The office tower,
located at the northwest corner of Wall, Nassau and Broad Streets-the most famous intersection
in business history-is the product of a long cycle of construction and reconstruction that tells a
story about the intersection of the architectural, engineering, business and real estate forces that
have shaped New York City.
Long occupied by commercial uses, the value of the lot
at the corner of Wall and Nassau Streets rose more than tenfold by 1896 when the owners
decided to replace a 6-story structure, the Union Building, with a 300-foot tall tower. The slender
Gillender Building-then fourth tallest in the city-rose 22 stories on a site of only 26 x 73 feet.
Twelve years later the building and lot were sold to the Manhattan Trust Company for
the highest price ever recorded in Manhattan: over $800 a square foot, according to the New
York Times. The same year, the Bankers Trust Company, which absorbed the Manhattan Trust,
negotiated a lease on the adjoining L-shaped lot, home to the 7-story Stevens Building. The
company decided to replace the Gillender-then the tallest building ever razed-and the Stevens
with a much larger structure on a combined lot of 93 x 96 feet. At 41-stories, the new building
was the tallest banking building in the world when it opened in 1912.
Fewer than 20
years later, the Bankers Trust Company expanded yet again by acquiring three additional
neighbors: the 8-story Astor Building at 10 Wall Street and 9 Pine Street, the 10-story 7 Pine
Street, and the turn-of-the-century Hanover National Bank. Rather than start from scratch again,
the company opted to construct an annex to the original tower, designed by Shreve, Lamb and
Harmon, architects of the Empire State Building. This L-shaped Art Deco annex more than
tripled the building's rentable area.
Today the exterior of the Bankers Trust Building
remains unchanged and, as a protected landmark, will do so in perpetuity. (Introduction by and .)
Collection includes 214 vintage
construction progress photographs of 14-16 Wall Street, also known as Bankers Trust Company
Building, ten related materials (nine photographs and one photostat) of Wall Street and its
vicinity, and the May 1912 issue of The Architect. The first series is a volume of 34 b&w
photographs on 24 sheets of linen, recording the demolition of the Gillender and Stevens
Buildings and the progress of the new Bankers Trust Company Building, from 1910-1911. The
architects were Trowbridge & Livingston with Mark Eidletz & Son, builders. The volume is
bound in leather as limited edition by H.W. Donovan for the architects. The second series of 181
photographs documents the removal of the old Astor Building, 9 Pine Street and the Hanover
National Bank, and the construction of the annex, from 1931-1933. These photographs were
originally pasted into an album (16 1/8 x 19 in.), entitled "Additions and Alteration, Bankers
Trust Company Building, New York City, Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Architects,
Thompson-Starrett Company, Inc., Building Construction," which was discarded due to its poor
condition. Most of the photographs, Nos. 3 to 152, 163 to 175, and 177 to 185, identify Lamb &
Harmon as the architects and Thompson-Starrett Company as builders. Added to the collection
is a set of scanned print-out of the originals except Nos. 101, 147, and 182. The third series of
related materials dates from 1902-1932.
Series 1 and 2 are arranged chronologically and numerically
in the order recorded on the images by the photographer.
Open to researchers.
Researchers to use
print-out of the scanned originals or photostats when available. Appointments are necessary for
use of manuscript and archival materials. For more information, contact
The Skyscraper Museum
55 Broad Street, 13 floor
New York, NY 10004
Additional 27 photographs of the Bankers Trust
Building can be found in the Records of Weiskopf and Pickworth Consulting Engineers
Collection.
There is no record of materials that are associated by provenance to the described materials
that have been physically separated or removed.
Donated to
The Skyscraper Museum by the Bankers Trust Foundation in 1999.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Series II: Addition and alteration, 1931-1933
|
| Box | Folder | Title | Date |
| 1 | 1 | No. 3, Cor[ner] Wall & Nassau St[reet]s, 1931 May 3, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| 1 | 2 | No. [4], Cor[ner] Pine & Nassau St[reet]s, 1931 May 3, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [View of the Bankers Trust Building looking north along Nassau Street. Construction debris along the east wall of the building may be left over from the construction of the Independent Subway line or recent road building. Note that the intersection of Wall, Nassau, and Broad Streets is unpaved.] | |
| 1 | 3 | No. 5, Pine St[reet] looking w[est], 1931 May 3, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [4], Cor[ner] Pine & Nassau St[reet]s, 1931 May 3, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm.[View of Hanover National Bank Building and, at far right, the northern wing of the 8?story Astor Building and the 10?story 7 Pine Street, which together form the large east?west leg of the L?shaped site.] | |
| 1 | 4 | No. 6, [19]31 May 11, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| 1 | 5 | No. 7, [19]31 May 11, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [This partial view of the pyramid atop the Bankers Trust Building was taken looking south from the Equitable Building (120 Broadway).] | |
| 1 | 6 | No. 8, Pine St[reet] looking w[est], [19]31 May 18, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Torn in two pieces. | | 1931 |
| | | [The spire of Trinity Church is the tall structure in the foreground. The further of the two low buildings between the Bankers Trust Building and the mansard-roofed building just behind the spire occupies the smaller north-south leg of the annex's L-shaped site.] | |
| 1 | 7 | No. 9, Looking n[orth] on Nassau St[reet], [19]31 May 26, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [A crew of carpenters constructs a sidewalk bridge from heavy timber before demolition on the existing building commences. When building on virgin ground construction of the sidewalk bridge is often postponed until after the excavation is complete to allow room for trucks to enter and leave the site.] | |
| 1 | 8 | No. 10, Looking w[est and] s[outh] on Pine St[reet], [19]3[1] May 26, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [By building the sidewalk bridge over Nassau Street, the demolition contractor was able to provide protection for vehicles and pedestrians on both sides of the street. The large platform also provided a staging site for removal of debris that had been lowered by derrick from the roof. Short term storage of debris on the sidewalk bridge probably allowed flexible scheduling of the trucks hauling debris to the constricted site.] | |
| 1 | 9 | No. 11, Looking n[orth] on Broad St[reet], [19]31 June 3, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Because this was a relatively modern steel framed building, stiff legged derricks could be placed on the roof to lower construction debris to the street. Temporary platforms with canted fences provided access to the exterior face of the upper stories for the demolition contractor's crews; the platforms were also designed to prevent debris from falling into the street.] | |
| 1 | 10 | No. 12, Wall St[reet] front from New Street, [19]31 June 3, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. Includes a photostat. | | 1931 |
| | | [This view of the New York Stock Exchange (pedimented building at left), the Bankers Trust Building, and the Hanover National Bank Building shows the narrow, congested streets surrounding the site.] | |
| 1 | 11 | No. 13, Looking e[ast] on Pine St[reet], [19]31 June 3, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [The exterior walls of the Astor Building (shown here) and 7 Pine Street formed part of their structural systems. Unlike the steel framed Hanover National Bank Building, where the exterior wall could be removed independently of the floor structure, demolition contractor Albert A. Volk had to dismantle the smaller buildings a single floor at a time. Once the floor (or roof) structure was removed the exterior walls could be demolished to the next story, where the cycle repeated.] | |
