552-554 Broadway (New York City, New York)

 office building  Add category

6-story office building originally completed in 1855 as two separate buildings, both extending through the block to Crosby Street. Designed by John B. Snook, the buildings were joined in 1897 and also connected internally with 556 Broadway (which is stylistically different). The 6-bay facade of the joined building has a 2-story black cast-iron storefront (which replaced an original Daniel Badger storefront) that was probably added at the same time. The windows on the upper floors are segmental-arched, except for the top floor, which has round-arched windows. All the arches have keystones, and a black metal fire escape runs down the center of the facade. The facade is crowned by a bracketed and modillioned roof cornice with circular ornament in the fascia board. These buildings are among the oldest on Broadway.

At the rear, facing Crosby Street, with northern half is only four floors, and the southern half is cut down to one. The ground floor is metal and covered with metal roll-down shutters. On the 4-story section, the 2nd floor has four round-arched windows. Above the arches, the rest of the facade is clad in red brick, with square-headed windows on the upper floors, and a black metal fire escape over the southern three bays. The grand storefront on the ground and second floors on Broadway are occupied by Banana Republic.