Bank of New York & Trust Company Building

Identification

Map

Structure in general

Usage

Facts

• The rusticated base of the building with its high, arched windows makes for a dignified street presence.
• The overall style of the skyscraper is almost stripped classical.
• Designated landmark status on October 13, 1998.
• The building is a notable presence on Wall Street, while its setback tower, culminating in a Federal-style cupola crowned by an American eagle, contributes a striking and highly recognizable element to the skyline of Lower Manhattan.
• The impressive three-story rusticated base, which housed the main banking floors, incorporates a raised basement, pedimented doorways, and large arched second-story windows.
• In 1796, the Bank of New York became the first bank to erect a building on Wall Street, setting a precedent for the future development of the street as New York's financial center.
• The present building, the bank's third on the site, was erected when the banking industry was taking a leadership role in the redevelopment of downtown with large new skyscrapers.
• An elegant steel-framed, limestone-clad structure, with a series of graceful setbacks, the building is decorated with large scale neo-Georgian details that reinforce the building's picturesque qualities.