Hubbry Logo
Empire Building (Manhattan)Empire Building (Manhattan)Main
Open search
Empire Building (Manhattan)
Community hub
Empire Building (Manhattan)
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Empire Building (Manhattan)
Empire Building (Manhattan)
Empire Building (Manhattan)
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Empire Building
The Empire Building in April 2009
Map
Location71 Broadway, Manhattan, New York
Coordinates40°42′26″N 74°00′47″W / 40.70722°N 74.01306°W / 40.70722; -74.01306
Built1895–1898
ArchitectKimball & Thompson
Architectural styleClassical Revival
Part ofWall Street Historic District (ID07000063[2])
NRHP reference No.83004643[1]
NYCL No.1933
Significant dates
Designated NRHPAugust 28, 1998[3][1]
Designated CPFebruary 20, 2007
Designated NYCLJune 25, 1996

The Empire Building is an office building and early skyscraper at 71 Broadway, on the corner of Rector Street, in the Financial District of Manhattan in New York City. It was designed by Kimball & Thompson in the Classical Revival style and built by Marc Eidlitz & Son from 1897 to 1898. The building consists of 21 stories above a full basement story facing Trinity Place at the back of the building and is 293 feet (89 m) tall. The Empire Building is a New York City designated landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is also a contributing property to the Wall Street Historic District, NRHP district created in 2007.

The Empire Building's articulation consists of three horizontal sections similar to the components of a column—namely a base, shaft, and capital—and has a facade of gray granite at its base and white granite on the upper stories. It is one of the earliest skyscrapers built on pneumatic caissons and one of the oldest such buildings that remain standing. The building contains an interior steel frame structure with a curtain-walled facade. The top stories contain a loggia on the facade as well as a large metal cornice above the 20th floor. There are numerous band courses, balconies, and arched windows along the facade.

The original Empire Building was a brownstone structure constructed in 1859. Though the politician and real estate developer Orlando B. Potter had acquired the brownstone in 1884, he died prior to the current building's construction. The present Empire Building was ultimately developed by his children as a 20-story structure. The Empire Building was the home of United States Steel Corporation from the company's 1901 founding to 1976, and U.S. Steel owned the building between 1919 and 1973. The Empire Building's 21st floor was constructed between 1928 and 1930 to designs by John C. Westervelt. The building was converted to apartments in 1997.

Site

[edit]

The plot measures 78 feet (24 m) along Broadway, 223 feet (68 m) along Rector Street, and 50 feet (15 m) on Trinity Place with a footprint of approximately 14,000 square feet (1,300 m2).[4] Because of modifications made to the building after its completion, some portions of the Broadway entrance cross over the lot line.[5] The previous building on the site, a six-story brownstone structure,[6] measured 82.6 feet (25.2 m) along Broadway, 223 feet (68 m) along Rector Street, and 52 feet (16 m) on Trinity Place.[7]

Along Rector Street, it is adjacent to the churchyard of Trinity Church, providing a dramatic backdrop for the church and ensuring open views for the building.[8] To the south is 65 Broadway,[9] the former headquarters of the American Express company.[10][11] There are entrances to New York City Subway stations right outside both of the Empire Building's principal facades: two stairs to the Wall Street station (4 and ​5 trains) are located to either side of the building's main entrance, while an entrance to the Rector Street station (N, ​R, and ​W trains) is located on Trinity Place just outside the building entrance there.[12]

Architecture

[edit]

The Empire Building was designed by the partnership of Kimball & Thompson, composed of Francis H. Kimball and George Kramer Thompson, in the Classical Revival style.[13][14][15] It was built by Marc Eidlitz & Son, with Charles Sooysmith as foundation engineer.[14] Though the building faces Broadway, with its main entrance on 71 Broadway, it also has entrances at 51-53 Trinity Place. The Empire Building has also been historically known as the U.S. Steel Company Building or O.B. Potter Trust Building, reflecting its past ownership.[16]

As designed, the Empire Building was 20 stories, excluding the full basement on Trinity Place, but this was later expanded to 21 stories plus the basement.[17] The total height of the building is 293 feet (89 m).[16] The facade rises straight from street level and fills the entire lot except for two light courts on the south end of the lot. The offices were arranged so that they faced north toward Trinity Church, while utility rooms and elevators are located on the southern portion of the building.[18]

Facade

[edit]

The facades of the Empire Building are arranged in three sections, consisting of a four-story "base", a "shaft", and a four-story "capital" on top, similar to the components of a column. This was a common setup for facades of buildings that were being erected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[18] The original design called for architectural terracotta sheathing, but the Potter family, which developed the Empire Building, switched to granite because they felt the material was "more suitable".[19][20]

