Woolworth Building
Identification
Woolworth Building
Cathedral of Commerce
114681
Map
Structure in general
skyscraper
rigid frame
steel
caisson foundation
terra-cotta
curtain wall
light gray
neo-gothic
Usage
commercial office
university
Facts
- The tower was designed to be seen as a free-standing skyscraper, so all four sides were treated architecturally.
- The straight lines of the piers end in the tower decorated with gargoyles, turrents, pinnacles, and colored terra-cotta panels.
- The Woolworth has a Romanesque lobby with barrel-vaulted ceilings.
- Dubbed the "Cathedral of Commerce" upon its completion. Retail magnate Frank W. Woolworth paid for the building out of his pocket...$13.5 million.
- Also located in the lobby are sculpted caricatures of Frank Woolworth, Cass Gilbert and Louis Horowitz, the builder.
- When Cass Gilbert was designing the Woolworth Building, he wanted to incorporate Gothic themes with the modern idea of a skyscraper. The result, termed Gothic Revival, features gargoyles, arches and flying buttresses.
- Renovated between 1977 and 1981 for $20 million.
- The lower U-shaped part of the building is 29 stories high.
- World's tallest building from 1913 - 1930; surpassed by The Trump Building.
- The Woolworth Building was the most recognizable skyscraper in the world until the Chrysler Building was built in 1930.
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More InformationTechnical Data
241.40 m
241.40 m
241.40 m
60.30 m
46.37 m
57
1910
1913
2000
34
Involved Companies
Architect:
Also recorded for this building:
Construction company, Structural engineering, Owner, Property management, Facade supplier, Steel supplier, Elevator supplier, Tenant
Features & Amenities
- One of the city's famous buildings
- City landmark