The Line, Modern telephone exchange skyscraper in Tribeca, Manhattan, United States.
The Line is a modern telephone exchange building located on Church Street in Tribeca, standing 550 feet tall with a gray granite exterior. Its 29 windowless floors each measure 18 feet high to support heavy telecommunications equipment and switching systems.
AT&T built this facility in 1974 as part of its Long Lines Department to house telecommunications equipment and switching systems. The construction reflected the company's need to protect critical infrastructure during an era of growing telephone network demands.
The structure embodies Brutalist design through its solid, monolithic form and materials left deliberately exposed. You notice immediately how every detail serves a purpose rather than decoration.
The building sits in a busy Manhattan neighborhood with easy access via public transit and nearby streets. Since it remains an active telecommunications facility, visitors can view the exterior from the street but cannot enter the building.
The building operates with self-contained water and power systems, allowing it to function independently for up to two weeks. This built-in redundancy was essential for a facility designed to keep communications running no matter what happened outside.
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