Woolworth Building

A neo-Gothic skyscraper in Lower Manhattan, completed in 1913 and designed by Cass Gilbert for retailer Frank W. Woolworth. Its height and ornate terra-cotta exterior made it a landmark of early skyscraper design.

Cass Gilbert: An American architect known for monumental civic buildings and early skyscrapers. He designed the building, shaping its Gothic silhouette and detailed façade.
New York City in the early twentieth century: A rapidly growing metropolis transformed by immigration, commerce, transit, and high-rise construction. The city’s economic growth and crowded downtown made a landmark tower both possible and useful.
Office building: A building designed primarily to provide workspaces for businesses and organizations. Its original purpose was to house offices for Woolworth’s company and other tenants.
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower: A New York City skyscraper completed in 1909 and modeled on the campanile of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. It briefly held the title of world’s tallest building before the Woolworth Building surpassed it.
World's tallest building: The building holding the height record among completed structures at a given time. The Woolworth Building held this distinction from 1913 until 1930.
Frank W. Woolworth: An American retail entrepreneur who founded the F. W. Woolworth Company. He commissioned the tower and financed it with profits from his retail business.
F. W. Woolworth Company: An American chain of variety stores founded by Frank W. Woolworth. The company’s success supplied the funds and corporate identity behind the project.
Corporate headquarters: A company’s principal location for executive leadership and central operations. Woolworth used the tower as a headquarters and a visible emblem of his retail empire.
Chrysler Building: A New York Art Deco skyscraper completed in 1930, noted for its stainless-steel crown. Its later height record and modern style show how skyscraper ambitions moved beyond Gothic forms.
National Historic Landmark: A United States designation for places recognized for exceptional historical or cultural significance. The building received this federal recognition for its architectural and historical importance.

Linked from 2 pages