1 Wall Street Court, Renaissance Revival office building in Financial District, Manhattan, US
1 Wall Street Court is a 15-story Renaissance Revival office building located at the intersection of Wall, Pearl, and Beaver Streets in Lower Manhattan. Its triangular footprint takes advantage of the prominent corner location, with a facade organized into three horizontal sections from base to top.
Designed by architects Clinton and Russell in 1904, the structure opened during a period of rapid growth in Lower Manhattan's financial district. The New York Cocoa Exchange operated from its floors between 1931 and 1972 before the building eventually transitioned to residential use in 2006.
The carved beaver sculptures above the entrance and multicolored terracotta details reflect the skilled craftsmanship valued in early 1900s architecture. These ornamental features show how buildings were designed to be noticed and appreciated as works of art rather than simple functional structures.
The building now contains 126 residential units and is served by four elevators, making movement through the floors straightforward. Visitors should know that most of the structure is private residential space, so publicly accessible areas are limited to the lobby and ground level.
The name references the carved beaver sculptures adorning the entrance, an unexpected detail for a financial building that hints at the area's past. These symbols recall when Lower Manhattan was a fur trading hub centuries ago before it became today's financial powerhouse.
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