#151 l Woolworth Building l NEW YORK l 241m l 57fl

[RafflesCity]

Woolworth Building
New York, USA

HEIGHT: 241m/792 feet
FLOORS: 57 floors
COMPLETION: 1913
ARCHITECT: Cass Gilbert

Tallest building in the world from 1913-1930.

The project started life in 1909 when Frank W. Woolworth bought the long-coveted tract of land on Broadway opposite City Hall Park and hired Cass Gilbert -- already a distinguished designer -- as architect; Gilbert urged his client to make the new headquarters the tallest building in the world. Woolworth, in turn, influenced by his travels to Europe, wanted his architect to design it in neo-Gothic style.

Foundations were laid in August 1911 and, at the rate of one and a half storeys a week, the 60-storey building was completed two years later.

Rising from a 27-storey base, with limestone and granite lower floors, the tower is clad in white terra-cotta and capped with an elaborate set-back Gothic top, with the spire rising to the height of 241.5 m. It was to be the tallest building in the world for 17 years, until the completion of the 40 Wall Street.

For a payment of $13.5 million in cash(!), the building boasts a highly decorated, three-storey marble lobby in the plan form of a latin cross, with semicircular arches, bronze ornaments and sculpted corbels on the walls (one of which represents Mr. Woolworth himself counting his dimes) and the vaulted ceiling decorated with glass mosaic in Byzantine style. No wonder the building was dubbed the "Cathedral of Commerce."

The building was opened in April 1913 with a gala for 800 persons, and the building's lights were switched on by the President from the White House in Washington, D.C..

In 1980 the building exterior was restored to its original splendour, an assignment that cost more than the original construction work.

The Woolworth chain eventually went out of business and sold the building in June 1998 to the Witkoff Group for $155 million.

The NY University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies will expand to the first three office floors of the building (8,700 m²), with a separate entrance lobby on Barclay Street, equipped with new escalators. Also the top half of the building is facing new use, the space being converted into luxury condominiums.

http://www.skyscrapers.nl/nyc/woolworth_002.jpg

http://www.wirednewyork.com/landmarks/woolworth/images/woolworth.jpg

http://www.wirednewyork.com/landmarks/woolworth/images/woolworth_bb.jpg

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/images/travel/01/10/woolworthbldg_400.jpg

http://www.greatgridlock.net/NYC_Images/092.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/503/103woolworth.jpg

The express elevator bank and the lobby/arcade
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/buttowski/wwblobb.jpg

Check out the posts below for more great pics.

[Sunflower]

Not my favourite style, but still a classic.

7.5/10

[Muse]

What was it? The first skyscraper ever to be paid for up-front before its construction.

When I was in New York, this was the 2nd building i made a B-line to. After the Chrysler of course :) . Yeah, this type of building will always be 'bigger' than any of us, not just in height.

10

[AG]

Another nice art deco building outta NYC. It's roof is good, but the building's facade needs work.

8/10

[SUNNI]

10/10! almost the same class as the ESB ;)

[enzo]

9/10 for her history, intricasy and resilience. She's been cleaned and detailed recently and is looking good despite her close proximity to the WTC collapse and resulting cloud of debris.

There is something slightly awkward about this building though, like a newborn giraffe. You've gotta love a baby giraffe though!;)

http://www.oah.org/pubs/nl/2001nov/woolworth.jpg

http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/fa267/20th/woolwr3.jpg

http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/fnart/fa267/20th/woolwr02.jpg

See her there between the towers?
http://www.rickanddonna.com/images/joiPicturesWTCWoolworth.jpg

http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives/images/d8214i5.jpg

http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/guide/pp3062.jpg

http://www.tropicalisland.de/NYC_New_York_Woolworth_Building_panorama_b.jpg

Remember when they used pencils?
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/vc004836.jpg

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/images/travel/01/10/woolworthbldg_400.jpg

http://www.greatgridlock.net/NYC_Images/001.jpg

http://www.didik.com/wtc031.jpg

http://www.dentontaylor.com/bridge_and_woolworth.jpg

And my absolute favorite pic of her........
http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nws/images/wea02188.jpg

[Muse]

Nice collection you've added to Raffles' there enzo :banana:

[RafflesCity]

8/10

This building looks like a church. Amazing it has been around at the time of WW I !

enzo thanks for the extra pics!! Luckily no harm came to her on 9/11.

[SteelCity32]

They look good with the WTC looking over it...*sigh* :(

8/10

[cgrassham]

Classic design. 8/10

[Pilot66]

One of the all time greats before the age of the look-alikes. Still a 10 after all these years.

