| Building Address: | 33 E 17th St, New York NY 10003 |
| Building Name: | The Century Building |
| Building Alternate Address: | 33 E 17th St |
| Zip Code: | 10003 |
| Neighborhood: | Gramercy Park |
| Borough: | Manhattan |
| Stories: | 7 |
| Year Built: | 1935 |
| Building Class: | B |
| Block & lot: | 00846-0030 |
Century Building, 33 East 17th Street, Manhattan, NYC
The Century Building, formerly known as the Drapery Building, is a distinguished Queen Anne style commercial building located at 33 East 17th Street, between Park Avenue South and Broadway in Union Square, Manhattan.
Design and Construction
Designed by German-born architect William Schickel, the building was constructed in 1880–1881 by the Arnold Constable & Company family. It was created as a speculative commercial development without a main tenant at the time. The building comprises five floors topped by a one and a half story attic.
The Century Building's architectural style is notable for its Queen Anne elements, uncommon for commercial structures, characterized by fish scale shingles on the gambrel roof, terra cotta panels with garlands and shells, imposing chimneys, a two-story oriel window on the 17th Street façade, and ornamental brick pilasters. The façade also features intricate ironwork and stone reliefs inspired by 17th and 18th-century motifs. Neo-Grec details are present, including decorated iron pilasters and a structured grid-like facade pattern formed by vertical piers and horizontal floor divisions.
The building is primarily of red brick trimmed with Wyoming bluestone and forms an L-shape through the block with a simpler façade on 18th Street.
Historical Context
Union Square was originally laid out in 1811 and developed into a fashionable residential area by the 1830s and 1840s. The site of the Century Building was formerly occupied by mansions and the Everett House hotel, a prominent establishment catering to an elite clientele in the mid-19th century. By the post-Civil War era, Union Square transitioned into a commercial district, and the Arnold family acquired the land intending initially to build a retail store but instead developed the property as a rental commercial building.
Usage and Tenants
From 1881 to 1915, the building housed the headquarters of the Century Publishing Company on the fifth floor. Over the years, it was also occupied by various commercial and industrial tenants. Despite a significant fire that caused extensive damage in the early 20th century, the building remained largely intact and continued hosting notable tenants through the 1920s.
Preservation and Restoration
The building was designated a New York City Landmark in 1986 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. After being vacant for about a decade in the late 20th century, the Century Building underwent a thorough exterior restoration in 1995. This revival won awards from the Municipal Art Society and the Victorian Society of America, highlighting its architectural and historic significance.
The Century Building, located at 33 East 17th Street, is a historic building in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, New York City. It is situated between Park Avenue South and Broadway.
Alternate Addresses:
- 33-37 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003
- 38-46 E 18th St, New York, NY 10003
Building Information:
- Year Built: 1880-1881
- Architect: William Schickel
- Stories: 7
- Building Size: 120,822 square feet
- Architectural Style: Queen Anne
Designation:
- New York City Landmark (No. 1539)
- U.S. National Register of Historic Places (Reference No. 97001148)
The Century Building at 33 E 17th St in Manhattan, NYC, offers several amenities within its historic structure. Here are some key features of the building:
- Building Type: Office
- Year Built: 1881
- Building Height: 7 Stories
- Building Size: Approximately 120,822 SQFT
- Architectural Style: Queen Anne
- Historic Significance: Designated as a New York City Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Facilities: Once housed a Barnes & Noble bookstore
Office Tenants at 33 East 17th Street, Manhattan, NYC
The Century Building, located at 33 East 17th Street in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, is a historic seven-story commercial building constructed in 1880-1881. Throughout its history, the building has housed notable office tenants primarily in publishing, retail, and professional services.
Historical Tenants
- Century Company – Publisher of The Century Magazine and St. Nicholas Magazine, headquartered here from 1881 to 1915.
- Johnson & Faulkner – High-end furniture store occupying the ground floor and cellar.
- Worthington & Smith – Milliners (hat makers) occupying upper floors.
- Earl & Wilson – Haberdashery firm selling men’s shirts, collars, and cuffs.
- Thomas Nelson & Sons – Publisher of the Nelson’s Series of Teachers’ Bibles.
- George B. Post – Renowned architect with offices in the building by 1887.
- G. W. Alexander – Bookbinders who occupied the top floor in the 1880s.
More Recent Use
After a period of vacancy in the late 20th century, the building underwent significant restoration and was occupied by a Barnes & Noble bookstore starting in 1995. The Century Building features approximately 120,822 square feet of total space with commercial and office uses.
For 33 E 17th St in Manhattan, NYC, several internet providers offer services in the area, although specific availability at this exact address may vary:
Recommended Providers:
- Verizon Fios: Known for high speeds up to 2.3 Gbps and reliable customer service.
- Astound Broadband Powered by RCN: Offers cable and fiber services with competitive pricing and unlimited data.
- Spectrum: Provides ubiquitous coverage with speeds up to 1 Gbps and affordable bundles.
Other Available Providers:
- EarthLink Fiber: Offers speeds up to 5 Gbps.
- Optimum: Provides cable and fiber services with speeds up to 8 Gbps.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: Offers fixed wireless services.
33 E 17th St, Manhattan, NYC
Cross streets: Between Park Avenue South and Irving Place.
Public Transportation
- Subway: 4, 6, L, N, Q, R, W lines (14 St-Union Sq station)
- Bus: M1, M2, M3, M14A-SBS, M14D-SBS
- Closest stops: 14 St-Union Sq subway (5 min walk), 5 Av/W 17 St bus (1 min walk)
Nearby Transportation
| Type |
Lines |
Distance |
| Subway |
F, M, PATH trains |
6-8 min walk |
| Bus |
BM3, BM4, M15, M23-SBS |
3-5 min walk |
Nearby Office Tenants Leased- NYC Health + Hospitals leased 514,884 SF at 100 Pearl St
- Niche Media leased 45,000 SF at 100 Church St
- Translation leased 35,000 SF at 10 Jay Street
- Net-a-Porter leased 32,144 SF at 100 Fifth Ave
- Social Science Research Council leased 25,000 SF at 1 Pierrepont Plaza
- RDA International leased 14,000 SF at 100 Vandam St
- Postworks New York leased 11,000 SF at 100 Avenue of the Americas
- AM Investments leased 9,000 SF at 1 Liberty Plz
- Jared Finkell, MD leased 500 SF at 10 Downing St
- Century Pharmacy leased 500 SF at 10 Rutgers St
Nearby Retail Tenants Leased- Life Time leased 74,000 SF at 1 Wall Street
- Polo Ralph Lauren leased 11,000 SF at 1055 Madison Ave
- Eddie Bauer leased 7,400 SF at 100 Fifth Ave
- New York Kids Club leased 4,000 SF at 11 Fifth Avenue
- 10 Downing leased 3,400 SF at 10 Downing St
- Chickpea leased 2,582 SF at 110 William St
- The Anne Frank Center leased 2,500 SF at 100 Church St
- Clean Table leased 2,000 SF at 101 Seventh Avenue
- Gregory's Coffee leased 1,100 SF at 100 Wall St
- Simit and Smith leased 400 SF at 11 Waverly Pl
