Brown Building

The Brown Building is a ten-story structure at 23-29 Washington Place featuring Renaissance Revival style with stone facades and large windows. Today it houses chemistry laboratories and classrooms for New York University, connecting multiple sections of the campus in Greenwich Village.

Originally known as the Asch Building, it was the site of a factory fire on March 25, 1911, that killed 146 people. The tragedy led to major changes in labor laws and workplace safety standards throughout the United States.

Commemorative plaques on the southeast corner honor the immigrant workers who lost their lives in the fire. These markers serve as a quiet place of remembrance for visitors learning about what happened here.

The building is part of the New York University campus and can be viewed from outside, while interiors are mainly reserved for academic use. The commemorative plaques on the exterior are freely accessible and visible anytime for those who want to learn about the site.

Frederick Brown acquired and donated the building to New York University in 1929, transforming it from an industrial workplace into an educational facility. This shift allowed the structure to become a place where scientists are trained rather than where dangerous textiles were manufactured.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1900s

Architects: John Woolley

Architectural style: Renaissance Revival architecture

Address: 23-29 Washington Place

GPS coordinates: 40.73000,-73.99528

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:00