| 1 | 12 | No. 14, [19]31 June 11, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Demolition of the Hanover National Bank Building, the Astor Building, and 7 Pine Street.] | |
| 1 | 13 | No. 15, Wall St[reet] front, [19]31 June 11, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Demolition of the Hanover National Bank Building has been completed to the 21st floor. The stiff legged derricks have been moved down from their original rooftop location. Lowering the derricks allowed demolition of the exterior masonry and the steel at the center portion of the upper stories to occur simultaneously.] | |
| 1 | 14 | No. 16, N[orth]e[ast] wall of American Surety B[ui]ld[in]g, [19]31 June 11, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Demolition of the Wall Street wing of the Astor Building has progressed to the fifth floor.] | |
| 1 | 15 | No. 17, Party wall w[est] side #7 Pine St[reet], [19]31 June 17, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [The structure of 7 Pine Street was a cage frame: columns of cast?iron and beams and girders of wrought iron or steel. In this type of construction the exterior masonry walls provided the structure with the bracing required to resist lateral loads, such as wind. While similar in concept to the structure of the Hanover National Bank Building, the absence of integral bracing meant that this building had to be dismantled in the same manner as the Astor Building. Here, however, the reach of the stiff legged derricks on the Hanover National Bank Building may have been sufficient to allow the contractor to lower members of the cage frame to the ground. The outline of the original masonry party wall between 7 Pine and the American Surety Building (at right) can be seen in shallow relief. Lot line windows at 7 Pine were filled in when the American Surety was constructed. These windows suggest that 7 Pine was taller than its neighbors to the west when it was constructed.] | |
| 1 | 16 | No. 18, Nassau St[reet] front, [19]31 June 18, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Demolition of the west party wall at 7 Pine Street proceeds ahead of the dismantling of the cage structure.] | |
| 1 | 17 | No. 19, Wall St[reet] front, [19]31 June 18, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Demolition of the Hanover National Bank Building has been completed to the 19th floor.] | |
| 1 | 18 | No. 20, 13 ton stone in place, [19]31 June 18, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Demolition of the Astor Building which began prior to June 3, 1931 has reached the ground floor in just over two weeks. The boom of a "steam shovel" can be seen in the foreground. Portions of the sidewalk bridge have been removed to facilitate filling trucks with debris.] | |
| 1 | 19 | No. 21,.5 of 13 ton stone, [19]31 June 18, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Removing the limestone masonry required reversing the process of installation: mortar joints were cut out or opened by levering the stones apart, Lewis holes (for lifting the stones) were opened or cut, and the stones lifted and lowered to the street. Some of the larger blocks, such as the 13 ton stone shown in this photograph, were cut into smaller pieces prior to being removed from the buildings. Demolition of the larger stones was similar in practice to quarrying the stones from the earth. The riveted connections of the steel frame are also visible in this photo.] | |
| 1 | 20 | No. 22, Base of exterior column on 18th floor, [19]31 June 18, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [One half of the 13 ton stone has been removed and is ready for lowering to the street. Cables at the right are secured to the top of the vertical leg of the derricks and prevent it from moving out of plumb. The cylindrical object to the left rear is probably the boiler flue.] | |
| 1 | 21 | No. 23, Dearicks 16th floor level, Nassau St[reet] front, [19]3[1] June 25, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Limestone columns at the 18th floor of the Hanover National Bank Building.] | |
| 1 | 22 | No. 24, Wall St[reet] front, [19]3[1] June 25, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [By 1931 June 23, demolition of the masonry at the Hanover National Bank Building had progressed to the 14th floor. Derricks have been erected on the 16th floor to permit removal of the exterior masonry and the steel up to the 18th floor.] | |
| 1 | 23 | No. 25, Derricks on 12th floor, [19]31 July 2, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Demolition of the Astor Building and 7 Pine Street is complete except for the foundations by 1931 June 25, affording a clear view from Wall Street to Pine Street. Passageways between the Bankers Trust Building Street and the Astor Building, which the Bankers Trust Company had owned since 1919, can be seen on the party wall to the right in the photo.] | |
| 1 | 24 | No. 26, Looking s[outh] to Wall St[reet], [19]31 July 2, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [The temporary platforms at the 10th floor (at left) are being moved down to allow demolition to progress at the next story. Clearly visible here is the structure supporting the temporary platform: suspension cables and steel beams overhanging the remaining steel frame at the perimeter of the building. The planks above the platform protected the mechanics on the temporary platform from debris falling from above.] | |
| 1 | 25 | No. 27, Party wall, w[est] side #7 Pine St[reet], [19]31 July 2, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [By 1931 July 2, demolition of the Astor Building and 7 Pine Street was complete, including foundations. The power shovels at the bottom of the excavation load the remaining debris into trucks.] | |
| 1 | 26 | No. 28, [19]31 July 9, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| 1 | 27 | No. 29, Looking n[orth] from Wall St[reet], [19]31 July 9, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Demolition of the Hanover National Bank Building is more than halfway complete.] | |
| 1 | 28 | No. 30, Looking s[outh], 7 Pine St[reet], [19]31 July 9, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Construction of temporary wooden roadways to match the elevations of Pine Street and Wall Street, and the erection of rotating derricks has started on the now vacant lot. The east wall of the American Surety Building is visible at left.] | |
| 1 | 29 | No. 31, Lower e[ast] wall, American Surety B[ui]ld[in]g, [19]31 July 15, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [The combination of temporary roadways and derricks allow excavation for the foundations of the Bankers Trust annex to proceed below the level of the existing basement before the Hanover National Bank Building is completely demolished. Construction of an inclined roadway into the excavation would have required more room than was available in the area of the lot between Pine Street and Wall Street.] | |
| 1 | 30 | No. 32, Lower e[ast] wall, American Surety B[ui]ld[in]g, [19]31 July 15, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Partially torn. | | 1931 |
| | | [The excavation against the east wall of the American Surety Building was dug by hand. Here two laborers loosen fill as the derrick man prepares to lift a full bucket of spoil. The vertical sheeting and bracing at the north lot line wall reinforces the existing masonry wall and, if the excavation has extended below the original footings, supports fill below the wall. The gentleman with the folding rule, whose head is visible in the foreground, is checking existing conditions or foundation layout against the string line stretched along the western side of the excavation.] | |
| 1 | 31 | No. 33, Looking n[orth] on Nassau St[reet], [19]31 July 16, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. Partially torn. | | 1931 |