Base

[edit]

The base is four stories of polished gray granite. Due to the difference in elevation between the front and the back of the building, the site slopes down from Broadway to Trinity Place, and there is a full-height storefront in the basement on Trinity Place.[21]

Arch outside the main entrance, set within a granite facade
Main entrance arch

The main entrance on Broadway is based on a triumphal arch, with a main archway that contains three pairs of steel doors, and two smaller flanking ones that lead to first floor stores. The triumphal arch is flanked by two pairs of granite columns, topped by eagles on globes.[21][22] The entrance originally consisted of three pairs of doors, leading to a portico with a barrel vault; it was modified by Walker & Gillette in 1937–1938 in the Art Deco style. The remodeled entrance has a stainless-steel transom band directly atop the doors with the stainless-steel text "71 Broadway 71", as well as a round-arched stainless-steel spandrel panel at the top of the arch, with the number "71" in stainless steel. Staircases to the Wall Street subway station flank the arches at the main entrance.[21]

On the corner of Broadway and Rector Street, there is a chamfer that used to have an entrance at the first floor.[22][5] Along Rector Street, the facade of the base is divided into three parts, and the full basement has storefronts. An entrance arch was located in the middle of the facade.[21] On the third and fourth floors of the Rector Street facade, there is an arcade with Ionic-style vertical pilasters.[21][22]

The full basement facing Trinity Place has a storefront under the northernmost two bays. A recessed entrance designed by Walker & Gillette was installed in the southern two bays in 1937–1938.[21] At the first story, there was formerly an entrance to the Sixth Avenue elevated, which was closed in 1938 and replaced by a steel surround designed by Walker & Gillette.[5]

[edit]

The shaft is twelve stories of a white rusticated granite. The lowest section of the shaft is the 5th floor, which is designed as a transition between the base and the upper floors. The rest of the shaft's facade is composed of band courses that stretch horizontally across the facade on several floors.[22][5] The facade of the 9th and 13th floors is composed of vertical pilasters rather than rusticated granite, and has arched windows instead of the rectangular windows seen on the other stories. The 7th, 11th, and 15th floors have balconies, while the 5th, 8th, and 12th floors have balconies. There is a cornice above the 16th floor.[22]

The capital is four stories tall with loggias and a metal cornice above the 20th floor. The loggias, located on the 18th and 19th floors, are composed of Corinthian paired columns that form a colonnade. There are also ornamental panels.[22][5] The 21st story was added in 1928–1930. Atop the south side of the 21st floor is a small terracotta tower that holds the machine rooms for the elevators.[22]

Features

[edit]
Original postcard, 1897, Empire Building

Contractor Charles Sooysmith designed the foundation, which was a mix of grillage and 23 pneumatic concrete caissons that went 23 feet (7.0 m) down to bedrock.[18][23] The foundation covered about half of the lot area.[23] The caissons were intended to reduce disruption to other buildings during the excavation process.[24] Sooysmith was among the first builders to use pneumatic caissons for foundations, having used them in other projects such as the Manhattan Life Insurance Building across Broadway (later demolished) and the American Surety Building two blocks south.[18] The latter was the first steel-framed skyscraper built on pneumatic caissons, as well as one of the earliest steel-framed buildings over ten stories, and the Empire Building had been modeled after it.[25][26] The narrowness of the lot resulted in the inclusion of an extensive system of steel skeleton framing and bracing.[27][28] The foundations were nonetheless designed to accommodate a future expansion of the building.[29]

The total floor area is 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2).[30] Due to the irregular shape of the lot area, none of the sides are equal or parallel to each other.[23] Since being converted to a residential building in 1997, the Empire Building has included 238 apartments, which contain between 537 to 1,142 square feet (49.9 to 106.1 m2) of space. The residential units include studio apartments as well as one- and two-bedroom apartments.[31] Though the interior has been extensively remodeled, the Empire Building still contains one of its original staircases on the western side. The staircase has an iron railing, which contains decorative motifs featuring dolphins and Neptune's scepter, as well as marble treads.[32]

The building was originally equipped with 10 hydraulic elevators manufactured by Otis Worldwide, which were grouped in two banks of five. Of these, nine elevators were for passenger service and one was a freight elevator that could carry loads of up to 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg). Each of the shafts was enclosed in masonry. The bottom 50 feet (15 m) of each elevator shaft narrowed slightly to create a protective "air cushion", which used air pressure to slow down elevator cabs if they were to fall.[33][34] These safety features were included because of a series of elevator accidents that had taken place at nearby 150 Nassau Street.[28] An elevator cab with eggs and light bulbs was experimentally dropped from the top of the shaft on July 18, 1898; despite having fallen past the third floor at 82 miles per hour (132 km/h), the eggs and light bulbs were found to have been undamaged.[33][35]

