15 Union Square West (New York City, New York)

 condominiums, interesting place

185-foot, 12-story modernist residential originally building completed in 1870 as a 5-story commercial building. The original design by John Kellum was for Tiffany & Co's headquarters, and had a cast-iron facade. In 2009 seven new floors were added to the top, and the facade re-designed in a glass covering by Perkins Eastman Architects. It has a curtain wall of green-tinted glass and black anodized aluminum. There are a series of setbacks at the upper floors, creating terraces.

Tiffany & Co. remained in the building until 1906. By 1925 it was occupied by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America trade union, and by 1952 it was owned by Amalgamated Bank. After a fatal accident where a pedestrian was struck by a falling piece of cast iron, they stripped the original façade and covered it with white brick. The building then stood unchanged for more than 50 years. It was sold in 2006 to Brack Capital, the developer who began the renovation and additions. The building has 36 condominium units, and the ground floor is occupied by Skechers shoes, an HSBC Bank branch, and Pizza Vinoteca.

www.perkinseastman.com/projects/15-union-square-west%e2...
www.urbanarchive.org/sites/71Tj6GB934Z
library-artstor-org.ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/#/asset/AW...
digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e4-422e-a3d9-e0...
www.archdaily.com/139966/15-union-square-west-oda-archi...