Now new York can rightly be called the city of skyscrapers.
Building the Woolworth building was the tallest skyscraper in the world at the time of construction in 1913.
The tower was dubbed ‘Cathedral of Commerce’ because of the numerous decorations of medieval style on your facade. Frank Winfield Woolworth, the owner of a retail chain of ‘five and dime’, was an admirer of European Gothic architecture. He was particularly impressed by the neo-Gothic house of Commons and house of lords in London. When he needed a new office building for head office of the company, he asked Cass Gilbert to build a Gothic tower with plenty of Windows. Gilbert, who had studied in Europe, designed a U-shaped skyscraper with a steel structure and Gothic decorations.
The tallest building in the world
Built in 1913, the tower reaches a height of 241,2 meters. Prior to the completion of the building of the Bank of Manhattan and the Chrysler building in 1930, the Woolworth building was the tallest building in the world. The skyscraper features a three-story stone Foundation, clad in terracotta fifty-two floors and three-storey roof covered from top to coronabros top. The observation deck on the 58th floor attracts approximately 100,000 visitors but was closed in 1945.
Cathedral Of Commerce The Woolworth Building
The building instantly became a landmark due to its impressive height and Gothic jewelry. He was given the nickname ‘Cathedral of Commerce’. The height at that time was a big achievement: it was the first building with its own steam turbines and the fastest elevators (30 elevators). The tower was able to withstand winds with a speed of 322 km/h. Special types of forests was used to minimize the risk to construction workers.
The building of the Woolworth’s is known primarily for its neo-Gothic style and decorations: the main entrance at Broadway resembles European the entrances to the cathedrals. It is decorated with numerous symbols, Salamander (the symbol of the transformation of iron and clay into steel and terracotta) and owl (symbol of wisdom). Two empty niches flank the entrance: one was placed the statue of F. W. Woolworth’s, which never were installed.
The Interior Of The Woolworth Building
The interior of the building is one of the most luxurious in new York. The Cabinet of Woolworth was modeled and constructed after the example of Napoleon’s Palace in compiègne. The lobby is covered with marble and stained glass ceilings. In the lobby are carved with sculptures of the people involved in the construction of the building. One of them is a sculpture of Cass Gilbert, holding a model of the Woolworth Building. Another sculpture shows Frank Woolworth paying for his building in coins. This sculpture indicates the method of payment for the skyscraper, and instead of having to get a mortgage, the Woolworth prefer to pay $13.5 million in cash. The building was sold in 1998 for $126.5 million.
Thanks to its looks and interiors, the Woolworth Building is one of the most remarkable buildings in new York. Many skyscrapers have surpassed its height but not in splendor and beauty.
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