[man med]

another classic NYC scraper 8/10

[Caledon1981]

can you imagine how amazing this must have been to someone back when it was built in 1913!! man thats still tall today!! 9/10

[Duff]

nice and detailed
i gave it a 9

[Liz L]

10/10 - She's a "delicate, dignified icon" as somebody said (forget who) - and the perfect illustration of why Gothic is the historical style best suited to skyscrapers - Gothic is as much about height as 'scrapers are, so it's a perfect match. Love all that exquisite detailing, the graceful height - another NYC gem!

In that one pic, it almost looks like the Twin Towers were kind of watching over her, doesn't it?

[DrumCorpsAlum]

8.5/10. Classic.

[Steven]

When I see buildings of this age I think of great growth and prosperity, a time when things were different. It was a time when buildings had character. They were built and carved by hands where great effort was put into making them beautiful.

9/10

[Den Haag AvW]

I think this is one of the greatest buildings in New York.
9.5/10

[Bobdreamz]

the "Cathedral of Commerce" is what many people called this building...sadly Woolworth is no longer with us but I do remember shopping in their five & dime stores....she is an American classic....9.5/10..


the entrance
http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/woolworth/entrancewhole2.jpg

http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/woolworth/whole.jpg

http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/woolworth/portal.jpg

[Pablo]

6/10;)

[Eddy]

of course 10/10. it`s a classic

[UrbanLandscape]

-Bump!-

Why? Because it's awesome! And elegant.

[UrbanLandscape]

Hey, some trivia, do all of you know all of the people portrayed like gargoyles in the lobby?





*200*

[TYW]

8/10

i would rate it higher if the back part looks better

[London bloke]

A classic.But it doesn't earn as much as it's NYC siblings.8/10.

[Westin Peachtree]

EWWWWWW!!!!!

[breezyboy69]

7/10...its nice but there's something i don't like about it...it's still a classic though

[Cliff]

I love it! 10/10

[SeeMacau]

9 /10
Very classic

[Black Cat]

10/10

This building is still brilliant and very fortunate in its siting so as not to be obscured.

[enzo]

Speaking of the building's gargoyles (as someone did above), everyone who worked on or was associated with the bldg. got one, here's a sample....

Gunvald Aus (engineer)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/buttowski/Aus.jpg
Lewis Pierson (president of Irving Bank)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/buttowski/Pierson.jpg
Edward J. Hogan (rental agent-looks a bit like Bill Clinton..)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/buttowski/Hogan.jpg

Dammit, I've looked all over the net but cannot find pics of the Cass Gilbert and F.W. Woolworth gargoyles! I guess I'll have to go take them myself. The F.W. Woolworth one is classic as it pictures him in stone counting stacks of money!:D

http://www.mapposter.com/gifs/bldg.woolworth.gif

[ganjavih]

9... a gothic masterpiece.

[crazyhorse_88]

:) :) :) 9.5/10:) :) :)

nice decoration :cool: :cool:

[Wu-Gambino]

A classic building that give NYC it's charm. Amazing that they could build something that cool a long time ago!

[Tony 175]

An obvious classic. They never make towers like this anymore. So detailed and non-glass. I give it a 9 w/ my famous "thumbs up":okay:

[The Messiah]

Damn i like this one soo bad!
Ah what the heck 10/10

[Calilover89]

classic 8/10. needs a touch up on the top.

[Wisma]

10/10 awesome old one!. Just like the ESB.

[huaiwei]

Simply 10/10. Nothing beats classics. :)

[Ptarmigan]

9.5/10 A classic. Only problem is that the World Trade Center is not there anymore to complement it :(. The World Trade Center is like looking down at the Woolworth Building, which it no longer does anymore. Gees, that really hurts. :(

[RafflesCity]

But it was there before the WTC and many others at one time!:moods:

[Evergrey]

10!!!!!!!!!!


Wow, it's amazing that this OLD building is still in the Top 100! This is one of the greatest buildings on earth... it's CLASSIC! Soaring to the heavens... such ornate and elaborate design... love that neo-gothic style... looks very grand and powerful and important... I love how it's very wide for the lower half... and that slender tower rises from it... which one of the best crowns on earth

[airsickpenthousedweller]

Sorry, but it doesn't impress me.

[CTroyMathis]

A true classic. 9.