History

[edit]
Postcard of the Empire Building, dated 1903, with writing on it
A 1903 postcard of the Empire Building

Context

[edit]

The first recorded owner of the site was the Trinity Church and German Lutheran Church, though the German Lutheran Church only occupied a part of the plot. There was an inn at Rector Street and Broadway in the late 18th century.[36] The plot was sold to Grace Church in 1808 or 1809, and a church was built on the site.[36][37] In 1837, Grace Church sold the land, and eight years later, merchant Michael Simpson bought the plot.[36] A six-story brownstone office building at 71 Broadway was built in 1859,[6] and was part of a group of many low-rise residential and commercial buildings erected on the lower section of Broadway.[15] The brownstone became known as the Empire Building or Arcade Building.[38] The latter name was given because there was a public arcade extending adjacent to the building, connecting Broadway to the former Sixth Avenue elevated's Rector Street station.[36]

By the late 19th century, it had become valuable: in April 1884, an English syndicate offered $1.25 million to the building's then-owners S. T. Meyer & Son, an offer that was refused.[7] Politician and developer Orlando B. Potter ultimately purchased the building the same year.[6] The brownstone was bombed in 1891 as part of an extortion attempt directed toward politician Russell Sage, killing four people including the bomber.[39][40] Prior to the explosion, a building tenant had written a letter to the New York City Department of Buildings' commissioner, claiming that the building sometimes "vibrated violently" and was unsafe. The bombing was subsequently reclassified as an assassination attempt.[41] Sage moved to 31 Nassau Street afterward.[36]

Construction

[edit]

After Potter died suddenly in 1894, his belongings passed to his family,[42] and Potter's children assumed his estate.[43] Potter's children then commissioned the current Empire Building.[6] Francis Kimball had designed several of Potter's buildings.[6] Kimball and Thompson filed plans for a limestone, brick, and terracotta building with the Department of Buildings in December 1895, and a permit to build was issued at the end of that month.[19][28] At the time of the plans, the tallest building in Manhattan was the 16-story Manhattan Life Building, and developers did not believe any taller building could be constructed so rapidly.[36] Potter's daughter Blanche said that she and her siblings had wanted to "replac[e] the old structure with a building of which we might always be proud".[20]

During 1896, the caisson foundations were sunk at a depth of 50 feet (15 m).[28] Construction on the above-ground structure started on June 1, 1897.[36][19] During the excavation, a cornerstone from the old Grace Church was found at the building site,[44] as well as bones and numerous tombstones.[45] The arcade from the old building was kept within the new building.[36] The facade was completed on April 19, 1898, with the first tenants moving to the new building shortly afterward.[36][a] At the time of the Empire Building's completion, it was one of the tallest buildings in New York City by floor count.[47] It was among the first of several high-rise buildings that were erected on the southernmost section of Broadway starting in the late 1890s as well as one of the city's oldest steel-frame skyscrapers on pneumatic caissons.[15][48]

Usage

[edit]

Early and mid-20th century

[edit]

By 1900, the Empire Building had over 3,000 employees.[49] One of the earliest tenants at the Empire Building was the U.S. Steel Corporation, which was founded in the building in 1901.[48] Kimball & Thompson also took offices in the Empire Building.[50] In 1903, Kimball considered a proposal to add five stories to the Empire Building, bringing its height to 25 stories and 350 feet (110 m), and making it the city's second-tallest building after the Park Row Building. The proposal was not undertaken.[29][51] By 1908, the Empire Building had some of the most desirable office spaces in the city, with space renting at rates of $3 per square foot ($32/m2), equivalent to $107 per square foot ($1,150/m2) in 2025.[52] A direct entrance from the building to the Wall Street station was not provided in the original construction, but such an entrance was built in 1910.[53]

On April 23, 1919, the U.S. Steel Corporation bought the building from the Potter trust for approximately $5 million in cash.[4][48][54] At the time, the sale was reported to be one of the largest transactions ever conducted for a private property in New York City.[54] The purchase was of interest to real-estate developers and to other steel companies, since it signified that "the steel centre of the world had been once and for all permanently established in New York", according to The New York Times.[55] Blanche Potter later recalled that the sale took place at a time when the Potter family had experienced "financial worry", and U.S. Steel's purchase relieved them of such constraints.[56]

