Federal Office Building

Year
1894
Style
Romanesque Revival
City
Manhattan, NY
Federal Office Building
Photo: Jim.henderson, CC0
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The Federal Office Building, also known as the United States Appraisers' Warehouse or The Archive, was built in 1892-1899 to designs by Willoughby J. Edbrooke, with construction authorized by Congress in 1888. The ten-story Romanesque building in the West Village served as a customs storehouse, where agents examined and assessed imported goods to set duties.

the building

Three architects, one building. Edbrooke directed construction of the first two floors, completed in 1894, but died before the project finished; William Martin Aiken added eight more floors from 1896 to 1898, and James Knox Taylor completed the work in 1898.

A lit central court. The initial design included a central, open court intended to bring light and air into the building's interior.

the style

The building is Romanesque in style, and its scale and detailing show the influence of the Chicago School of Architecture.

More on Romanesque Revival

the architect

Willoughby J. Edbrooke began the design and construction; William Martin Aiken served as supervising architect from 1895 to 1897, followed by James Knox Taylor, who completed the building.

significance

The building is a New York City Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is now a residential building.

nearby

All 413 buildings in Manhattan