Manhattan Municipal Building, Government office building in Lower Manhattan, United States
The Manhattan Municipal Building is an office tower at 1 Centre Street that rises 36 stories with a central tower topped by a gilded statue. The structure combines classical Roman-inspired features with about 2,000 workspaces and sits above the Chambers Street subway station.
The building was designed in 1909 by McKim, Mead & White following the 1898 consolidation of New York's five boroughs, which required expanded municipal offices. The Roman-style design was chosen to express the authority and permanence of the newly unified city government.
The building displays Beaux-Arts details with Corinthian columns and relief carvings showing civic virtues that visitors can see from street level. These classical touches give the structure its formal character within the downtown landscape.
The building sits on a major subway line, making it easy to reach by transit, and the architecture is visible from the public sidewalk. Visitors can view the exterior and ground-level entry hall at any time without needing access to the office floors.
The Civic Fame statue at the top is made from 500 hammered copper pieces and wears a five-pointed crown symbolizing the five boroughs. This unusual composition makes the sculpture technically complex and gives the roofline a distinctive landmark quality.
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