Rent Office 33 East 17th Street

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.

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.

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