A History of the Singer Building Construction from 1908!
I have always been fascinated by the Singer Building, the world's tallest building from 1908 to 1909. I was never able to find much information on it, until today, when I stumbled upon a treasure - an online scanned version of a 1908 publication on the skyscraper!
The 127 page book includes photos during and after construction, plans, and details on all aspects of the tower, including the interior furnishings and mechanical equipment.
I swear if I ever somehow come into a billion dollars, I will rebuild this building some where in New York.
Great find!
Indeed, having it replaced by Liberty Plaza was bittersweet when I first learned of it. I would definitely rebuild this in LA. (maybe the Historic Core).
I swear if I ever somehow come into a billion dollars, I will rebuild this building some where in New York.
Great find!
I'm with you there. I would do the same. But there would be two. I could put mine in Brooklyn.
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btw... I just came back from buying what I think DamienK is talking about. 1923 reproduction? Otto Francis Semsch, author?
Last edited by stormkingfan; Jul 7, 2012 at 12:25 AM.
No worries! I saw this and thought: this is too good to not share.
Think about it, this was the tallest office building in the world in the first decade of the 20th century. All those who have worked on this great structure have died many years ago. And the building itself was razed more than 40 years back. If not for photos and this publication, it would be like it never existed.
I wish it could be rebuilt, but it would never have compared to having it here, aged from a century of occupied use.
The Metropolitan Life Building (the next record holder, also in New York) is turning 100 this year, but I still prefer the Singer Building.
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great find, the Singer building is one of my favorites and it upsets me that the city decided to tear it down so they could build a big glass box with more office space in its place.
The crown of this building would have made the penultimate condo.
.....The ultimate condo being the crown of the Chrysler, or penthouse at the Top of the Rock, or maybe better still the dirigible mooring deck of the ESB. Runner up for penultimate condo to the top floors of the Tribune Tower in Chicago, which aren't very high but look out at the buttresses and ooze Gotham atmosphere.
stumbled into this thread by accident. wonderful stuff on my favorite destroyed building
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I have to agree with wrabbit, that interior shot is impressive! This must have been considered a very modern building when finished. But look at the floorplates....they're tiny!
I wonder if the Singer Building had survived another 20 years if it would have been converted into condos?
edit: oh yeah and why does the second picture mention the Lusitania?
I have to agree with wrabbit, that interior shot is impressive! This must have been considered a very modern building when finished. But look at the floorplates....they're tiny!
I wonder if the Singer Building had survived another 20 years if it would have been converted into condos?
edit: oh yeah and why does the second picture mention the Lusitania?
I agree with your post.
The RMS Lusitania arrived in New York on that date (Sep. 13, 1907) at the completion of its maiden voyage. The flag and pennants must of been flown from the incomplete Singer Building to welcome the ship into the harbor. At the time the ship was the largest ocean liner in the world (later to be eclipsed by the White Star Line's Olympic class).
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My Detroit and Lego architecture photos: flickr/decojim/
Here are a couple showing the Singer Building in the skyline in her final decades. These were scanned from various photo-books and magazines of the period that I own.
July 1950
July 1951
July 1953
November 1955
November 1958
July 1960
February 1961
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Big mistake to have taken this bldg down! One Liberty Plaza could have been built in Mid-town. The Singer Bldg. screams, New York! New York! New York!!!
That shot, showing the detail of the crown, is something I just couldn't take my eyes off of. It's almost mesmerizing.