| 1 | 32 | No. 34, Wall St[reet] front, [19]31 July 16, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Demolition of the Hanover National Bank Building has nearly been completed to the fourth floor. Shanties for the contractor and his laborers have been constructed on the sidewalk and street.] | |
| 1 | 33 | No. 35, Looking s[outh], #7 Pine St[reet], [19]31 July 16, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [A temporary office for the staff from The Foundation Company has been constructed over the north sidewalk adjacent to the Wall Street frontage. Bracing at left, just above the head of the gentleman in the straw hat, may be supporting a portion of the east wall of 6 Wall Street. The angle of the bracing is too steep for it to be providing support to the wall of the excavation.] | |
| 1 | 34 | No. 36, Looking s[outh]w[est] from Pine & Nassau St[reet]s, [19]31 July 24, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. Includes a photostat. | | 1931 |
| | | [Looking south along the north-south wing of the cleared lot.] | |
| 1 | 35 | No. 37, Looking s[outh] from Pine St[reet], [19]31 July 24, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Demolition of the exterior masonry of the Hanover National Bank Building is nearing completion, approximately eight weeks after it began. The sidewalk bridge on and over Nassau Street has been disassembled in preparation for excavation of the foundation. What appears to be a temporary roadway has been constructed from the street to the basement of the Hanover National Bank Building.] | |
| 1 | 36 | No. 38, Looking n[orth] from Wall St[reet], [19]31 July 24, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Three derricks raise spoil to trucks waiting on the temporary wooden roadways. The two derricks toward Wall Street (at rear) service the excavations against both the west lot line and the west wall of The Bankers Trust Building Street. Two trucks in the excavation (lower left center) may have been driven in to the pit via a temporary inclined roadway from Nassau Street. Portions of the steel frame of the Hanover National Bank Building are visible in the background.] | |
| 1 | 37 | No. 39, Looking w[est] from Nassau St[reet], [19]31 Aug. 3, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [The temporary roadway leading from Wall Street on to the site has been partially dismantled, suggesting that the excavation for the north?south walls of this portion of the building has reached its full depth. Excavation may be commencing along the Wall Street elevation. The sheeting visible toward the back of the photograph probably separates two levels of the excavation: one deeper and one shallower.] | |
| 1 | 38 | No. 40, Looking n[orth] from Wall St[reet], [19]31 Aug. 3, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Partially torn. | | 1931 |
| | | [Several derricks and temporary wooden roadways have been constructed at the corner of Nassau and Pine Streets to permit excavation at this portion of the building.] | |
| 1 | 39 | No. 41, Looking s[outh] from Pine St[reet], [19]31 Aug. 3, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| 1 | 40 | No. 42, [19]31 Aug. 10, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Excavation for the western wall of the new annex continues.] | |
| 1 | 41 | No. 43, [19]31 Aug. 10, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Seven derricks are visible in this view. The T?shaped structure adjacent to the three derricks at the northeast corner (intersection of Nassau Street and Pine Street; Nassau horizontal in photo) sheltered the hoisting equipment for each derrick. Similar, though smaller, structures are visible at each of the other derricks. Both the crowd of onlookers along the sidewalk fence on Nassau Street and the large cloud of steam above one of the derricks suggest this photo was taken during the workday, though few laborers are visible. Nonetheless, a trailer?truck delivering steel sheeting is visible on Pine Street, as is an empty dump truck. At what will become the west foundation wall, bracing between the west wall of the excavation and the east wall of the adjacent buildings is visible. The bracing provided support for the excavation, not the wall of the building. The depth of the excavation at the west lot line has progressed significantly ahead of that at the east lot line. Along the east lot line at Nassau Street the vaulted sidewalk of the Hanover National Bank Building can still be seen.] | |
| 1 | 42 | No. 44, [19]31 Aug. 17, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Overall view of the Bankers Trust Building, looking west down Wall Street.] | |
| 1 | 43 | No. 45, Looking n[orth] from Wall St[reet], [19]31 Aug. 17, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [In the week since the last photograph was taken from the roof of the American Surety Building, pits have been excavated on Pine Street between the caissons below the perimeter columns of the Hanover National Bank Building. The tops of the caissons have been uncovered at Nassau Street.] | |
| 1 | 44 | No. 46, [19]31 Aug. 18, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Excavation for the west wall of building is nearing completion.] | |
| 1 | 45 | No. 47, [19]31 Aug. 25, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [View up from the excavation.] | |
| 1 | 46 | No. 48, Nassau St[reet] side of lot, [19]31 Aug. 25, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Progress on the excavation continues.] | |
| 1 | 47 | No. 49, [19]31 Sept. 1, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [The existing foundation walls at Nassau Street and Pine Street have been shored both horizontally and vertically with heavy timber. The existing caissons are clearly visible. While the capacity of the original caissons may have been sufficient to support the new structure, which is only two stories taller than Hanover National Bank Building, several factors may have militated against reusing them: lack of original structural documents, changes in the minimum loads the building was required to support (either by law or by virtue of the owner's desire), changes in the allowable loads on steel members, or the need for additional sub?grade space.] | |
| 1 | 48 | No. 50, Nassau St[reet] side of lot, [19]31 Sept. 1, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Progress on the excavation continues.] | |
| 1 | 49 | No. 51, Wall St[reet] front, [19]31 Sept. 1, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. Partially torn. Includes a photostat. | | 1931 |
| | | [See caption for No. 48.] | |
| 1 | 50 | No. 52, [19]31 Sept. 8, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Elevation looking north from New Street.] | |
| 1 | 51 | No. 53, Nassau St[reet] side of lot, [19]31 Sept. 8, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Progress on the excavation continues.] | |
| 1 | 52 | No. 54, Pine St[reet] side of lot, [19]31 Sept. 8, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Two rows of caissons have been excavated along the Nassau Street. The remains of the structural hollow tile floor arches can be seen at sidewalk level around the perimeter of the excavation. Lighter than the brick arch floor systems they replaced, the flat hollow structural tile arches used in skyscrapers at the turn of the century permitted the use of lighter steel sections and the construction of taller buildings for the same cost as the older, heavier brick arch construction they replaced.] | |
| 1 | 53 | No. 55, Nassau St[reet] side looking n[orth], [19]31 Sept. 15, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [The foundation contractor has started placement of the vertical board formwork for the concrete foundation wall (at center).] | |