The back entrance, with a square vestibule under a metal grill and a metal sign saying "71 Broadway"
The back entrance, rebuilt in 1937–1938

John C. Westervelt designed an addition to the building between 1928 and 1930. The original parapet at the top of the building was removed, and the 21st story and terracotta elevator room were built above a new steel parapet.[48] In 1937, Walker & Gillette filed plans for major modifications to the Empire Building, which would cost $350,000.[57][58] The main entrance on Broadway and the Trinity Place entrance was refashioned in an Art Deco style, and the connection to the Sixth Avenue elevated's Rector Street station was removed, as part of the project.[59] The facade of the base was also redesigned, and the shops in the Empire Building's arcade were removed.[58] The renovation was completed in 1938.[59]

Late 20th century to present

[edit]

U.S. Steel sold the building in 1973. The Empire Building remained U.S. Steel's headquarters until 1976, and the company remained in the building until the mid-1980s. Subsequently, Broadway West Street Associates took ownership of the building in 1984.[48] One of the later commercial tenants at the Empire Building was advertising agency AFGL International Inc., which moved out during 1994.[60]

The Empire Building was converted to 237 apartments in 1997 by World-Wide Group of Manhattan, which had purchased the foreclosed property for approximately $10 million. At the time, some 30 tenants occupied 70,000 square feet (6,500 m2) in the building.[30] The renovation cost $40 million[61] and was designed by Schuman Lichtenstein Claman & Efron.[62] The residential units were quickly occupied:[31] One of the residents of 71 Broadway was the politician and economist Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was placed under house arrest in the building in 2011 during the criminal lawsuit filed against him, after another apartment building on the Upper East Side declined to host him.[63][64] During Strauss-Kahn's house arrest, the Empire Building received extensive attention from the media and from passersby on Broadway, and it was dubbed "a new tourist hot spot".[64][65]

Critical reception and landmark status

[edit]

Architectural critic Montgomery Schuyler said that the Empire Building was "one of the best [...] commercial buildings" to be built in New York City to date,[66][67] and that its value was "immensely enhanced by the open space opposite" which was occupied by the Trinity churchyard.[68] According to Schuyler, the building's value was increased by the fact that the entirety of the Rector Street facade could be seen because of the churchyard's presence.[69] Architectural writer Sarah Bradford Landau stated that the Empire Building "possesses a quite dignity and an assured elegance", unlike Kimball's earlier Manhattan Life Building.[28] Not all critics viewed the Empire Building positively. Eliot Gregory stated in 1899, without mentioning the building by name, that the Empire Building contained a "grotesque resemblance to a waffle iron", which gave it "the impression of instability".[19][70]

The Empire Building was designated a New York City landmark in 1996.[17] It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1998.[3] In 2007, it was designated as a contributing property to the Wall Street Historic District,[2] a NRHP district.[71]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Empire Building (Manhattan)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Empire Building is a 21-story Neo-classical located at 71 Broadway, on the corner of Rector in the Financial District of , . Constructed between 1897 and 1898 as one of the city's earliest skeletal-frame office buildings, it stands 293 feet tall, featuring innovative pneumatic caisson foundations sunk into bedrock. Designated a New York City Landmark in 1996 and listed on the in 1998, the building was converted into 237 luxury apartments in 1997 while preserving its historic facade. Designed by architects Francis H. Kimball and G. Kramer Thompson and built by Marc Eidlitz & Son, the Empire Building exemplifies late 19th-century commercial with its tripartite composition of base, shaft, and capital. The base is clad in polished gray granite with an arcaded design and a prominent entrance on Broadway, while the upper stories feature rusticated white granite over a , accented by colonnaded loggias, balconies, and a projecting . Originally commissioned by the estate of financier Orlando B. Potter, the structure spans 78 feet along Broadway, 223 feet on Rector Street, and 50 feet on Trinity Place, incorporating light courts to illuminate interior offices. From 1901 to 1976, the building served as the headquarters of the United States Steel Corporation, which acquired it in 1919 for $5 million, underscoring its role in the early 20th-century financial landscape of . A 21st floor was added between 1928 and 1930, and minor alterations were made to the lobby in 1937–1938 by Walker & Gillette, but the overall design remains a testament to the transitional era between load-bearing masonry and modern skyscraper engineering. Today, as The Empire Apartments, it continues to anchor the historic area, blending preserved architectural grandeur with contemporary residential use.

