7. Broadway Chambers Building

The Broadway Chambers Building, Cass Gilbert’s first New York City building, was built in 1899 and was completed in 1900. The 18 floor building stands 225 feet tall in the Beaux-Arts style of architecture at 277 Broadway.

The building process was hurried along as those involved with the project feared it would cited for being too high, despite a lack of zoning and height restrictions during this time (the first Zoning Amendment would be approved in 1916). The land was owned by Edward R. Andrews who wanted an office building built. Gilbert and Andrews discussed plans for three years until a contract was signed. The beautiful coloring of the building was inspired by Andrews’ desire for the building’s materials to be terra cotta and white stone.

Helen Post Curry, the great-granddaughter of Cass Gilbert who leads our tours of the Woolworth Building, Frank Woolworth’s offices were originally “right across the street from [the] Broadway Chambers building, which he admired.”