NEW YORK | 55 Water Street | 691' | 53 FLOORS | 1972

Amanita · #1 Posted **Jun 2, 2010, 10:36 PM**

Here's one massive Skyscraper- 55 Water Street of Lower Manhattan.
What this broad shouldered skyscraper lacks in height, it more than makes up for in floor space-3.5 million square feet, to be exact. In fact, when it opened, it was the largest private office building in the world, based on gross footage.

Its architects, Emery Roth & Sons were responsible for one third of all the new office space in NYC, from 1950-1972. They were known for skyscrapers with high speed elevators, advanced air conditioning systems, and large offices. They also served as consultants for buildings like Citicorp Center, and the WTC complex.

55 Water has had an interesting past. While fortunate enough not to be visited by disaster, the building did suffer through a period of neglect, caught up in Olympia&York's financial problems. Fortunately that ended in 1993, when new management came in to give the skyscraper some much needed attention:

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/24/ny...reet%22&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/20/bu...reet%22&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/10/re...reet%22&st=cse

Luckily things have brightened up for one of NYC's biggest, beefiest skyscrapers. In 2005, the plaza was given a much needed makeover:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/19/ny...reet%22&st=cse

Here's the skyscrapers.com entry:
http://www.emporis.com/application/?...orkcity-ny-usa

Here's the official website:
www.55water.com
Even the Peregrine Falcons love this enormous skyscraper:
http://falcons.55water.com/

I took a liking to this building, and its two neighbors, One and Two New York Plaza, after seeing them so often on CSI:NY. They struck me as a trio of very striking buildings- sleek and modern. 55 Water in particular strikes me as a modern take on Louis Sullivan's "Crown, pedestal, base" idea of skyscraper composition. Yeah, this skyscraper may not have much in the way of decorative gingerbread, but there is something likeable about it. It's got presence.

Now, here's what this site is really all about- Skyscraper porn!

Here's two links to pics of this building's falcons:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/obsessi...hy/2540978673/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/obsessi...phy/2541798924

55 Water with his two neighbors, the sibling towers of New York Plaza:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanfran...05/4290191705/

Look up..look waaay up!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyandersson/248571369/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbandave/3147645463/

55 Water's promenade by night:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fakeamerica/56750351/

55 Water in its natural habitat:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robnaldo/2825162089/

A gorgeous plaza:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37709807@N04/3686372879/

Close-ups of the facade, can you spot the falcons?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38226953@N00/3614828069/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38226953@N00/3614827705/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38226953@N00/3615646796/

And finally, my own 55 Water fan art

Notice how I worked the facade colors and some of the markings into his clothes, as well as his head.

uaarkson · #2 Posted **Jun 3, 2010, 12:05 AM**

Why can't you use the Insert Image feature?

lol, that fan art is awesome.

Amanita · #3 Posted **Jun 3, 2010, 2:09 AM**

Glad you like him! Most folks here see my stuff and ask what I'm smoking. I'm working on another one of that same tower, that shows off more of his physique- a skyscraper that brawny has got to have some muscle, after all

Maybe I should give him his own pet falcon while I'm at it.

I didn't insert the images because some of the flickr links only have the main photo page, as opposed to being able to view just the pic in several sizes.

nycdagreatest · #4 Posted **Jun 3, 2010, 2:28 AM**

their was only 4 that showed only the main photo page,you could have posted the pics for the other 7........... but anyway nice fan art I'm looking forward to seeing what you got planned for your next one

Lecom · #5 Posted **Jun 3, 2010, 4:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanita

Glad you like him! Most folks here see my stuff and ask what I'm smoking. I'm working on another one of that same tower, that shows off more of his physique- a skyscraper that brawny has got to have some muscle, after all

Maybe I should give him his own pet falcon while I'm at it.

Well, your stuff is indeed quite far out, and it's not something I'd even think of, but when I was younger I did subliminally personify many highrises, so I know where you're coming from with those sentiments.

I always found the falcon perch to be a fascinating element of this building, not only as it redefines the meaning of "skyscraper canyons", but also because of its obvious benefits of getting rid of pigeons in a natural manner. At one point I attended an hour long seminar on how to design buildings that falcons would favor as perching locations - turns out these things are a carefully studied science and not just a quirky side effect of building design.

lakegz · #6 Posted **Jun 3, 2010, 5:29 AM**

great post and great art. I totally get where you're coming from

Amanita · #7 Posted **Jun 3, 2010, 8:21 PM**

I suspect that with NYC's falcon-friendly bridges- Verrazano, George Washington, Throgs neck, and skyscrapers, their design was a happy accident- these structures went up before environmental consciousness really came to the forefront. Now that we're more eco-aware and interested in preserving the falcon population, we're making an effort to design things that way on purpose. Either way, it's pretty cool. In some Pagan beliefs, it's considered good luck to have something like a falcon nesting on a building- a sign that the structure has been accepted by nature. I guess 55 Water is one lucky tower

nycdagreatest · #8 Posted **Jun 9, 2010, 6:51 PM**

newhannibal112

Dac150 · #9 Posted **Jun 9, 2010, 11:14 PM**

^^^Simple and beautiful.

This is one of my favorite buildings in the city; pure reason being its dominance at the tip of the island. When you’re about the head into the Battery Tunnel towards Manhattan, you have this and it’s bulky neighbors looking dead at you. It’s not a Mona Lisa, but to me it perfects the international box.

Zerton · #10 Posted **Jun 10, 2010, 8:32 AM**

I've always hated the color. I want to paint it black.

Amanita · #11 Posted **Jun 10, 2010, 7:40 PM**

I remember my first flight out of JFK to San Francisco. I got an eyeful of 55 Water and his two big neighbors

I don't know about black- there's already several big black towers downtown, including One Liberty Plaza. 55 Water would look pretty sithy with black colouring, I think.

SkyscrapersOfNewYork · #12 Posted **Jun 10, 2010, 10:56 PM**

one of my favorite boxes

mthq · #13 Posted **Jun 11, 2010, 5:09 AM**

I've long thought of 55 as being one of the most interesting buildings in NYC. I think the uniqueness that I see comes from how it doesn't feel like a skyscraper because of its huge bulk yet in any other city this building would be dominating the skyline like nobody's business. Even when reading the original post, my mind had a hard time accepting it being called a skyscraper.

btw totally forgot about the Beacon of Progress! Is there anymore pictures of it? I also like the Soviet-esque name that was given to it

NYguy · #14 Posted **Jun 18, 2010, 9:44 PM**

I really hate this building, but I had lunch on the plaza yesterday.

Amanita · #15 Posted **Jun 20, 2010, 6:19 PM**

^Hate it? Care to elaborate? I would love to check out the plaza, maybe hang out there and enjoy the space, but I'm worried about my gothy self being kicked to the curb by security. I don't look a thing like an office worker,lol. Unless office workers have taken to wearing cloaks instead of blazers and traded in their suits for huuuge flowy circle skirts

Dac150 · #16 Posted **Jun 20, 2010, 11:21 PM**

^^^ Anything goes in New York.

Amanita · #17 Posted **Jun 22, 2010, 1:50 PM**

Anyone ever hear the song by Underworld called "Skyscraper, I love you"?

I've got a funny vision of NYGuy sitting on the 55 Water plaza, looking up at that tower and softly singing "Mmmm, Skyscraper, I hate you!"

Sure, my gothic/Pagan wardrobe might not attract much notice, but I bet building security would be p-i-s-s-e-d if I brought out my glowsticks to practice a little:
http://www.flowtoys.com/visuals/v/fl...ction/flowpoi/