Picture a skyscraper rising 462 feet above Broadway. This is the Harriman Building. It stands as a testament to New York’s architectural ambition.
The Harriman Building’s story begins in 1926. Cross & Cross designed this 37-story office tower. The George A. Fuller Company erected it. This is the same company that built the Flatiron Building. The Harriman Building officially opened in May 1928.
Before the Harriman Building, the site had quite a history. After the Revolution, Alexander Macomb owned the property. George Washington occupied a large residence here as the presidential mansion in 1789. This was after his inauguration.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, two five-story buildings stood here. In 1920, Gaston, Williams & Wigmore occupied a five-story neoclassical building. Harriman Interests acquired the property later.
The W.A. Harriman banking firm owned the Harriman Building. They occupied seven floors. Other tenants included the Union Pacific Railroad and the Eastern Exchange Bank. John Muir & Co. and the Hamburg-American Steamship Company also had offices here.
In October 1929, Fred F. French Operators bought the Harriman Building. By 1940, Thirty-nine Broadway Inc. owned the building. In 1952, Broadway-Trinity Place Corporation sold it to Parkwood Estates. Broadwall Holding Corporation owned it in 1964.
The Harriman Building has a frontage of 89.7 feet on Broadway. It extends to Trinity Place, with a 92-foot frontage and a 190-foot depth.
An interesting fact: the Columbia Building once stood to the left of the Harriman Building. It was demolished around 1930. This demolition made way for another skyscraper at 29 Broadway.
Today, the Harriman Building remains a significant structure. It reminds us of the ever-changing landscape of New York City. Its history reflects the city’s financial and architectural evolution. The Harriman Building stands as a proud part of New York’s skyline.