Downtown Athletic Club Building
- Architect
- Starrett & van Vleck
- Year
- 1930
- Style
- Art Deco
- City
- Manhattan, NY
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The Downtown Athletic Club Building at 19 West Street is a 35-story Art Deco tower completed in 1930 by Starrett & van Vleck, who also designed the adjacent 21 West Street at the same time. Built for a private social and athletic club founded in 1926, it became known nationally as the place where the Heisman Trophy was created and issued each year.
the building
Heisman Trophy origin. The club issued the Heisman Trophy, the annual award for outstanding college football players, named for John Heisman, the club's first athletic director.
the style
Starrett & van Vleck rendered the club in Art Deco, giving the 35-story tower a vertical massing that stood out along the Hudson River waterfront near the Financial District.
More on Art Decosignificance
The building is a New York City Individual Landmark (LP-02075, designated 2000). The club itself went bankrupt in 1936, was reacquired in 1950, began admitting women in 1977, and closed after the September 11 attacks cut off access to the building.