Lincoln Building

The Lincoln Building is a nine-story structure at the corner of Union Square West featuring a masonry and terracotta facade with Romanesque Revival details. An innovative metal structural system inside made it a technical advancement for its era.

Construction started in 1887 under architect R. H. Robertson, reflecting an era when steel technology allowed for taller buildings in Manhattan. This marked a turning point in how the city's commercial architecture began to evolve.

The building housed film production companies in its early decades, reflecting New York's role in cinema's emergence during the early 1900s. Walking past today, you can sense how this corner once served as a hub for the growing entertainment industry.

The building sits directly at Union Square Park with good transit access nearby. Visitors can appreciate the architecture from the street and explore the lively neighborhood surrounding it.

The 14th Street side displays seven vertical architectural bays, with each floor featuring different window arrangements while retaining original details. This variation makes the exterior particularly interesting to examine closely.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1887

Architects: R. H. Robertson

Architectural style: Romanesque Revival architecture

Floors above the ground: 9

Address: 1 Union Square West

GPS coordinates: 40.73556,-73.99222

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:28