[New Jack City]

9.5/10...What is there to say? The Woolworth Building always looks so powerful and intimidating. I love it at night!

http://www.thorneylieberman.com/manhattan/manorigs/ml47.jpg

http://www.twofrog.com/images/wtc-woolworth.jpg

[The Messiah]

Right click mouse,properties.Save pic as.. ;)

[AtlanticaC5]

Very beautiful, 8.5/10

[james2390]

beautiful 9

[SFtoBoise]

10/10

[Patrick]

lovely 9.5 points


EDIT: updated to 10/10

[Kommentare]

10/10 :)

[Javier]

9/10, fantastic building, i like it a lot

[Labrador]

10/10
One of New York's best. The detailing is superb, and the fact that it used to be the world's tallest building adds historical value. Magnificent skyscraper!

[Jarmo K]

Should be at least in the top 10.
It's a masterpiece. 10/10

[UrbanDesigner]

:applause:

[SkyHawk]

A very fascinating building, my preferred one after the Chrysler

10

[BoresvilleMcYawn]

ok 22 people have given this beauty a 3 or less?:bleep: :bleep:

[TPX]

8/10

[Primo]

So elegant and beautiful 9.5/10

[Trances]

so much history there
DId this building start a trend in NYC ?

[Imperfect Ending]

5

Not for me...

[Fabio]

9.5/10


An Amazing Classic.

[manx_bkk]

8/10
Looks beautiful at night, a classic NY building.

[peterthegreat]

nice... remains me 7 sisters in Moscow :D
8.5/10

[sjambler]

9.5/10 I don't think it's as perfect as the Tribune Tower in Chicago.

[MCC]

9/10

[LeCom]

The tower is really nice, very detailed, and has a lot of significance to the city. Yet, I think it's a bit overrated. I consider it just another of those nice pointy towers which New York has like ten or so. ESB and Chrysler are a different story.

[grzesiekko]

10/10 :)

[Aquarius]

I do not like specially, are the many best ones with this style 6,5/10

[Marco Bruno]

9.5/10 :cool:

[ParraMan]

8

A nice and elegant tall old lady with a bent back. The whole building looks a little awkward or out of place, with the tallest section rising at the end of the two shorter wings. Nice and interesting facade and top though.

[renell]

9.5/10 one of New York's well knowned skyscrapers. though it does not have the height most modern skyscrapers have, it does have the elegance other skyscrapers don't.

[Style™]

10/10! Love the building! :guns1:

[Schroedinger's Cat]

absolutely 10/10

[Necker]

9/10

[Œwierszcz]

no doubt, for me it's absolutely in first 3 of the best in NYC... only fair note for this one is 10/10!!! i've seen it live and i fallen in love ;)

[RafflesCity]

In the skyline approx. 1915
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/532/82old_downtown_after1915.jpg

[7 World Trade]

man, the height of the building's truly ahead of its time. i saw the building during my nyc trip, and its extensive details were just amazing. cass gilbert mustve worked his butt off designing this thing... this building and singer is the best of the neo classical era (if only singer survived)...

9.5

[Rickster885]

This building started the era of building beautiful skyscrapers in New York. I give it a 9/10 for it's elegant style. The building is a work of art. I love the old style of architecture used with this building.

[bobdebouwer]

It belongs to the top 10 of best looking buildings in the world! 10/10

[LeCom]

Everyone always raves about how much it soars, but to me its ass is much more down-to-the-ground than many other towers nearby.

[DamienK]

Excellent details, very ornate. 8/10

[DRAKKO]

10/10 :) ... joder a que enfermos mentales se les ocurre oponerle 3...

[SChristopher]

Classic and thats about it....5

[Zuelas]

10

Proud, majestic and beautiful. For being nearly a hundred years old, it deserves the highest rating possible! Thank God it wasn't taken out on 9/11. A classic!

[Zuelas]

...and for whoever voted 3 or less, you're a buncha a**holes ;) please....

[Monkey]

A classic.

8.5/10

[Sitol447]

Definitely 10/10!

[Winus]

8.5 I kinda like that woolworth guy

[David3820]

Oh yes a true classic that I really love!!! I think it really could be my favorite skyscraper in nyc. 10/10

[andysimo123]

7/10

[empersouf]

8.5

[Chibcha2k]

:eek: 10/10

[B@dGuYoM]

9/10

[Reflex]

Fantastic!!! 9.5/10.

[Medo]

10/10 a timeless classic

[MattSal]

Not as great as some of the other old skyscrapers in NYC, but still f***ing great! I give it a 9.5/10. :D

[SoboleuS]

Stunning classic. One of my favourite towers. 10/10

[superskyline]

One of my favorite scrapers! Love old buildings and this one is a wonderful classic!
10/10

[Alfa]

O yes.I wish they build more from those buidlings.