Location and Site

Site Dimensions and Layout

The Empire Building occupies a quadrilateral corner lot at 71 Broadway and Rector Street in Manhattan's Financial District, with frontages measuring 78 feet along Broadway, 50 feet along Trinity Place, and 223 feet along Rector Street. The structure nearly fills this irregular plot, incorporating only two small light courts on its southern elevation to provide interior illumination. Positioned between Broadway and Trinity Place, the building's primary facade faces Broadway, with its main entrance there and its longest facade extending along Rector Street directly across from Trinity Church and its graveyard. This layout positions the site at a key intersection in the dense urban grid, emphasizing the building's role as a prominent corner presence. At ground level, the site features a four-story base with multiple entrances: a main on the Broadway facade flanked by paired columns and carved eagles, and a secondary entrance on Trinity Place added in 1937–38 with and elements. These configurations integrate the building seamlessly with adjacent structures while maintaining distinct access points along each street frontage. The site exhibits a slight slope typical of the Financial District, resulting in the basement level being exposed as a full story along the Trinity Place side, though it lacks any notable elevation changes or geological features beyond this minor variation.

Urban Context and Accessibility

The Empire Building occupies a prominent position in Manhattan's Financial District, a historic hub of commerce situated in just blocks from to the north and Battery Park to the south. This neighborhood, characterized by its concentration of financial institutions and early skyscrapers, underscores the building's role within the urban fabric of turn-of-the-century New York. The structure stands adjacent to Trinity Church and its graveyard to the west across Trinity Place, a landmark Episcopal parish established in 1697 that has long anchored the area's religious and cultural landscape. It also maintains a historical connection to , the city's oldest public park located nearby to the southeast, which served as a key gathering point during the colonial era and early republic. Transportation access enhances the building's integration into the district's dynamic flow. Entrances align directly with Broadway and Place, providing immediate pedestrian connectivity, while the site's roughly 78-by-224-foot lot fills much of the quadrilateral plot bounded by Rector Street, allowing it to conform to the standard street widths of the grid. The Rector Street station of the , served by the R and W trains on the , lies adjacent at Rector Street and Place, offering efficient links to Midtown and . Additionally, the building benefits from proximity to the World Trade Center PATH station about 0.3 miles southwest, facilitating commuter rail service to , and to ferry terminals at Battery Park roughly 0.4 miles south, including routes to [Staten Island](/page/Staten Island) and beyond. In the context of early 20th-century urban evolution, the Empire Building exemplifies how development filled the dense grid of , transforming Broadway's west side into a vertical "canyon" of office towers amid the Financial District's expanding commercial core. Completed in 1898, it contributed to the shift from low-rise mercantile structures to high-rise finance centers, reinforcing the area's status as a global economic nexus while respecting the orthogonal street layout that defined post-1811 growth.

Architectural Design

Style and Overall Structure

The Empire Building exemplifies the Classical Revival style prevalent in late 19th-century American design, characterized by its symmetrical massing and classical motifs adapted to vertical . Designed by the architectural firm Kimball & Thompson, the structure draws on neo-classical principles to create a dignified, monumental presence amid Lower Manhattan's dense urban fabric. Completed in 1898, it represents an early fusion of historicist aesthetics with modern engineering, prioritizing grandeur and proportion over ornate excess. At 21 stories and 293 feet (89 meters) tall, the building employs a skeletal frame clad in , a method that enabled its height while maintaining fire-resistant qualities typical of the era's . This framework supports a curtain-wall system, where non-load-bearing exterior walls allow for expansive interior spaces and large windows to maximize natural light. The overall form adheres to the tripartite division common in —a robust base for entry, a repetitive shaft for office floors, and a crowning capital that provides visual termination and scale. This vertical composition, rising directly from its irregular quadrilateral site bounded by Broadway, Trinity Place, and Rector Street, optimizes the plot's depth to achieve a compact yet imposing on the . The design's restraint in height relative to the site's constraints underscores Kimball & Thompson's approach to harmonizing structural with classical ideals of balance and .

