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Municipal and Woolworth Building- View from North River

The Woolworth Building was the most recognizable skyscraper in the world until the Chrysler Building was built in 1930.

- The tower was designed to be seen as a free-standing skyscraper, so all four sides were treated architecturally.

- The straight lines of the piers end in the tower decorated with gargoyles, turrents, pinnacles, and colored terra-cotta panels.

- The Woolworth has a Romanesque lobby with barrel-vaulted ceilings.

- Dubbed the "Cathedral of Commerce" upon its completion. Retail magnate Frank W. Woolworth paid for the building out of his pocket...$13.5 million.

- World's tallest building from 1913 - 1930; surpassed by 40 Wall Street.

- Also located in the lobby are sculpted caricatures of Frank Woolworth, Cass Gilbert and Louis Horowitz, the builder.

- When Cass Gilbert was designing the Woolworth Building, he wanted to incorporate Gothic themes with the modern idea of a skyscraper. The result, termed Gothic Revival, features gargoyles, arches and flying buttresses.

- Renovated between 1977 and 1981 for $20 million.

- The lower U-shaped part of the building is 29 stories high

 

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Uploaded on December 26, 2006