Woolworth Building, Gothic Revival skyscraper in Tribeca, Manhattan, United States.
The Woolworth Building is a skyscraper in Tribeca, Manhattan, that stands 241 meters tall and contains 57 floors. Its white terracotta facade is punctuated by thousands of windows that run the full height of the tower.
Frank W. Woolworth hired architect Cass Gilbert in 1910 to design this tower, which held the title of the world's tallest building from 1913 to 1929. The department store tycoon financed the project with his own fortune and made the tower a monument to his retail empire.
The nickname Cathedral of Commerce reflects the church-like arches and ornament that give this commercial tower an almost sacred appearance. Marble columns and golden mosaics in the ground floor lobby express the belief that business buildings deserve the same grandeur as houses of worship.
The tower is located at 233 Broadway and houses offices on the lower floors, while apartments occupy the upper stories. Inside, 34 elevators serve different sections of the building.
The steel frame foundation reaches down into the deepest bedrock layers beneath Manhattan, providing exceptional stability. Small sculptures in the entrance lobby depict builder Woolworth himself counting coins, a playful reference to his fortune.
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