Facade Composition

The facade of the Empire Building is organized vertically in a tripartite composition typical of neo-classical , comprising a base of four stories, a shaft of twelve stories, and a capital of four stories plus an additional twenty-first story, rising to a total height of 293 feet (89 meters). The exterior is clad primarily in , with terra cotta accents on the uppermost story and a metal crowning the structure. The base employs polished gray for the first story and rusticated white for the upper three stories, creating a robust foundation that emphasizes solidity and grandeur. On the Broadway elevation, this section features a prominent entrance framed by paired polished columns supporting an adorned with eagles perched on globes; the arch is flanked by commercial spaces with arched openings and a central recessed . The Rector Street elevation presents a more elongated and arcaded treatment, with the third and fourth stories forming a battered arcade of round-arched openings, and a central entrance originally designed for access but later altered into a shop window. The shaft, extending from the fifth to the sixteenth stories, maintains a regular rhythm of fenestration with paired arched windows at the fifth story transitioning to rectangular windows above, separated by panels of rusticated white granite. Vertical articulation is provided by shallow pilasters and projecting balconies at select intervals, while horizontal bandcourses divide the stories, culminating in a modillioned that separates the shaft from the capital. Ornamentation includes pedimented window surrounds and cartouches, contributing to the facade's richly decorative neo-classical aesthetic. The capital section, encompassing the seventeenth through twentieth stories plus the added twenty-first, features colonnaded loggias on the eighteenth and nineteenth stories, with paired columns supporting . The twentieth story displays ornamental terra cotta panels, some bearing an "E" motif, above paired windows, while the twenty-first story introduces buff-colored terra cotta cladding with simpler rectangular openings. This elaborate is topped by a heavy projecting bracketed metal , incorporating balustrades and sculptural brackets that provide a dramatic termination to the facade. Notable variations exist between the elevations: the Broadway facade, including its rounded corner at Trinity Place, emphasizes symmetrical grandeur with the as a focal point, whereas the longer Rector Street facade adopts a more uniform arcaded rhythm suited to its extended length, highlighting the building's adaptation to its irregular site at the of Broadway and Rector Street.

Interior and Structural Elements

The Empire Building employs a pioneering steel skeleton frame construction, one of the earliest examples in for tall office buildings, supporting its 21-story height without load-bearing masonry walls beyond the facade. This structural system, designed by architects Kimball & Thompson, relies on a curtain wall approach where the exterior serves only as enclosure, allowing for expansive interior office spaces. The floors are fireproofed using slabs on steel joists, an innovative technique for the late 1890s that enhanced safety in high-rises by reducing fire spread risks compared to earlier wood-framed designs. Foundations consist of pneumatic caissons and grillages to handle the site's irregular quadrilateral lot and underlying unstable soil. The main lobby, accessible from the Broadway entrance, evokes a temple-like solemnity with its opulent marble finishes, including polished gray granite bases and walls clad in rusticated white granite transitioning to elements. A coffered , supported by five rows of marble columns, adds grandeur and acoustic quality to the space, while silver metal ornamentation highlights classical details. Original banks, installed by the Otis Elevator Company, are positioned on the south side, facilitating efficient vertical circulation and connecting to hallways that lead toward Trinity Place and the former elevated railroad station. Interior circulation includes a grand at the Broadway , featuring broad central steps that ascend to the recessed entrance under a barrel-vaulted , providing both functional access and a ceremonial approach. The building's core incorporates two small light courts on the southern elevation, which admit natural daylight to interior offices and corridors, mitigating the darkness common in dense urban structures of the . These elements align with the floor divisions visible on the facade, ensuring cohesive interior-exterior functionality. Mechanical systems integrate early for powering the Otis elevators and incandescent lighting throughout the offices, marking an advancement over gas-lit predecessors and supporting the building's role as a modern commercial hub. infrastructure, including and waste lines, was embedded within the to serve multiple tenants, with risers concentrated in the core areas near the light courts and elevator shafts. An elevator machinery penthouse was added in 1928-1930 to accommodate increased demand, further modernizing the vertical transport.

Construction and Development

Historical Context

The late 19th century marked a transformative period in Lower Manhattan's urban landscape, driven by rapid economic expansion following the Civil War and the rise of corporate America. From the 1870s onward, a competitive "skyscraper race" emerged as developers and architects pushed building heights to unprecedented levels, fueled by surging demand for office space amid industrial consolidation and financial growth. This era saw the transition from modest 5- to 10-story structures to towering edifices, exemplified by landmarks like the 1889 Tower Building and the 1890 New York World Building, which capitalized on advancements in elevator technology and foundation engineering to accommodate the booming commercial sector. Architectural innovation played a pivotal role in this vertical ambition, particularly the shift from traditional load-bearing masonry walls to skeletal steel frames in the 1880s and 1890s. This change, pioneered in but rapidly adopted in New York, allowed for lighter, more efficient constructions that distributed weight through internal metal frameworks rather than thick exterior walls, enabling heights exceeding 20 stories while maximizing rentable interior space. In , where land scarcity drove premiums on vertical real estate, this trend reflected broader socio-economic pressures, including the consolidation of industries like and , which required prestigious, centralized to project power and efficiency. The site of the Empire Building at 71 Broadway exemplified this dynamic urban evolution. Originally occupied by a four-story structure erected in 1859, the property was acquired in 1884 by Orlando B. Potter, a and developer seeking to capitalize on the Financial District's prestige. Tragedy struck on December 4, 1891, when the building was destroyed in a bombing—an extortion attempt targeting financier , who maintained there—in which the bomber was killed and several people were injured, causing damage to the building that was subsequently repaired. Following Potter's death in 1894, his estate commissioned the new Empire Building in 1895 as a modern tower, leading to the of the prior structure and aligning with the era's emphasis on monumental for elite corporate tenants.