| 1 | 54 | No. 56, Pine St[reet] side looking w[est], [19]31 Sept. 15, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [By September 15, 1931, one week after the last photograph of the Nassau Street frontage was made, several caissons in the outer row have been demolished and the foundation contractor has begun to place formwork. The formwork for the wall on Pine Street has been erected above the basement level of the Hanover National Bank Building. A hopper and chute at the center of the photo have been constructed to allow placement of concrete at the inner foundation wall. The blurred figures of two laborers working on the chute can be seen near the hopper and approximately halfway along the length of the chute. Reinforcing bars are also visible at lower left.] | |
| 1 | 55 | No. 57, W[est] side of lot looking n[orth] from Wall St[reet], [19]31 Sept. 15, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Formwork and placement of steel reinforcing has been completed for the lower level of the foundation wall. Concrete, evident in the bucket at center, is being placed in the lower portion of the forms along Pine Street. The formwork for the new foundation wall aligns with the north wall of the American Surety Building. The wall seen beyond the timber shoring at the right is the outer wall of the sidewalk vault. The gentleman inside the sidewalk fence is standing on a man hole that lead directly to the vault; the man hole may have been used a coal chute and the vault as a coal bunker.] | |
| 1 | 56 | No. 58, Wall St[reet] lot, [19]31 Sept. 22, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Formwork has also been constructed along the west lot line. Here the existing east wall of the adjacent structures is being used as part of the form. The three holes in the party wall of the adjacent building have been made to permit the insertion of needles, heavy steel beams used to temporarily support masonry. One of the large needles is visible in the lower portion of the photograph. Needling was probably required at this portion of the wall because the foundations of Wall Street wing of the Astor Building do not extend as far below grade as those on the American Surety Building on Pine Street.] | |
| 1 | 57 | No. 59, Pine St[reet] side, [19]31 Sept. 22, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Partially torn. | | 1931 |
| | | [Timber piles have been placed throughout the unexcavated center portion of the site. The derricks will be moved from the existing timber framework-which rests on timber plates on the ground-to the new piles. The existing timber framework will be removed and the excavation will continue around the new piles.] | |
| 1 | 58 | No. 60, Nassau St[reet] side, [19]31 Sept. 22, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Concrete has been placed in the new foundation walls up to the basement level of the Hanover National Bank Building. Along Pine Street, visible in the background, the formwork has been stripped from the foundations. The wide portion of the concrete wall corresponds to the location of one of the perimeter column lines. Lights at the sidewalk level may have been used to permit work along Nassau Street after dark or, more likely, for security purposes.] | |
| 1 | 59 | No. 61, Wall St[reet] side, 1st National Bank, [19]31 Sept. 22, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Work on the Nassau Street foundation walls continues.] | |
| 1 | 60 | No. 62, [19]31 Sept. 29, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Demolition of the First National Bank, at the corner of Wall Street and Broadway, and 6 Wall Street has begun to make way for a new tower at the corner of Wall Street and Broadway.] | |
| 1 | 61 | No. 63, [19]31 Sept. 29, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Three derricks have been erected along Pine Street to facilitate removal and replacement of the derricks at the center portion of the site from the original temporary timber frame to the new piles. The southernmost derrick on Nassau Street has already been placed on a taller platform. At the Wall Street frontage the temporary roadway has been moved from the western edge of the site to the eastern edge. By relocating the roadway the excavation contractor can begin removal of fill at the center portion of the site. Timber bracing has been placed at the basement level of the demolished structures; this bracing will help support the perimeter walls while the center of the site is excavated.] | |
| 1 | 62 | No. SP.1, Looking e[ast] to cor[ner] Nassau & Pine St[reet]s, [19]31 Oct. 5, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [New temporary timber pile foundations for the derricks are evident in this view looking toward Pine Street. A stationary industrial engine at the center of the photo was probably used to power pumps to remove water from the excavation. It may also have been used to power saws, compressors, and other stationary power tools used to fabricate the frames for the derricks and temporary bracing.] | |
| 1 | 63 | No. SP.2, Looking e[ast] in corridor from Equitable B[ui]ld[in]g, to BMT, [19]31 Oct. 5, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [A truck hauling spoil from the site has fallen through the pavement at the corner of Pine Street and Nassau Street.] | |
| 1 | 64 | No. 64, [19]31 Oct. 6, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Looking East in corridor from the Equitable Building, 120 Broadway, to the BMT subway station.] | |
| 1 | 65 | No. 65, Looking e[ast], [19]31 Oct. 6, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Excavation on the Wall Street lot has been completed from the west to the east lot lines, as has the excavation along Pine Street and Nassau Street. Only the center portion of the lot remains to be cleared. The system of temporary bracing is now clearly visible.] | |
| 1 | 66 | No. 66, Looking s[outh] from Pine St[reet], [19]31 Oct. 13, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Excavation continues.] | |
| 1 | 67 | No. 67, [19]31 Oct. 13, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Excavation along the east lot line at Wall Street. The west wall of the Bankers Trust Building is visible at the left in the photo.] | |
| 1 | 68 | No. 68, [19]31 Oct. 13, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [The system of temporary bracing provides support for the perimeter foundation walls. Concrete had been in place for almost four weeks at the time this photo was taken; waterproofing of the exterior face of the wall and backfilling may be underway or completed. The bracing also provides support to the timber towers below the derricks. The steel columns will extend from the new first basement level upward. Visible at right center of the photograph is a concrete pier that will support a steel column.] | |
| 1 | 69 | No. 69, [19]31 Oct. 13, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [See caption for photo No. 67.] | |
| 1 | 70 | No. 70, [19]31 Oct. 13, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [The depth of the excavation is evident in this view. The derrick to the upper left is located at sidewalk level.] | |
| 1 | 71 | No. 71, Footings looking e[ast], [19]31 Oct. 27, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Right edge torn. | | 1931 |
| | | [The old caissons at the center of the building have been uncovered. Demolition of the concrete filled timber caissons will proceed at they are excavated.] | |
| 1 | 72 | No. 72, Looking w[est] at American Surety foundations, [19]31 Oct. 27, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Spread footings for the new columns form a line at the center of the photo. Two caissons are visible to the right in the background.] | |
| 1 | 73 | No. SP [illegible], [19]31 Nov. | | 1931 |
| | | [Excavation along the west lot line-adjacent to the American Surety Building-required blasting through bedrock. Three of the laborers hold rock drills. The heavy steel mat at the lower left was used to cover the area being blasted to prevent debris from being shot throughout the site. Splices to the timber post at the left shows how the temporary timber frames are extended as the excavation continues downward. Sheeting in the background appears to have been undermined.] | |
| 1 | 74 | No. 73, Looking n[orth]w[est] from Nassau St[reet], [19]31 Nov. 4, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [4], 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. Left edge torn.[Demolition continues on the First National Bank and 6 Wall Street to make way for a new building at the corner of Wall Street and Broadway.] | |
