“The most significant commercial building utilizing skyscraper structural techniques in New York City” That’s what the Landmarks Preservation Commission calls the Bayard-Condict Building. Right here before you stands Louis Sullivan’s only New York City creation.
This magnificent structure at 65 Bleecker Street wasn’t just another building. It was a statement. Built between 1897 and 1899 it boldly rejected the then-popular historical architectural styles. Sullivan believed a building should reflect its structure not hide it. His famous credo “form ever follows function” is embodied perfectly in the Bayard-Condict Building.
The building’s initial owners the United Loan and Investment Company had grand plans. They aimed to erect a twelve-story commercial building named the Bayard Building. However construction problems arose. The Bank for Savings foreclosed on the mortgage. Emmeline and Silas Condict took over. The building’s name changed to the Condict Building upon completion in December 1899. It later reverted to Bayard Building.
The Bayard-Condict Building’s facade is breathtaking. It’s clad in white glazed terracotta. Thousands of individual tiles create an intricate design. The building’s verticality is accentuated by slender pillars. These rise nearly to the ornate cornice. The deep ornamental detail is the result of painstakingly molded and hand-carved clay. Sullivan’s signature organic designs featuring floral motifs decorate the base and top. Six winged angels adorn the spandrels just below the cornice. For years it was believed that the angels were added at the request of Silas Condict. Historians now dispute this. They claim the angel motifs were part of Sullivan’s original design.
The building’s interior originally featured large loft-like spaces. A mechanical core housed elevators utilities and stairs. The structure used a steel and iron frame. The exterior walls were built using thick bricks. Their thickness varied depending on the floor.
The Bayard-Condict Building is more than just a building. It’s a testament to architectural innovation. It showcases Sullivan’s genius. It’s a landmark of New York City. It was even one of the first skyscrapers built with a steel skeleton. This caused numerous objections from the city’s Building Department. The restoration in the late 1990s and early 2000s was a painstaking effort. About 1300 of the 7000 terracotta tiles needed replacing. The work involved careful repair and replication. A replica of an original storefront column capital was created using a surviving piece found in the Brooklyn Museum. This impressive restoration received a prestigious award.
The Bayard-Condict Building stands as a lasting legacy. It’s a powerful symbol of Sullivan’s vision. It is truly one of the city’s architectural gems.