Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower

New York, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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The Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower, located at the northeast corner of Ashland Place and Hanson Place in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood, is a 512-foot, 41-story skyscraper completed in 1929 and designed by Halsey, McCormack & Helmer in Byzantine Revival style. Originally the headquarters for the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, the building features a dramatic composition: a limestone-clad base with granite dado, brick and terracotta-decorated mid-section, and distinctive setbacks rising to a clock tower and domed roof. The main entrance, a large arch on Hanson Place, opens onto a lobby ornately decorated with marble and metalwork. Inside, the 63-foot-high banking room was designed with ecclesiastical proportions—nave, aisles, and chancel—while a mezzanine ladies' lounge overlooks the space. When completed, it was Brooklyn's tallest building, a distinction it held until 2009. The exterior was designated a city landmark in 1977, with interior spaces protected in 1996. Following conversions from 2005 to 2007, the upper stories now contain luxury condominium apartments while the banking hall serves as an event space.