Springs Mills Building

Springs Mills Building
General information
Location 104 West 40th Street
Manhattan, New York City
Coordinates 40°45′13″N 73°59′09″W / 40.7535°N 73.9858°W / 40.7535; -73.9858Coordinates: 40°45′13″N 73°59′09″W / 40.7535°N 73.9858°W / 40.7535; -73.9858
Technical details
Floor count 21[1]
Design and construction
Architect Charles H. Abby of Harrison & Abramovitz

The Springs Mills Building is a 21-story office tower located at 104 West 40th Street and straddles the block with a second entrance on 39th in Manhattan, New York City. The building sits on an L shaped lot that rises to a thin glass hexagonal tower.[2] One of the earliest examples of the International Style in New York, construction occurred between 1961–63, designed by the architecture firm Harrison & Abramovitz.The building was designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2010. Elisabeth de Bourbon, on behalf of the Commission, recognized it as only the eighth Modernist building given the status.[3]

Design

The design of the Springs Mills Building was determined by several factors: the mid-block site, current architectural taste, and anticipated changes to the New York City zoning code. The 39th Street side abides the 1919 code and the 40th street abides the newer code.[4] The building is an early example of a glass curtain wall similar to Lever House and Corning Glass Building on Fifth Avenue.

Architects

The Harrison & Abramovitz architect most responsible for the design was Charles H. Abbe (1909-1993). During the 1930s Abbe was associated with William Lescaze, who helped introduce the aesthetics of European modernism in the United States. Abbe also designed the Corning Glass Building (1956–59) at 717 Fifth Avenue, the first glass tower on that Avenue. Afterwards, he was Lead Architect for the main terminal at LaGuardia Airport (1964) in Queens, New York; the U.S. Steel Tower (1971, originally U.S. Steel Building) in Pittsburgh; and the United Nations International School (1972–73) in Manhattan.

Springs Mills

The tower was built for Springs Mills, Inc., of Lancaster County, South Carolina (now Springs Global, of Brazil). Springs Global remains among the largest textile manufacturers in the world and includes the brands Springmaid and Wamsutta.[5]

The building was used as a set for the film The Bourne Ultimatum with a number exterior shots as well as interior offices, lobby, plaza, elevators, directory, and stairwells.

References

  1. ↑ Springs Mills Building at Emporis
  2. ↑ http://www.emporis.com/building/springsbuilding-newyorkcity-ny-usa
  3. ↑ http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/reports/SpringsMills.pdf. Landmarks Preservation Commission April 13, 2010
  4. ↑ http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/tower-on-40th-st-is-named-a-landmark,/
  5. ↑ http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/springs-industries-inc-history/
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