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

● Design and Architecture

The Federal Plaza complex consists of several buildings, including the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, which is named after the former United States Senator Jacob K. Javits, and the James L. Watson Court of International Trade, which is named after the former United States Representative James L. Watson. The complex is designed in the International Style and features a large public plaza, which is surrounded by several buildings, including the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse, which is named after the former Supreme Court of the United States Justice Thurgood Marshall. The plaza is also close to the New York Public Library and the Museum of Jewish Heritage.

● Location and Accessibility

Federal Plaza is located in the Civic Center neighborhood of Manhattan, near the New York City Hall and the New York County Courthouse. The plaza is accessible by public transportation, including the New York City Subway system, which includes the J/M/Z trains at the Fulton Street station and the R train at the Cortlandt Street station. The area is also served by several MTA Regional Bus Operations bus routes, including the M5 and M15 buses, which connect to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and the George Washington Bridge Bus Station. The plaza is also close to the Holland Tunnel and the Brooklyn Bridge.

● Notable Events and Tenants

Federal Plaza has been the site of several notable events, including protests and demonstrations, such as the Occupy Wall Street movement, which began in Zuccotti Park and spread to other locations, including the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The plaza is also home to several government agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Homeland Security, which has its New York City office located in the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building. The plaza is also close to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the One World Trade Center, which is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

● Security and Controversies

Federal Plaza has been the subject of several security concerns and controversies, including the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the September 11 attacks, which occurred nearby. The plaza has also been the site of several protests and demonstrations, including the Occupy Wall Street movement, which led to several arrests and clashes with police. The area is heavily patrolled by the New York City Police Department and the Federal Protective Service, which is responsible for securing United States federal government buildings and property. The plaza is also close to the United States Coast Guard Sector New York and the New York City Office of Emergency Management.

Category:Government buildings in the United States