Liberty Tower

Manhattan, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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Liberty Tower, located at 55 Liberty Street in Manhattan's Financial District, is a 33-story Gothic Revival skyscraper completed in 1909–10 and designed by Henry Ives Cobb. Originally built as a commercial office building, the limestone structure stands 117.4 meters tall and was initially known as the Sinclair Oil Building. Its design is notable for an exceptionally compact footprint—upon completion, it was considered the world's tallest building with such a small floor-area ratio of 30 to 1. The building's articulation follows classical proportions, dividing the facade into three horizontal sections resembling a column's base, shaft, and capital, enriched with elaborate ornamental detailing in white architectural terracotta. Franklin Delano Roosevelt's law office was among its first tenants when it opened in 1910. The entire building was acquired by Sinclair Oil shortly after World War I. In 1979, architect Joseph Pell Lombardi converted it into residential apartments and renamed it Liberty Tower, marking one of Manhattan's first such major conversions south of Canal Street. Designated a New York City Landmark in 1982 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, it remains a contributing property to the Wall Street Historic District.

Architect

Henry Ives Cobb

Movement

Gothic Revival

Type: skyscraper
Heritage: New York City Landmark, National Register of Historic Places listed place
Height: 117.4 m
Place: Manhattan, United States

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Location

40.70884, -74.00938