Design and Construction Process

The Empire Building's design was commissioned in 1895 by the Estate of Orlando B. Potter to architects Francis H. Kimball and G. Kramer Thompson, with commencing in June 1897 under the general contractor Marc Eidlitz & Son and concluding in November 1898 at an estimated cost of $1 million. This timeline aligned with the adoption of steel-frame in , enabling the 21-story structure to rise efficiently as one of the earliest examples of a skeletal-frame curtain-wall . Engineering challenges arose from the site's location in Manhattan's Financial District, where unstable soil necessitated deep foundations; foundation engineer Charles Sooysmith addressed this by employing pneumatic concrete caissons sunk to , reinforced with grillage beams to distribute loads from the steel skeleton. The steel frame itself represented advanced structural techniques of the era, with columns and girders assembled to support the lightweight granite-clad exterior while minimizing material use and maximizing height. Marc Eidlitz & Son managed the work for the rusticated white facade above a polished gray base, integrating it seamlessly with the emerging framework during erection. The rapid pace of construction, completed without significant delays, benefited from the ongoing economic recovery after the , allowing the project to capitalize on stabilized financing and labor availability in a burgeoning market.

Historical Usage

Corporate Headquarters Era

Upon its completion in 1898, the Empire Building served as for financial firms, with early tenants including transportation companies such as the American and Lines around 1901. The structure quickly became a hub for corporate activities in the Financial District, accommodating executive offices and support functions for early occupants engaged in and investment operations. In 1901, the newly formed United States Steel Corporation established its headquarters in the Empire Building, a move orchestrated under the financial influence of , who played a pivotal role in consolidating major steel interests into the first billion-dollar corporation. occupied the building as its primary base until 1976, controlling a significant portion of the U.S. steel industry and representing two-thirds of national output by 1902. The headquarters featured expansive executive suites on upper floors for leaders like (1901–1903) and Elbert H. Gary (1903–1927), alongside active trading floors that facilitated the company's vast commercial dealings in production and distribution. Operational scale at the site peaked during the , when the building supported thousands of employees involved in administrative, financial, and managerial roles for the corporation's global operations. acquired ownership through its subsidiary 71 Broadway Corp. in 1919 for $5 million, solidifying its long-term presence. Throughout the mid-20th century, minor modernizations enhanced functionality, including the addition of a 21st story in 1928–1930 with terra-cotta detailing by John C. Westervelt, Art Deco-style entrance updates in 1937–1938 by Walker & Gillette using , and HVAC system installations in the 1920s–1950s to support growing office needs.

Post-Corporate Period and Conversion

Following the departure of the United States Steel Corporation, which had used the Empire Building as its headquarters since 1901, the structure was vacated by the company in 1976. The building changed hands several times amid the shifting market of the late 20th century, including a transfer to Realopco/71 Broadway Co. in 1973 and acquisition by Broadway West Street Associates in 1984. By the mid-1990s, the property faced , prompting its acquisition by the World-Wide Group in spring 1996 through the purchase of the mortgage for just under $10 million. In 1997, the World-Wide Group undertook a $45 million renovation to convert the office tower into residential use, transforming it into 237 luxury apartments ranging from studios to two-bedroom units, with sizes between 537 and 1,142 square feet. This adaptation capitalized on the growing demand for housing, retaining the building's historic neoclassical elements while updating interiors for modern living. The apartments filled quickly upon completion, reflecting the surge in residential conversions in the Financial District during that era. Ownership transferred again in 2004 when , a , acquired the property from a partnership including World-Wide Holdings for $100 million, marking one of the largest residential building sales in at the time. Under 's management as of 2025, the building continues as a luxury rental complex with renovated apartments featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, granite countertops, and . Amenities include a fitness center, rooftop terrace, and on-site convenience stores, enhancing resident access to the nearby Financial District. As of November 2025, average monthly rents start at around $4,300 for available units, underscoring its position in the high-end market. The property has maintained stable operations with no reported major incidents since 2020.

