Photo: Carol Highsmith, 2007

Woolworth Building (1910) New York City

Constructed in neo-Gothic style by Gilbert, who was commissioned by Frank Woolworth in 1910 to design the new corporate headquarters on Broadway, between Park Place and Barclay Street in Lower Manhattan, opposite City Hall, the Woolworth Building opened on April 24, 1913. Originally planned to be 625 feet high, in accordance with the area zoning laws, the building was elevated to 792 feet; construction cost was $13,500,000 and Woolworth paid in cash. It stood as the world's tallest building until the Chrysler Building was erected in 1929. At fifty-seven stories it still ranks as one of the 50 tallest buildings in the United States. ¹

The cruciform plan of the ornate lobby evokes religious architecture; an extensive sculptural program graces the yellow marble interior, including medieval-style caricatures of Mr. Woolworth counting his dimes and of Gilbert himself cradling a model of the building.²

The Woolworth Building is the setting in various scenes of the 2007 film "Enchanted" including great shots of the real building (as well as 3-D digital animation) leading up to the climax with the real action taking place on the roof.

1. "Woolworth Building", Wikipedia.org

2. Melissa Matlins, Tallest Towers, www.skyscraper.org.

Notes presented here for the Woolworth Building compiled by Andy Mickel.