| 1 | 75 | No. 74, Looking n[orth] from Wall St[reet], [19]31 Nov. 4, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Looking northwest from Nassau Street at the excavation and foundations along Pine Street.] | |
| 1 | 76 | No. 75, Screed angles, [19]31 Nov. 4, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Right edge torn. | | 1931 |
| 1 | 77 | No. 76, Sump pit, [1931] Nov. | | 1931 |
| | | [Set into the concrete at the top of a spread footing will permit placement of a level bed of grout below the base of the steel column. Providing a level surface on which the column can bear is essential for an even distribution of load over the footing; unevenly distribute loads could cause overstress or failure of the footing.] | |
| 1 | 78 | No. 77, [19]31 Nov. 11, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [4], 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Partially torn.[Excavation of the sump pit at the base of the elevator core.] | |
| 1 | 79 | No. 78, Looking w[est] from Nassau St[reet], [19]31 Nov. 11, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Excavation is nearly complete. Foundation walls have been constructed on the Pine and Nassau Street frontages. All but two of the derricks have been removed. North and west of the old building a portion of the steel framing has been constructed; a new derrick is being erected on the steel framing. This new derrick, which will be raised several floors at a time but remain at this location throughout the rest of the project, has been located permit placement of steel at the northwest corner of the new annex.] | |
| 1 | 80 | No. 79, Looking n[orth] from Wall St[reet], [19]31 Nov. 11, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Torn in two pieces. | | 1931 |
| | | [The steel frame supporting the new derrick will ultimately become part of the permanent frame of the annex.] | |
| 1 | 81 | No. 80, Looking s[outh]w[est] from Nassau St[reet] & Pine [Street], [19]31 Nov. 19, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. Torn in two pieces. | | 1931 |
| | | [Concrete foundations along the west lot line are in place (at left). The steel frame for the new derrick is visible in the background.] | |
| 1 | 82 | No. 81, Looking n[orth] from Wall St[reet], [19]31 Nov. 19, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [The old derrick at the west lot line has been removed. Seated connections for the girders and beams that will frame into the steel below the new derrick are visible on the outer faces for the columns. Piece marks-used to identify each piece of steel in the new building-are visible on the east face of the northeast column. The steel frame below the derrick has been temporarily braced with steel cables running both from the tower to the new concrete foundation and between members of the frame.] | |
| 1 | 83 | No. 82, 1931 Dec. 1, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. Left bottom corner torn. | | 1931 |
| | | [Another view of the new derrick.] | |
| 1 | 84 | No. 83, Looking s[outh]w[est] from Pine & Nassau St[reet]s, 1931 Dec. 1, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. Partially torn. | | 1931 |
| | | [Construction of the steel frame has extended beyond the new derrick in all directions. The tops of the steel columns-white I?shaped members-are visible throughout the temporary wood plank work platform. A second derrick has been erected on the Wall Street lot to facilitate erection of the steel frame at this portion of the building. The Pine Street derrick operator is preparing to "pick" or raise a new steel member from Pine Street. A truck waiting to deliver another member is parked to the east. At the Wall Street frontage a smaller crane removes the temporary wooden roadway.] | |
| 1 | 85 | No. 84, Pine St[reet] retaining wall near Nassau St[reet], [19]31 Dec. 1, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Several steel members have been loaded onto the temporary plank platform. Some of these will be lifted by the derrick on the Wall Street lot and placed in the short leg of the L?shaped annex. Others will be erected by the Pine Street derrick.] | |
| 1 | 86 | No. 85, [19]31 Dec, 8, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| 1 | 87 | No. 86, [19]31 Dec. 15, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [The derrick on the Wall Street lot has been moved closer to Wall Street, where it will remain throughout the remainder of the project. From this new location steel can be picked from trucks waiting on Wall Street directly to any location within the Wall Street lot. A third derrick has been erected east of the Pine Street derrick. The extent of the permanent frame that has been erected has grown considerably.] | |
| 1 | 88 | No. 87, Looking n[orth]e[ast] from Broadway, [19]31 Dec. 23, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [Unlike the frame of the Hanover National Bank Building, which had been constructed from many built up columns and beams, the main structural members of the new annex are largely single, hot?rolled sections. In the first decades of the 20th century steel manufacturers competed to roll ever larger steel members. Despite the number of larger sections available, many members were still built up from angles and plates. Here cover plates are visible on the columns below grade. Splice plates are visible at the top of the columns in the foreground, as are connection plates on the inner and outer faces of the column flange for bracing. The bracket on the outer flange of the column will support a beam at the ground floor level. Most beam to column connections are placed at the flange or web of the column to minimize eccentricity. The beam at the ground floor may have been located outside the column line to allow support of the exterior masonry cladding.] | |
| 1 | 89 | No. 88, Looking s[outh]w[est] from cor[ner] Pine & Nassau St[reet]s, [19]31 Dec. 23, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1931 |
| | | [By the end of December 1931, the steel frame had been erected to the fourth floor. Derricks were positioned so that one or two tiers of framing could be erected before they needed to be moved up. Columns in most steel framed buildings are two stories tall, each two story unit a "tier." In this photo, the buildings on the corner of Wall Street and Broadway, the First National Bank and 6 Wall Street, have been completely demolished. The beams at the perimeter of the building-at the west lot line-are visible; beams at the lot line have been set outside the column line to allow construction of a fire?rated masonry enclosure at the party wall.] | |
| 1 | 90 | No. 89, Wall St[reet] wing from Broadway, 1932 Jan. 4, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Two tiers of steel columns had been erected by the end of 1931. The first tier of columns extends from the first basement level up to the second floor; the second tier of columns extends from the second to the fourth floor. In this photo bracing has been installed up to the first floor. The connections for the bracing at the upper floors is visible on the Wall Street elevation.] | |
| 1 | 91 | No. 90, 1932 Jan. 4, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Formwork for the draped mesh concrete floor structure has been installed on the first six floors. Formwork for the floor system, as well as the concrete fireproofing encasement for the floor beams and girders is typically suspended with wire from the steel frame. By the 1920s draped mesh cinder concrete floor systems had replaced structural hollow tile flat arches as the most economical floor system. The tall structure in the foreground is a portion of a derrick for the new structure at the corner of Wall Street and Broadway.] | |
| 1 | 92 | No. 91, Wall St[reet] wing from Broadway, [19]32 Jan. 11, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [The derrick has been erected on the uppermost complete floor structure and a new tier of steel has been erected for the next two floors.] | |
