New York World Building
Encyclopedia
The New York World Building was a skyscraper
in New York City
designed by early skyscraper specialist George Browne Post and built in 1890 to house the now-defunct newspaper
, The New York World
. It was razed in 1955.
1890. The claimed height of the building was 20 stories, comparable to 16 or 18 stories by current standards. The New York World Building was also known as the Pulitzer Building after the paper's owner, Joseph Pulitzer
, who commissioned it. Pulitzer's private office was on the second level of the dome
and looked down on other buildings along the street.
During the 19th century, many high-rise buildings were constructed by newspaper companies along Park Row
, immediately east of the old New York City Hall
. This developed into a competition and a race for the tallest. Other contenders included the Tribune Building designed by Richard Morris Hunt
(1876), the Potter Building
(1886), the Park Row Building
(1899), and two other buildings by George Post, the St. Paul Building
(1895–1898), and the old Times Building (1889).
The New York World Building was the winner of this competition and the tallest building in New York City for about five years. It was the city's first building to surpass the 284-foot spire of Trinity Church
which, at the time, dominated the city's skyline. It was also featured on the cover of the World Almanac
from 1890 to 1934.
The World Building was demolished in 1955 for the expanded car ramp entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge
.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
designed by early skyscraper specialist George Browne Post and built in 1890 to house the now-defunct newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, The New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
. It was razed in 1955.
History
Construction of the New York World Building began on October 10, 1889, at 53-63 Park Row, on the corner of Park Row and the now-closed Frankfort Street. The building was completed on December 10,1890. The claimed height of the building was 20 stories, comparable to 16 or 18 stories by current standards. The New York World Building was also known as the Pulitzer Building after the paper's owner, Joseph Pulitzer
Joseph Pulitzer
Joseph Pulitzer April 10, 1847 – October 29, 1911), born Politzer József, was a Hungarian-American newspaper publisher of the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the New York World. Pulitzer introduced the techniques of "new journalism" to the newspapers he acquired in the 1880s and became a leading...
, who commissioned it. Pulitzer's private office was on the second level of the dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
and looked down on other buildings along the street.
Park Row (Manhattan)
Park Row is a street located in the Financial District of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It was previously called Chatham Street and during the late 19th century it was nicknamed Newspaper Row, as most of New York City's newspapers located on the street to be close to the action at New...
, immediately east of the old New York City Hall
New York City Hall
New York City Hall is located at the center of City Hall Park in the Civic Center area of Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA, between Broadway, Park Row, and Chambers Street. The building is the oldest City Hall in the United States that still houses its original governmental functions, such as...
. This developed into a competition and a race for the tallest. Other contenders included the Tribune Building designed by Richard Morris Hunt
Richard Morris Hunt
Richard Morris Hunt was an American architect of the nineteenth century and a preeminent figure in the history of American architecture...
(1876), the Potter Building
Potter Building
The Potter Building is an iron-framed office building located at 35-38 Park Row in Manhattan, NY.Commissioned by Orlando B. Potter and designed by Norris G. Starkweather, it was constructed from 1883 to 1886. It replaced one of the New York World's former buildings which burned down in 1882 doing...
(1886), the Park Row Building
Park Row Building
The Park Row Building is a building on Park Row in the Financial District of the New York City borough of Manhattan also known as 15 Park Row...
(1899), and two other buildings by George Post, the St. Paul Building
St. Paul Building
The St. Paul Building was a skyscraper in New York City built in 1898 to designs by George B. Post that repeated the same Ionic order for each floor, to little cumulative effect. At 315 feet it was one of the tallest skyscrapers of its era. The building was 26 stories tall...
(1895–1898), and the old Times Building (1889).
The New York World Building was the winner of this competition and the tallest building in New York City for about five years. It was the city's first building to surpass the 284-foot spire of Trinity Church
Trinity Church, New York
Trinity Church at 79 Broadway, Lower Manhattan, is a historic, active parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York...
which, at the time, dominated the city's skyline. It was also featured on the cover of the World Almanac
World Almanac
In 1993 Scripps sold the Almanac to K-III .The World Almanac was sold to Ripplewood Holdings' WRC Media in 1999. Ripplewood bought Reader's Digest and the book was then produced by the World Almanac Education Group, which was owned by The Reader's Digest Association...
from 1890 to 1934.
The World Building was demolished in 1955 for the expanded car ramp entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River...
.