Height rank
Woolworth Building
New York City
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- Facts
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Metrics
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Official Name
Woolworth Building
Other Names
2 Park Place, Cathedral of Commerce
Type
Building
Status
Completed
Completion
1913
Country
City
Address
Current Function
A mixed-use tall building contains two or more functions (or uses), where each of the functions occupy a significant proportion of the tower's total space. Support areas such as car parks and mechanical plant space do not constitute mixed-use functions. Functions are denoted on CVU "Tallest Building" lists in descending order, e.g., "hotel/office" indicates hotel function above office function.
Office
Original Function
Residential / Office
Structural Material
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from steel. Note that a building of steel construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of steel beams is still considered an “all-steel” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
All-Concrete
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from concrete which has been cast in place and utilizes steel reinforcement bars and/or steel reinforced concrete which has been precast as individual components and assembled together on-site.
All-Timber
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from timber. An all-timber structure may include the use of localized non-timber connections between timber elements. Note that a building of timber construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of timber beams is still considered an “all-timber” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
Mixed-Structure
Utilizes distinct systems (e.g. all-steel, all-concrete, all-timber), one on top of the other. For example, a Steel Over Concrete indicates an all-steel structural system located on top of an all-concrete structural system, with the opposite true of Concrete Over Steel.
Composite
A combination of materials (e.g. steel, concrete, timber) are used together in the main structural elements. Examples include buildings which utilize: steel columns with a floor system of reinforced concrete beams; a steel frame system with a concrete core; concrete-encased steel columns; concrete-filled steel tubes; etc. Where known, the CVU database breaks out the materials used within a composite building’s primary structural elements.
All-Steel
Height
241.4 m / 792 ft
Floors Above Ground
58
Floors Below Ground
3
# of Apartments
32
# of Parking Spaces
150
# of Elevators
24
Top Elevator Speed
5.08 m/s
Tower GFA
120,773 m² / 1,299,990 ft²
Rankings
-
By function
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By material
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Construction Schedule
Construction Start
Completed
Recladding
Retrofit Start
Retrofit End
Material Supplier
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Retrofit Companies Involved
Structural Engineer
The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
Material Supplier
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
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Owner
Alchemy Properties; Cammeby's International; Witkoff
F.W. Woolworth Company
Developer
F.W. Woolworth Company; Irving National Exchange Bank
Architect
Usually involved in the front end design, with a "typical" condition being that of a leadership role through either Schematic Design or Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
Cass Gilbert
Structural Engineer
The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
Gunvald Aus Company
Contractor
The main contractor is the supervisory contractor of all construction work on a project, management of sub-contractors and vendors, etc. May be referred to as "Construction Manager," however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Main Contractor" exclusively.
Thompson-Starrett & Co.
Other Consultant
Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).
Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).
These are firms that consult on the design of a building's façade. May often be referred to as "Cladding," "Envelope," "Exterior Wall," or "Curtain Wall" Consultant, however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Façade Consultant" exclusively.
Vidaris, Inc.
The Office of Thierry W Despont Ltd.
Material Supplier
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Retrofit Companies Involved
Developer
Alchemy Properties; Witkoff
Architect
Usually involved in the front end design, with a "typical" condition being that of a leadership role through either Schematic Design or Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
SLCE Architects
Structural Engineer
The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
MEP Engineer
The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.
AKF Group LLC
Other Consultant
Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).
Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).
These are firms that consult on the design of a building's façade. May often be referred to as "Cladding," "Envelope," "Exterior Wall," or "Curtain Wall" Consultant, however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Façade Consultant" exclusively.
Vidaris, Inc.
The Office of Thierry W Despont Ltd.
Vidaris, Inc.
Material Supplier
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).
Wausau Window & Wall Systems
Boston Valley Terracotta; Seal Reinforced Fiberglass Inc.
Italian Stone Source SRL
Dornbracht
CVU Awards & Distinctions
Renovation Award 2021 Award of Excellence
2021 CVU Awards
Research
01 March 2018
Dynamic Interrelationship between the Evolution of the Structural Systems and Façade Design in Tall Buildings
Kyoung Sun Moon, Yale University School of Architecture
The emergence of tall buildings in the late 19th century was possible by using new materials and separating the role of structures and that of...
About Woolworth Building
The Woolworth Building was designed in the Neo-Gothic style by architect Cass Gilbert. Upon opening in 1913 the Woolworth Building was the tallest building in the world until the construction of 40 Wall Street in 1930. Its Gothic detailing at its crown is over-sized to be able to read from street level. The lobby is covered in marble with a vaulted ceiling, mosaics, stained-glass ceiling light and bronze fitting. Beginning in 2014, the upper floors were converted to residential.
CVU Awards & Distinctions
Renovation Award 2021 Award of Excellence
2021 CVU Awards
Quick Facts
- Tallest building in the world 1913 - 1930. Preceded by the Metropolitan Life Tower and surpassed by the Bank of Manhattan
Research
01 March 2018
Dynamic Interrelationship between the Evolution of the Structural Systems and Façade Design in Tall Buildings
Kyoung Sun Moon, Yale University School of Architecture
The emergence of tall buildings in the late 19th century was possible by using new materials and separating the role of structures and that of...
26 October 2015
How New Generations, Industries and Workplace Paradigms Are Redefining the Commercial High-Rise
Timothy Johnson, NBBJ
This paper will provide a data-driven analysis of building performance from three eras: the early 1900s, mid-twentieth century, and today. This longitudinal analysis will illustrate...
22 October 2015
Reinventing Woolworth: Adaptive Reuse of a Historic Skyscraper
Gary Steficek & Petr Vancura, Gilsanz Murray Steficek
This article presents a case study of structural and logistical issues involved in the adaptive reuse of an early 20th-century skyscraper, and outlines the case...
12 June 2008
The Tallest Buildings in the World: Past, Present & Future
CTBUH Research
Over time, the average height of the 100 tallest buildings in the world has been steadily increasing. However, by 2010, this average height will have...
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