| 1 | 93 | No. 92, [19]32 Jan. 11, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [While the site for the Bankers Trust Building annex is constricted, the site for the new building on the corner of Wall Street and Broadway is more so. Excavation for the foundations at this site must be carried out from derricks erected on an extra sturdy sidewalk bridge spanning across Wall Street.] | |
| 1 | 94 | No. 93, Looking n[orth] at Nassau St[reet] front, [19]32 Jan. 11, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Steel was picked from trucks on the street and placed on the steel floor framing prior to being erected. Where materials can be stored on site steel is frequently left at ground level and picked directly into position on the building frame. In many urban projects steel is picked and stored temporarily on the highest completed floor structure prior to being placed in position. A sidewalk bridge has been erected over both Nassau Street and Pine Street to protect passersby and to provide a staging platform for materials.] | |
| 1 | 95 | No. 94, [19]32 Jan. 18, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Two derricks are visible at the third floor level in this photograph: one at the southeast corner and the other on Nassau Street nearly to the intersection with Pine Street. These were used to bring materials into the building for temporary storage. Where conditions permitted materials were frequently delivered to the first floor of the new building and moved vertically through the building on hoists. Here the need to align the floors of the new annex with those of the old building probably precluded delivery of materials to the first floor.] | |
| 1 | 96 | No. 95, [19]32 Jan. 18, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [The eighth floor has been draped with tarpaulins to help retain heat. Concrete poured during winter needs to be protected from freezing if it is to achieve its full strength. Another derrick has been erected at the sixth Floor to allow movement of materials up the outside face of the building.] | |
| 1 | 97 | No. 96, Start of stone Nassau & Pine St[reet]s, [19]32 Jan. 18, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Right top torn. | | 1932 |
| | | [Construction of steel frame progresses, seen here from the corner of Wall Street and Broadway.] | |
| 1 | 98 | No. 97, Start of stone, Wall St[reet] front, [19]32 Jan. 18, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Because the masonry is fully supported by the steel frame the exterior cladding on steel frame buildings can be placed on any floor, in any sequence. Here the stone cladding has been installed at the ground floor before the steel frame has been completed.] | |
| 1 | 99 | No. 98, [19]32 Jan. 25, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 100 | No. 99, Wall St[reet] wing from [the] west, [19]32 Jan. 25, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. Torn in three pieces. | | 1932 |
| | | [Erection of the upper tiers of steel continues while stone cladding is installed at the first two floors, and the spandrels at the lower floors.] | |
| 1 | 101 | No. 100, Looking w[est] on Pine St[reet], [19]32 Jan. 25, 9.63 x 7.63 in. / 23.8 x 18.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 102 | No. 101, [19]32 Feb. 1, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 103 | No. 102, Looking n[orth], [19]32 Feb. 1, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Nassau street facade rising.] | |
| 1 | 104 | No. 103, 24[th] Floor Pine & Nassau St[reet]s, looking s[outh]w[est], [19]32 Feb. 1, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Construction of the steel frame is nearly complete. Steel suspended from a derrick at the top of the building is being placed at a rooftop bulkhead.] | |
| 1 | 105 | No. 104, Stone-Wall St[reet] front, [19]32 Feb. 1, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 106 | No. 105, 1932 Feb. 9, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [The limestone cladding at the first three floors of the Wall Street elevation is complete. Swing stages or hanging scaffolding is positioned at the fourth floor level to allow masons to install the stone cladding. In the early 1930s construction of cladding was evolving from a process that required masons to work from the exterior to one where all cladding materials were installed from the interior. The heavy steel construction of the sidewalk bridge was required to support the heavy loads of the building materials stored there temporarily. A stiff legged derrick was located on the exterior of the structure directly over the opening in the bridge.] | |
| 1 | 107 | No. 106, Looking e[ast] at Wall St[reet] wing, 1932 Feb. 9, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [The steel frame at the uppermost floors remains to be completed. The concrete subcontractor has nearly caught up with the steel erector and the masons are rapidly completing the exterior cladding.] | |
| 1 | 108 | No. 107, [19]32 Feb. 16, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Masons working from swing stages are constructing the common brick party wall between the Bankers Trust annex and the new building to be constructed at the corner of Wall Street and Broadway. Were the older building at this corner still extant, the masons would have been working from the interior of the annex, laying bricks over hand until they had reached the roof of the adjacent building; above the roof of the adjacent building they would work from exterior scaffolding. The scaffolding has been draped with tarpaulins to prevent the new masonry from freezing in the low temperatures of early February 1932.] | |
| 1 | 109 | No. 108, Pine St[reet] front, [19]32 Feb. 16, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Erection of the last few steel members at the top of the building seems to have been halted. With many construction projects on hold during the early years of the Great Depression, materials shortages are probably not the cause of the delay. Labor action in the construction trades did affect several construction projects-despite the general rise of unemployment-and may be affecting the completion of this structure. The schedule of placing the exterior cladding has not been affected.] | |
| 1 | 110 | No. 109, Looking n[orth], [19]32 Feb. 16, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [See caption for photo No. 107.] | |
| 1 | 111 | No. 110, [19]32 Feb. 23, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Looking north at the upper stories. The top of the spire of the Singer Building is visible at left and the Municipal Building is in the distance at right.] | |
| 1 | 112 | No. 111, Pine & Nassau St[reet]s cor[ner], [19]32 Feb. 23, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Erection of the steel frame appears to be complete. The traditional pine bough-placed on the highest member of the steel frame at completion-is not visible in this view.] | |
| 1 | 113 | No. 112, [19]32 Feb. 23, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Installation of the facade continues.] | |
| 1 | 114 | No. 113, [19]32 Mar. 1, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Looking east from Trinity Church graveyard.] | |
| 1 | 115 | No. 114, Pine cor[ner] Nassau St[reet]s, [19]32 Mar. 1, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Nassau Street facade.] | |
| 1 | 116 | No. 115, [19]32 Mar. 1, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [The exterior cladding system-horizontal spandrel panels between the windows, narrow vertical limestone mullions between windows, and vertical limestone piers-is similar in design to the cladding system used at the Empire State Building. Shreve Lamb & Harmon, the architectural firm that designed the Empire State, has also designed this building. The lessons learned for expediting the construction of the larger building uptown have probably been applied to the design of the exterior cladding of this structure.] | |
| 1 | 117 | No. 116, [19]32 Mar. 1, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Looking east from Trinity Church.] | |
