The Woolworth Building

Perfectly illustrating SLCE’s active role in the conversions of marginal office space to premier condominium residences, the Woolworth Building might just be the jewel on the crown. The Woolworth Building soars above City Hall Park at the gateway to Tribeca. Originally designed by Cass Gilbert in 1913, the building was designed as a neo-gothic skyscraper and dubbed “The Cathedral of Commerce.” Unprecedented in size and sophistication, the Woolworth stood as the tallest building in the world until 1930. It included the fastest and highest elevators of its day and was promised by F.W. Woolworth to “long herald the march of progress down through the corridors of time.” Today, this stately tower retains its elegance in the skyline of Lower Manhattan.

In collaboration with the Office of Thierry Despont, SLCE worked closely with the Landmarks Preservation Commission and Higgins Quasebarth & Partners to assure the integrity of the building’s architectural exterior during its conversion and restoration. The scope of the conversion includes the upper 26 floors, which are being masterfully transformed to include 33 luxury units spanning 159,000 square feet. The building’s six-story pinnacle will be converted into a truly unique penthouse. This space required immense structural modification and creative solutions to façade and envelope conditions.

New egress stairs were added in addition to new high-speed elevators, which give residents quick access to their apartments that start at the 29th floor and basement amenity levels. Modifications were made to make way for modern mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, which independently service the new residential floors. These modifications were made in an effort to infuse 21st-century luxuries into the building’s underutilized, premium, and historic space.