Recognition and Preservation

Critical Reception

Upon its completion in 1898, the Empire Building garnered praise from prominent architectural critic Montgomery Schuyler in the Architectural Record. He described it as "one of the best of our commercial buildings," commending its effective use of white granite, excellent detailing, and horizontal emphasis that created a stately, monumental character suitable for its prominent site adjacent to Trinity Churchyard. Schuyler particularly noted the building's proportions, achieved through a substantial four-story substructure and an appropriate crowning capital, which prevented a spindling appearance and enhanced its overall elegance. Not all early responses were positive; in 1899, critic Eliot Gregory critiqued the facade in the for its "grotesque resemblance to a waffle iron," arguing that it conveyed an impression of instability despite the structure's technical advancements. By the mid-20th century and into the late 1900s, assessments viewed the Empire Building as a prime example of transitional design, exemplifying the evolution toward steel skeletal framing with pneumatic caisson foundations in New York's late-19th-century commercial architecture. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1996 recognized it as one of the finest surviving office towers from that era, highlighting its tripartite composition and curtain-wall system as key innovations, though its Classical Revival style was seen as more restrained compared to the bolder, more ornate Beaux-Arts approaches in contemporaries like the . In modern times, the building's has earned appreciation for balancing with sustainable practices. Converted from commercial offices to 237 residential apartments in 1997 by the World-Wide Group, the project exemplifies how can be repurposed for contemporary , reducing the environmental impact of new builds while retaining architectural integrity—older structures like this offer advantages such as operable windows and shallower floor plates ideal for residences.

Landmark Status and Current Significance

The Empire Building was designated a New York City Landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission on June 25, 1996, recognizing its architectural significance as an early steel-frame skyscraper with neo-Classical features. It was subsequently listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 28, 1998, highlighting its role in the development of late-19th-century commercial architecture. The building also contributes to the Wall Street Historic District, listed on the National Register on February 20, 2007, as one of 65 contributing properties that exemplify the area's financial and architectural heritage. As a designated landmark, the Empire Building is subject to strict preservation regulations enforced by the , which require approval for any exterior alterations to maintain its historic integrity. During its 1997 conversion from office to residential use, these regulations ensured that the building's granite facade and neo-Classical detailing remained unaltered, preserving its original appearance while adapting the interior for modern apartments. Ongoing maintenance obligations under the New York City Landmarks Law mandate regular inspections and repairs to protect the structure from deterioration, including the rusticated granite base and upper-story ornamentation. Today, the Empire Building exemplifies successful adaptive reuse, housing 237 residential apartments in Manhattan's Financial District and addressing urban housing demands through the repurposing of historic office space. This early conversion, completed amid growing interest in downtown living, aligns with broader New York City efforts to convert vacant offices into housing, as evidenced by over 44 such projects totaling 15.2 million square feet as of early 2025, with an additional 4.1 million square feet of conversions commenced through August 2025. As of 2025, the building faces no documented threats to its landmark status or structural integrity, continuing to serve as a stable residential asset. Potential enhancements, such as energy-efficient upgrades to windows or HVAC systems compatible with standards, could further its while complying with regulatory requirements.

References

  1. http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1933.pdf
  2. https://theclio.com/entry/25161
  3. https://www.propertyshark.com/mason/Property/697443/71-Broadway-New-York-NY-10006/
  4. https://hdc.org/buildings/empire-building/
  5. https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_NY/83004643.pdf
  6. https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/71-broadway/11942
  7. https://old.skyscraper.org/webwalk/printable/BroadwayTour.pdf
  8. https://global.ctbuh.org/resources/papers/download/4319-the-elevator-the-iron-skeleton-frame-and-the-early-skyscrapers-part-1.pdf
  9. https://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1933.pdf
  10. https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-russell-sage-dynamite-attack
  11. https://www.nytimes.com/1891/12/18/archives/repairs-after-explosion-how-mr-potters-building-was-affected-by-the.html
  12. https://www.ussteel.com/about-us/history
  13. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/12/nyregion/residential-real-estate-at-100-skyscraper-becomes-housing.html
  14. https://nypost.com/2004/10/05/big-sale-leases-buoy-downtown/
  15. https://www.equityapartments.com/new-york-city/financial-district/71-broadway-apartments
  16. https://www.usmodernist.org/AR/AR-1898-04-06.pdf
  17. https://kids.kiddle.co/Empire_Building_%28Manhattan%29
  18. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/83004643
  19. https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/07000063
  20. https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/office-to-residential-conversions-in-nyc-economics-and-fiscal-estimates/
  21. https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/united-states/news/2025/10/office-to-residential-conversions-surge-to-record-levels-in-new-york-city
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.