| 1 | 118 | No. 117, [19]32 Mar. 9, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Vaults in the sub?grade floors constructed on stone concrete and steel reinforcing. The density of the steel at the perimeter of the walls was such that forced entry was nearly impossible.] | |
| 1 | 119 | No. 118, Cor[ner] Pine & Nassau St[reet]s, [19]32 Mar. 9, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Glaziers have started to install the windows, which are marked with an "X" at each single light sash. This work was probably accomplished from the interior; sealing the perimeter of the windows (as will be seen in later photos) was done from staging at the exterior of the building.] | |
| 1 | 120 | No. 119, [19]32 Mar. 9, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Exterior cladding continues.] | |
| 1 | 121 | No. 120, S[outh]e[ast] cor[ner] vault-2nd level, [19]32 Mar. 9, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Looking north.] | |
| 1 | 122 | No. 121, [19]32 Mar. 16, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 123 | No. 122, Wall St[reet] wing from Irving Tr., [19]32 Mar. 16, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Exterior cladding continues.] | |
| 1 | 124 | No. 123, Pine & Nassau St[reet]s, [19]32 Mar. 16, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Masons on the swing staging over Wall Street complete this cladding on this elevation and the west party wall.] | |
| 1 | 125 | No. 124, S[outh]e[ast] cor[ner] vault, 2nd level, [1932] Mar. 16, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Exterior cladding continues.] | |
| 1 | 126 | No. 125, [19]32 Mar. 24, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [The heavy reinforcing of the floors and walls of the vaults can be seen again here at the second level. The cable placed over the reinforcing may be part of a radiant heating system within the concrete structure. An in?floor radiant heating system-whether electric or hydronic-would have minimized the risk of fire in the vault as well as the amount of floor space that would need to be devoted to heating equipment. The size and number of penetrations through the perimeter walls for supply of the radiant heating system would also be reduced to an absolute minimum.] | |
| 1 | 127 | No. 126, [19]32 Mar. 24, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Glaziers seal the exterior joint between the windows and the stone cladding.] | |
| 1 | 128 | No. 127, 1932 Apr. 1, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Upper stories of the Nassau Street facade. Cladding nears completion.] | |
| 1 | 129 | No. 128, 1932 Apr. 1, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Nassau Street facade. Glazing is nearly complete three weeks after the process began.] | |
| 1 | 130 | No. 129, Cor[ner] Pine & Nassau St[reet]s, 193[2] Apr. 1, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Looking north.] | |
| 1 | 131 | No. 130, 1932 Apr. 8, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [The exterior cladding is complete. Glaziers continue installation of windows and sealing the exterior cladding.] | |
| 1 | 132 | No. 131, Looking e[ast] from Church St[reet], 1932 Apr. 8, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [A rubbish chute has been constructed on the exterior of the building to allow disposal of construction debris generated during fitting out of the interior spaces.] | |
| 1 | 133 | No. 132, Upper leverl main vault-looking s[outh]e[ast], 1932 Apr. 8, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [An American flag, frequently used in lieu of the traditional pine bough, is often flown at the top of the completed steel frame. Here, however, the flag flies atop the American Surety Building.] | |
| 1 | 134 | No. 133, Wall St[reet] front after removal of sidewalk bridge, [19]32 Apr. 15, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Right bottom corner torn. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 135 | No. 134, Ceiling ducts on 2nd floor, [19]32 Apr. 15, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [With the work of the exterior of the building complete, the sidewalk bridge along the Wall Street elevation could be removed. Here trucks are prepared to haul away the last portions of the bridge.] | |
| 1 | 136 | No. 135, Supply fan & heat stack before enclosure, 6th floor, [19]32 Apr. 15, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Torn along the edges. | | 1932 |
| | | [Air conditioning had been commercially available since the mid 1920s. Ductwork for supplying both warm and cool air to the public spaces and offices was installed on the underside of the concrete slabs. The steel columns have been fireproofed with concrete.] | |
| 1 | 137 | No. 136, Underfloor system, [19]32 Apr. 27, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Adhesive tape in lower left corner. | | 1932 |
| | | [Mechanical equipment was installed on several floors to ensure an adequate supply of fresh, properly tempered air. The size of the equipment used could be optimized by placing it on several floors throughout the building; several smaller units were more efficient at distributing tempered air than one or two large units in the basement and on the roof.] | |
| 1 | 138 | No. 138, Top-cor[ner] Pine and Nassau St[reet]s, [19]32 Apr. 27, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [On the upper floors terra cotta tile were used to fireproof the columns. Terra cotta was easily installed where vertical surfaces were required, was lighter than concrete, and provided an excellent surface for the application of plaster. Utilities were distributed throughout each floor in conduits placed over the draped mesh slab and cinder fill. A cinder concrete topping slab-with wood sleepers where a wood finish was specified-was placed over the fill and utilities.] | |
| 1 | 139 | No. 139, Roof and penthouse from Nassau St[reet] side, [19]32 May 24, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Exterior cladding and glazing are complete.] | |
| 1 | 140 | No. 140, Preparing to tie into old building 23rd fl[oor], [19]32 May 24, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. Scanned copy-original missing. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 141 | No. 143, Main switchboard, basement D, [19]32 June 8, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [The desire to have continuous, level floors between the annex and the old building was one of the driving forces behind demolition of the Hanover National Bank Building. Here ironworkers prepare steel at the old building for installation of new steel that will allow connection of the two structures.] | |
| 1 | 142 | No. 144, Ceiling [of the new] main banking room showing duct work, [19]32 June 22, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Right edge torn. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 143 | No. 145, Bridge removed looking w[est] on Pine St[reet] from Nassau St[reet], 1932 July 1, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 144 | No. 146, Air filters for #8-9 units, complete air filter for #4 not enclosed showing heat stack from fresh air supply side, 1932 July 1, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. Right edge torn. | | 1932 |
| | | [The sidewalk bridge has been removed from Pine Street.] | |
| 1 | 145 | No. 147, 25th Floor, [19]32 July 13, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 146 | No. 148, Penthouse exhaust outlet showing streamline columns and deflectors, [19]32 July 13, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Right edge torn. | | 1932 |
| | | [Exterior view of the 25th floor.] | |
| 1 | 147 | No. 149, Lower level main vault looking east, (1) fresh air inlet through bottom of main door, [19]32 July 25, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 148 | No. 150, Nassau St[reet] looking s[outh] showing bridge partly removed, [19]32 Aug. 1, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. Right edge torn. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 149 | No. 151, 6th Floor looking east, 1932 Aug. 1, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Bridge removal in progress along Nassau Street.] | |
