The Woolworth Tower Residences
Cass Gilbert's 1913 Neo-Gothic masterwork. Thierry Despont interiors. Dada/Molteni cabinetry, Dornbracht platinum, Nanz nickel hardware. Ceilings to 22 feet. The Pinnacle penthouse in the copper crown.
| Building Type | landmark conversion |
| Era | Edwardian / Beaux-Arts (1900–1920) |
| Governance | Condominium |
| Board Approval | Not Required |
| Year | 1913 (converted 2018) |
| Architect | Cass Gilbert (1913 — former world's tallest building) (conversion by Alchemy Properties) |
| Interior Designer | Thierry W. Despont (same designer as 53 West 53rd Street) |
| Landmark | Yes |
| Units | 34 |
| Price Range | $3.5M - $34.0M |
| Design Register | Historic Conversion |
| Flooring | Solid oak herringbone throughout |
| Kitchen | Dada by Molteni Group |
| Countertop | Calacatta Caldia marble |
| Backsplash | Calacatta Caldia marble |
| Appliances | Miele |
| Appliance Suite | Full Miele suite including wine fridge and two dishwashers |
| Bath Fixtures | Dornbracht platinum-finish fixtures + Nanz nickel hardware; steam shower; Porcelanosa freestanding soaking tub; radiant heated floors |
| Bath Stone | Calacatta Caldia marble (floors, walls, and vanity — radiant heated); Nero Marquina border accent; steam shower |
| Ceilings | 10–22 ft |
| Windows | Original Cass Gilbert arched windows with colorful terra-cotta surrounds; twin sky courtyards with cusped tracery and copper finials; residences start on 29th floor (380+ feet above street) |
| Smart Home | Yes |
| Collections | 34 residences (29th floor and above); The Pinnacle: 7-level penthouse (9,400 sq ft + 499 sq ft outdoor) inside the copper-clad crown; Pavilion residences (floors 29–30, up to 6,327 sq ft); amenities: restored 50-ft Woolworth Pool (Bisazza Mosaico tiles, sauna + hot tub), Gilbert Lounge (entertainment salon), fitness studio, wine cellar and tasting room; never more than two residences per floor |
| Lobby | Cass Gilbert's 1913 neo-Gothic masterwork. NYC Landmark (1983). 'The Cathedral of Commerce.' Former world's tallest building. Alchemy Properties undertook the conversion; Thierry Despont (same designer as 53 West 53rd Street) designed all 34 residences. The restored coffered ceiling panels from F.W. Woolworth's private office form the residential lobby. |
The Woolworth Tower Residences occupy the most historically significant building in this collection. Cass Gilbert's 1913 neo-Gothic tower was the world's tallest building for 17 years, and its terra-cotta ornamentation, Gothic arches, and copper-clad crown remain among the most extraordinary architectural features in Lower Manhattan. Thierry Despont — the designer who also created the interiors at 53 West 53rd Street — designed all 34 residences.
The specification is extraordinary: Dada cabinetry by Molteni Group, Calacatta Caldia marble throughout, Miele appliances, Dornbracht platinum-finish fixtures combined with Nanz nickel hardware (Nanz is the bespoke American architectural hardware manufacturer whose pieces are specified at the Metropolitan Museum and the White House). Solid oak herringbone floors. Steam showers. Porcelanosa freestanding soaking tubs. Ceiling heights to 22 feet in Pavilion residences.
The restored Woolworth Pool — originally commissioned by F.W. Woolworth himself — is lined with Bisazza Mosaico tiles. The residential lobby is paneled with the original coffered ceiling panels from Woolworth's private office, restored in situ.
- Thierry Despont's specification is among the most refined in this collection — Dada/Molteni cabinetry, Dornbracht platinum, Nanz nickel hardware are building benchmarks
- Nanz nickel hardware is the most rarefied architectural hardware specification in American residential — renovation should preserve or match
- Calacatta Caldia marble throughout creates a unified material language — renovation must work within this system
- Ceilings to 22 feet (Pavilion residences) create theatrical vertical scale — furniture, art, and lighting must respond
- Cass Gilbert's original arched windows (colorful terra-cotta surrounds) are irreplaceable landmark elements — window treatments require great care
- The Pinnacle penthouse in the copper crown is a once-in-a-century residential opportunity — its design is defined by the architecture it inhabits