O'toole bldg
O’Toole Building (36 Seventh Avenue)
The large five-story building of the National Maritime Union of
America is a striking contemporary structure. Erected in 1962-63 from
plans by Arthur A. Schiller and Albert Ledner, it serves both as
National Headquarters and as its Port of New York office. The main
portion of this building fronting the Avenue is glistening white,
built above two curving glass-block walls. It has two overhangs at the
top floors which are dramatized by their scalloped edge profiles.
These overhangs produce an interesting play of light and shadow. The
rectangularized pattern of the jointing of the stone veneer lends a
new dimension to the building, making us aware of the various wall
planes. Bubble shaped covers of Plexiglas serve to display ship models
around the base. Behind this main mass a six-story section rises up,
extending through from street to street. On West Twelfth Street it
runs from Nos. 211-219.
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