Colleen Barry, Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty’s Director
of Productivity,recently had the pleasure of visiting a building
that has been called “The Mozart of Skyscrapers.”She reported that
it was a breath-taking experience. The views are captivating and
the old-world craftsmanship is mind-boggling. The building’s
history and aesthetic simply exude romance.
The Woolworth Building has long been a fixture in Manhattan’s
skyline; after all, it was the city’s first skyscraper. Now its
upper floors are being masterfully restored and converted to
condominiums. Barryasked the Listing Agent, Stan Ponte, and his
team member, Christian Emanuel, to tell us more.
Q: TheWoolworth Tower has been called “the Mozart of
Skyscrapers.” What makes this building so special?
The Woolworth Tower is one of New York’smost beloved landmarks,
and an important part of our city’s identity. Dubbed the “Cathedral
of Commerce” shortly after its completion, the building exhibits a
beautiful harmony between European Classicism and American
Achievement.
A standout in the skyline not only because of its immense
height, which made it the tallest building in the world from 1913
to 1930, The Woolworth Towerresembles the graceful Gothic
Cathedrals of Europe in its sophisticated facade detail, stretching
all of its 792 feet. The original owner and developer, Frank W.
Woolworth, hiredone of Americas original Starchitects, Cass
Gilbert, and theresulting collaboration meant that near unlimited
creative and financial resources would be poured into the building.
Since Woolworths Five and Dime retail empire had made him one of
the richest people in the country, the building was developed with
the attitude that “only the sky was the limit.”
Q: Having visited the building, Iwas struck by the story
of the terra cotta tiles being cast on site — during the
building’s original construction and now. Can you share a little
about that history?
When the building was in its initial planning phases, Frank
Woolworth was hoping to build his company headquarters with a
granite faade, which would have been very costly, even for the
deep-pocketed retail magnate. Architect Cass Gilbert suggested
limestone as a substitute, but ultimately chose architectural Terra
Cotta because of its fire resistance, ability to be sculpted and
cast into different shapes, and so the complex Gothic faade
elements could be colored in.
A key part of the conversion has been a thorough exterior
restoration of the lush terra cotta faade on the upper floors, with
repairs and replacements of Terra Cotta tiles being done in the
original material by the Boston Valley Terra Cotta Company, located
outside ofBuffalo, NY.After making careful 3D renderings of the
exterior of the building, individual Terra Cotta pieces have been
removed and re-cast, so that the exterior of the building will look
brand new on the day itreceives its first residents. As those new
replacement Terra Cotta tiles are delivered on-site, masons will
re-set each piece to its specifiedlocation, using the same
materials and methods thatwereused over a century ago. Its a
remarkable process to watch, and the results are extremely
rewarding.
Q: Another
thing Ifound remarkable, was the amount of operable windows per
floor plan. Can you talk about the resulting light and
views?
The fenestration is a result of Frank Woolworths desire to
generate a reasonable return on his investment in the building;
more windows gave new office tenants the ability to customize floor
plans for different uses, minimizing the amount of interior columns
and maximizingthe views. Over a century later, The Woolworth Tower
Residencesare the beneficiaries of that innovation, and in a
strikingly similar manner.
Because the developer purchased only the top thirty floors of
the building to create the Woolworth Tower Residences, there are
never more than two homes per floor, and on some floors, buyers can
purchase an entire floor, complete with 28 windows and all four
exposures. With many new skyscrapers in New York employing glass
curtain walls and sweeping floor to ceiling windows, buyers are
finding that The Woolworth Tower Residences offer a refreshing
romanticism, with the well-proportioned windows surrounded by
polychromatic terra cotta framing the city sights. Views from each
apartment are mesmerizing, with New Yorks skyline, bridges, and
rivers on permanent display. Not to mention there wall space for
important art collections!
Q: What are the trends you are seeing among buyers of
high end developments in NYC? What features do they value and what
amenities are in demand?
New York City is truly the city that never sleeps and that
applies to the recent boom in new construction and in particular
high end development buildings. Not only has our city seen the rise
of the tallest residential building in the world at432 Park Avenue,
but entire new neighborhoods are being created. In fact, The Hudson
Yards is the largest construction project of its kind with 16
skyscrapers containing more than 12,700,000 square feet of
residential commercial and retail space.
The rebuilding of the World Trade Center complex is reaching a
crescendo and there is nothing short of a renaissance going on in
what is being called the New Downtown. And of course the Grand Dame
herself, The Woolworth Tower, is undergoing a transformation
resulting in her top 30 floors being reimagined by the globally
recognized architect and designer Thierry W Despont. The project
being led by developer, Alchemy Properties, is one of the most
anticipated conversions in recent memory offering its new residents
the opportunity to live in one of the most beloved and iconic
buildings in the world.
Learn more here.
