Louis J. Lefkowitz Building

The Louis J. Lefkowitz Building stands as a nine-story Art Deco structure constructed from Maine Coast granite, covering approximately 700,000 square feet with elaborate Egyptian-themed decorative elements throughout its Centre Street lobby.

Completed in 1930 by architect William Haugaard at a cost of six million dollars, the building originally served as the New York State Office Building before being renamed in 1984 to honor the state's longest-serving Attorney General.

The building houses the Manhattan Marriage Bureau since 2009 and became a symbol of social progress when it hosted 293 same-sex wedding ceremonies on the day marriage equality became legal in New York in 2011.

Located at 80 Centre Street near Foley Square, the building currently accommodates various municipal offices including the Manhattan District Attorney's office and provides court services with accessible entrances on both Centre and Worth Streets.

The building's cornerstone ceremony in 1928 featured Governor Al Smith using a silver trowel to embed a copper time capsule containing newspapers, photographs, and documents from that era into the foundation stone.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1930

Architects: William Haugaard

Architectural style: Art Deco

Website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dcas/business/dcasmanagedbuildings/louis-lefkowitz-building.page

Website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dcas/business/dcasmanagedbuildings/louis-lefkowitz-building.page

GPS coordinates: 40.71520,-74.00130

Latest update: July 24, 2025 12:44