| 1 | 150 | No. 152, Temporary soundproof partition s[outh] side 2nd floor, [19]32 Aug. 10, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. Two copies, one of which is torn in two pieces. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 151 | No. 154, E[levator] bank, main floor, [19]32 Aug. 27, 7.63 x 9.25 in. / 18.7 x 23.3 cm. Torn in two pieces, "Thompson-Starrett Company, Inc., 250 Park Ave., New York City" stamped in ink on verso. | | 1932 |
| | | [Separates occupied space in the old building from the party wall between it and the annex. The work of connecting the two structures will be completed behind this partition.] | |
| 1 | 152 | No. 155, Entrance [to] "A" basement, [19]32 Aug. 27, 6.63 x 9.5 in. / 15.6 x 24 cm. "Thompson-Starrett Company, Inc., 250 Park Ave., New York City" stamped in ink on verso. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 153 | No. 156, Rear corridor, main floor, [19]32 Aug. 27, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 23.4 cm. "Thompson-Starrett Company, Inc., 250 Park Ave., New York City" stamped in ink on verso. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 154 | No. 159, Fan room, basement "C" looking e[ast], [19]32, Aug. 27, 9.5 x 7.5 in. / 24 x 19 cm. "Thompson-Starrett Company, Inc., 250 Park Ave., New York City" stamped in ink on verso. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 155 | No. 160, [General view of lobby], 1932 Sept. 2, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. "Thompson-Starrett Company, Inc., 250 Park Ave., New York City" stamped in ink on verso. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 156 | No. 161, [View of teller windows in] basement A, 1932 Sept. 2, 6 x 9.63 in. / 15.2 x 24.3 cm. "Thompson-Starrett Company, Inc., 250 Park Ave., New York City" stamped in ink on verso. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 157 | No. 163, [19]32 Sept. 14, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. Left corners torn. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 158 | No. 164, Old banking room looking s[outh]e[ast], [19]32 Sept. 14, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Structural steel fabricators Post & McCord have set up a sidewalk bridge around the perimeter of the old building in preparation for alterations to the main banking room.] | |
| 1 | 159 | No. 165, Wrecking extension to old building at 12th floor, [19]32 Sept. 27, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Demolition of the old banking room has exposed the steel frame of the original tower.] | |
| 1 | 160 | No. 166, Truss 5th fl[oor] old b[ui]ld[in]g, [19]32 Oct. 12, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| 1 | 161 | No. 167, Main banking r[oo]m, new b[ui]ld[in]g, [19]32 Oct. 12, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Existing truss above banking room at fifth floor.] | |
| 1 | 162 | No. 168, Plate girder, 5th floor old building, [19]32 Oct. 24, 7.63 x 9.63 in. / 18.7 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [The rough finishes at the new banking hall are nearly complete. Terra cotta block-for partitions and fireproofing columns-and brick are piled in the foreground for completion of the roughing out.] | |
| 1 | 163 | No. 169, Transferring load to truss 5th floor old building, [19]32 Oct. 24, 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 18.7 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Heavy transfer girder above the banking hall.] | |
| 1 | 164 | No. 170, Looking n[orth] from main entrance banking room, [19]32 Nov. 4, 9.63 x 7.5 in. / 24.3 x 19 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [The load from the columns to be cut at the renovated banking hall was transferred to the new truss prior to the removal of the lowest section of the column. The built up jacking lugs on the flanges of the column were riveted to the existing steel to accommodate a pair of hydraulic jacks on each side of the column.] | |
| 1 | 165 | No. 171, Steel at 12th fl[oor] between old & new b[ui]ld[in]gs, [19]32 Nov. 14, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Overall view of steel framing at the new banking hall.] | |
| 1 | 166 | No. 173, Ducts over main banking space in old building, [19]32 Nov. 25, 7.63 x 9.63 in. / 18.7 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Steel framing for the floor to fill the courtyard between the old and new building and the annex (at right) has been installed and is awaiting formwork for the draped mesh cinder concrete floor structure.] | |
| 1 | 167 | No. 174, Roof slab in place over space between old and new b[ui]ld[in]gs, [19]32 Nov. 25, 7.63 x 9.63 in. / 18.7 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Ducts are being installed in the deep space created by raising the ceiling of the old banking hall.] | |
| 1 | 168 | No. 175, 18th Floor looking w[est], 1932 Dec. 5, 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [The concrete roof slab has been installed at the new steel framing between the old building and the annex.] | |
| 1 | 169 | No. 176, Steam meters, [n.d.], 7.5 x 9.63 in. / 19 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Formwork for the 19th floor structure at the infill between the original tower and the annex.] | |
| 1 | 170 | No. 177, Looking s[outh] towards old banking room, 1932 Dec. 30, 7.63 x 9.63 in. / 18.7 x 24.3 cm. | | 1932 |
| | | [Consolidated Edison, the local electric utility, supplies waste steam to many commercial buildings downtown for powering heating and cooling equipment.] | |
| 1 | 171 | No. 178, 1933 Jan. 1, 7.63 x 9.63 in. / 18.7 x 24.3 cm. | | 1933 |
| | | [Temporary scaffolding at the interior of the main banking room has been designed to permit full access to the ceiling and passage below.] | |
| 1 | 172 | No. 179, Main banking room, [19]33 Jan. 2[0], 7.63 x 9.63 in. / 18.7 x 24.3 cm. | | 1933 |
| | | [While the sidewalk bridge at the old building has been removed, the taped windows at the main banking hall are a clear indication that construction was still underway on the interior. The sidewalk bridge at the debris chute at Nassau Street-at the annex-is still in place at right; at left is a second section of sidewalk bridge at the Wall Street frontage of the annex.] | |
| 1 | 173 | No. 181, Looking toward Wall St[reet] entrance, [19]33 Feb. 16, 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 18.7 x 24 cm. "P.G. Andrews, photographs, 11 W. 42[n]d St[reet], N.Y." stamped in ink on verso. | | 1933 |
| | | [General view of construction.] | |
| 1 | 174 | No. 182, w[est] end, new [main banking] building, [19]33 Feb. 28, 7.5 x 9.5 in. / 19 x 24 cm. "P.G. Andrews, photographs, 11 W. 42[n]d St[reet], N.Y." stamped in ink on verso. | | 1933 |
| | | [Construction of the main banking hall is nearly complete.] | |
| 1 | 175 | No. 183, Basement "A," old building, [19]33 Feb. 28, 7.63 x 9.63 in. / 18.7 x 24.9 cm. "P.G. Andrews, photographs, 11 W. 42[n]d St[reet], N.Y." stamped in ink on verso. | | 1933 |
| 1 | 176 | No. 184, Looking n[orth] from Wall St[reet] entrance, [19]33 Mar. 14, 7.63 x 9.63 in. / 18.7 x 24.3 cm. Right bottom corner torn. "P.G. Andrews, photographs, 11 W. 42[n]d St[reet], N.Y." stamped in ink on verso. | | 1933 |
| 1 | 177 | No. 185, Looking e[ast] new b[ui]ld[in]g, 1933 Mar. 14, 7.63 x 9.63 in. / 18.7 x 24.3 cm. "P.G. Andrews, photographs, 11 W. 42[n]d St[reet], N.Y." stamped in ink on verso. | | 1933 |
| | | [Construction of the main banking hall continues.] | |
| 1 | 178 | [No. 187, The main banking hall, n.d.], 7 .75 x 9.63 in / 19.5 x 24.3 cm. "P.G. Andrews, photographs, 11 W. 42[n]d St[reet], N.Y." stamped in ink on verso. | | 1933 |
| | | [Construction of the main banking hall continues.] | |
| 1 | 179 | No. 189, [Corporate dining facility, n.d.], 7.63 x 9.5 in. / 19.3 x 24 cm. "P.G. Andrews, photographs, 11 W. 42[n]d St[reet], N.Y." stamped in ink on verso. | | 1933 |
| 1 | 180 | No. 190, [The main banking hall, n.d.], 9.5 x 7.63 in. / 24 x 19.3 cm. "P.G. Andrews, photographs, 11 W. 42[n]d St[reet], N.Y." stamped in ink on verso. | | 1933 |
