The Woolworth Building
A few weeks ago I had the privilege (well, I paid for the privilege, actually) of touring the famed lobby of the Woolworth Building. Completed in 1913 — it's one of the oldest skyscrapers in the US — the amazingly decadent lobby has only been accessible to those who actually worked within the building since World War II. But 100 years after its completion, the lobby is once again open to the public via small group tours.
We took what was supposed to be a 15-minute tour, and paid $10 per person, but it ended up being more than 30 minutes, total. It doesn't look like there's a 15-minute option anymore, but it was definitely worth the price of admission (I can't speak for the longer, more expensive options). The tour was suggested to me by my two friends who just happen to be classically trained architects. The three of us met for the tour after work, and while I may not have the degree to back up my commentary, I can say that the lobby is spectacular.
The mosaic ceilings are breathtaking, and almost too much to comprehend at once. No detail or expense was spared — everything from the elevator doors to the mailboxes is dripping in ornamentation.
I loved the personal details too, like the carvings of Mr. Woolworth counting his nickels and dimes, or the one of architect Cass Gilbert holding a miniature replica of the building. The level of detail is really unbelievable, with a hidden carving or embellishment every where you look. I loved all of the carved faces and the fact that each one was designed to be unique from one another just sort of boggles my mind. You just don't find that level of attention or appreciation of superfluous decoration in buildings (or cars, products, etc.) today.
At one point our tour guide said that even if you wanted to build an extravagant lobby alá the Woolworth Building today, you couldn't. There aren't enough materials (such as marble) left in existence for project of similar size and scope. I love building tours, and they always make me wish even more for the ability to turn back time, if only for a moment. I would love to be able to see the Woolworth lobby as it was in its heyday, as a commercial hub and tourist destination. There's even an abandoned pool in the basement that has just the right amount of history and mystery to it to make me wish it was part of the tour.
The tours were recently extended for who knows how long, so sign up soon if you're interested. Or, if you happen to be absurdly wealthy, in the market for a new home in 2015 and are willing to pay 3,000 per square foot, then you can just tour the lobby every day on your way home.