10/10

[Þróndeimr]

7.5/10

[Latoso]

9/10 Beautiful!

[Jules]

Classic. 9.

[Phobos]

10/10

Gorgeous.

[jpq21]

9/10 for having WTB title.
nice design

[Oriolus]

sadly Woolworth is no longer with us but I do remember shopping in their five & dime stores
One of the two biggest supermarket chains in Australia is Woolworths. This is how it got its name.

Woolworths opened its first store, the Woolworths Stupendous Bargain Basement in the old Imperial Arcade in Pitt Street, Sydney on December 5, 1924. The name on the draft prospectus drawn up by Cecil Scott Waine was "Wallworths Bazaar" - a play on the FW Woolworth name (the owner of the Woolworths chain in the US and UK). However, according to Ernest Robert Williams, Percy Christmas dared him to register the name Woolworths instead, which he succeeded in doing after finding out the name was available for use in NSW.
So I'm reminded of this magnificent building every time I pop into Woolies for some milk and a loaf of bread. :) 9/10

[Smileyface]

Absolute classic 9.5/10

[JohnnyMass]

a jewel amongst NYC's skyline! 10/10

[Henk]

Beautiful old styl. I love it. 9.5/10.

[Fern]

A classic- 8.5/10

[dewback]

9/10, very elegant in its own manner.

[ROYAL BLUE]

9/10

[CborG]

A true classic scraper, 9/10

[felipegdl]

5/10

[El_Greco]

classic 10/10

[Sonic from Padova]

9!

[Azn_chi_boi]

8/10, but since this building was built in the 1910's, it get 1 point bonus, making the total points 9/10!

[Media]

10/10 only an idiot that has no value for architecture of early new york or a complete biased tool would rate this building under a 5.

[Xoceelias]

bonito y clasíco 9/10

[United-States-of-America]

Nice historic skyscraper. 10/10.

[MNSR_25]

Just my 3rd best in the city

[Dancer]

What an incredible work of art. This building is one of the greatest skyscrapers of all time. 10

[Camaway]

One of my favourite in NYC. This is how they should all look like! 9

[jesarm]

clasical design and one of the oldest building of the world

[jesarm]

this is a good reason to get a good score 9/10

[SGoico]

8,5 Classic and one of my favourites

[Buse]

Gothic and height were made for each other, so (IMO) it works very well on a skyscraper. The Woolworth Bldg. is a beautiful and classic example: 9/10

[clarky]

9/10

[ChiLooper]

Cool building

[TowersNYC]

I had an Office there....on the 2nd floor and on the 23rd floor !!! :) our office moved and sold the tower prior to the Terroirst attacks!! :(


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/82ee1d51.jpg

[TowersNYC]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/b0187e89.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v109/nyctowers/d3b98d8b.jpg

[Accura4Matalan]

9/10. Better than Chrysler IMO.

[www.sercan.de]

8/10

[۩SkyScraper۩]

7/10

[Mosaic]

I think it's not my type but still classic though.7/10.

[Effer]

6.5/10. Don't really like this building.

[Skylandman]

9.5/10

[DamienK]

The tower under construction around 1912: http://www.norsk-teknisk.museum.no/wormpetersen/stormer/atlanter/kat143487a.jpg

[ROYU]

It's unique it fits perfect with New York. 9.5

[chinatown]

the grandad of skyscrappers
10/10!

[Pengui]

The exact opposite of boring. My best of New York City, best of USA and one of my bests in the world :-)
9.5

[FROM LOS ANGELES]

Another of NYCs many classic. 10/10

[forvine]

9.0/10

[Principes]

THis has to be my favorite tower INSTANT 10!!

[Sinjin P.]

6.5/10

[Petr]

How I love this building. :drool:
10/10

[mr_storms]

Classic building, but not a favorite of mine.
7.5/10

[CrazyCanuck]

Truly a classic, it earns a 9.5 out of 10 from me.

[flashlight]

8/10 :)

[sharpie20]

9/10 classic new york architecture at it's best

[Scruffy88]

10/10 Without comparison or compromise. This is what towers today should do. Think out of the box and reach for the skies and you might just hit one out of the park like this one. No words can describe. one of my top 3 towers of all time. And im thankful its in NY and that i can see it everyday.

[CastorTroy]

9/10
This building definitely deserves a better position than just #106.
It has made skyscraper history.

