72-76 Greene Street

 office building  Add category

5-story Second Empire-style office building completed in 1873. Designed by Isaac F. Duckworth as a warehouse for the Gardner Colby Company, whose initials are on the entrance. The finest example of the French Second Empire style left in the Soho historic district, its Corinthian columns give it a strong 3-D effect. The expansive, ten-bay width of the building is broken by the strong emphasis of the projecting, central paired bays (each with four Corinthian columns with fluted bases) and the side-bays that are set off by flanking, rusticated piers. The central projection is further emphasized by broken pediments with urn finials both over the ground floor entrance and at the roof line. Within the roof pediment is a large "bird-like" relief ornament, topped by a fleur-de-lis. A pair of white metal fire escapes with rounded edges flank the center section of the facade. The building has affectionately been referred to in recent times as "the king of Greene Street." The ground floor is occupied by Joseph boutique.