[brunob]

I know everybody's entitled to their own opinion, considering the fact that a '3' rating mark option is given, but 38 voting 3 for such a classic on all fronts, there's something wrong here.
Either this was voted down out of jalousy or sheer meaningness. :(

[CastorTroy]

I agree with you.

[valantino]

9.5/10

[jimm]

8/10

[warnings]

3/10 not my taste, looks like a cathederal

[marpa]

3/10

[SoboleuS]

^^
3/10 for this beauty? I just can't believe it...

http://freelargephotos.com/000422_l.jpg

http://www.pics.kaybee.org:8080/Vacations/NewYork2002/woolworth.jpg

http://www1.cs.columbia.edu/~sedwards/photos/misc2004/.slide_20040912-3375_Woolworth_Building.jpg

http://www.newyorkchanging.com/mainmap/images/Woolworth%20Building.jpg


10/10 :cool:

[dżimi pejdż]

8/10

[CULWULLA]

Woolworths was tallest until 1929 not 1930. The 282m manhattan bank was first to surpass it. then Chrysler a few months later in 1930. Then it was ESB s turn on may 1st 1931 at official opening!

btw, its a 10/10 from me. the quintessential skyscraper!!

[AtlanticaC5]

I just gave this one a 8.5? Damn, what was I thinking? Should've been a sun-clear 10/10 :okay:

[anakin]

8,5/10

[Skyman]

7.5/10

[ZZ-II]

i like it but not so much how the empire state building 8.5/10

[virarch]

8.5 - 9/10

a classic.

[ferrari_fan]

beautiful..

8.5/10

[RON con soda]

And my absolute favorite pic of her........
http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/historic/nws/images/wea02188.jpg
^^ Mine too

Classic skycraper of NY, just beautiful! 10/10

[Marcanadian]

Not my type but still nice 8/10

[gutooo]

10!

[mannix_10]

7/10

[Cabman]

This building is a joy to see in the flesh. 9/10

[Dreamlıneя]

9/10 :)

[beyutch]

beautiful

[Woko]

A really nice tower. The art deco is the period of architecture that i prefer.
10/10

[skipperBill]

8/10.

[cffuny]

8/10

[Pelha]

6/10 exotic ;)

[mtt16]

7/10

[Orienthai]

10/10 I like .

[weirdo]

wow.9/10

[(((myx)))]

10. amazing.

[Chinky Orz]

Meh, not my type at all

[frango1]

9.5 / 10

[poshbakerloo]

wow Westminster Abbey meets Empire State Building 10/10!!!

[W!CKED]

8/10

[Ralphkke]

Not my style. A 6 out of 10.

[cong san muon nam]

I love it. 9.5/10

[Helium]

one of the "middle children" of NY's skyscrapers.

its grand ornamentation makes it look smaller than it is...

9/10.

[Sebastian21]

Totally a 10.

[Aliya]

9/10

[krull]

I love this building. 10

[Slodi]

classic, beautiful 9.5/10

[LMCA1990]

8/10

[newyorkrunaway1]

10/10

[Astralis]

5/10

[MasonicStage™]

i dont like it...4,5/10

[RON-E]

10/10

[DragonAnime]

Beautiful. 10/10

[Eric Offereins]

10/10 This is an iconic building

[kon133]

10/10 :okay::cheers2:

[krzewi]

-10/10 '

[incognito_rn]

bravo!!! lov nyc!

[FloridaFuture]

A masterpiece
10/10

[Halabalooza]

6 yawn

[WAuzzie]

4/10

[jayhawker]

4/10

you are a fucking idiot.

[MDguy]

one of the best in the world.

10/10

[Nikkodemo]

Nice building, looks majestic!!

9.5/10

[luci203]

10/10

History, one of the things than money can't buy

:cheers:

[Harkeb]

9.

[meds]

so cool

8.5/10

[mbuildings]

9.5/10

[Rutger1991]

10/10
One of the best skyscrapers in NY!!!!!!!
:cheers:

[Kawasaki_Kragujevac]

5.5/10

[stasiua]

Real grandfather amongst tower blocks. And by it free points. Of course, technology, trends, materials, too much is making him different.
Symbolic assessment. 9/10

[railway stick]

8/10.

[Fred_]

07/10

[Squiggles]

9.5/10

A major building block in the creation of skyscrapers. This a beautiful classic, and to think that it's almost a hundred years old is just staggering. I can only imagine what it must've been like to gaze upon when it was completed.