NEW YORK | 60 Wall Street | 749 FT / 221 M | 56 FLOORS | 1989

[Patrick]

60 Wall and its surroundings, from Windows Live Local.

[liu福]

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by Austin55

Its Diffent,though It looks like it belongs in chicago.

NO we don't want it.

Originally Posted by kznyc2k

You are totally right! The palm trees make the lobby super elegant...

[yumiko ^.^]

Originally Posted by kznyc2k

True elegance? I strongly disagree. It's sort of elegant, but in an '80s, overly ambitious (and super coked out) sort of fashion. Of course that isn't to say I don't like it, but it's definitely a product of its time.

Taken by me, June 2007:

Is the design supposed to be Indian or Middle East-theme?

[Urban Zombie]

Ugh...I find this building completely tacky, particularly in relation to its surroundings. It ultimately ends up blocking out far superior buildings--which I'd much rather be looking at.

[plinko]

Big and brutal, and far more unfortunate on the downtown skyline than even the nearby (and taller) Chase Manhattan and One Liberty Plaza buildings.

Not a particular fan of Roche's work.

[Guiltyspark]

By a wide margin, my least favorite building in NYC. I don't even want to go into all the reasons that I hate it, but it is a blight on downtown.

[jd3189]

I kinda like it. I need to make a thread about why many people hate post-modern architecture.

[Amanita]

I like it too! Stocky and broad shouldered, but a lot of buildings are, because a lot of people want bigger floorplans.

[Fabb]

Hate it.
Most of the time, I don't like when buildings are recladded/transformed, but in this specific case, I'd be happy.
The shaft is not too bad, but the top is disgusting.

[MolsonExport]

I got a feeling that I would like it much better if it was slender and taller. I hate the way the modern boxes dominate the slender beauties of the 20s/30s. Like ugly UFC brutes getting onto a dancefloor of Audrey Hepburns.

[Tyler Xyroadia]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I got a feeling that I would like it much better if it was slender and taller. I hate the way the modern boxes dominate the slender beauties of the 20s/30s. Like ugly UFC brutes getting onto a dancefloor of Audrey Hepburns.

HERE HERE!
Many of the statments above I agree with... But this one warms my curmudgeon heart to no end!

The building gets me going for a number of reasons, chief among them is that they seemed to 'TRY' to do something more tradtiona. they built that God awful top, they had those horrfic "pillars" on the top part. And they had the wide open atrium for public use.
It was as if they TRIED To make a more tradtional building and Buggered up every point! It's spiral is ghastly, it's shape is offensive, and the less said about that "Atrium" the better. I mean Palm trees and big white pillars? REALLY?

I might actually hate the thing LESS if it was just another 'Big Boring Box" like everything else in the 80s.

It COULD have been a treasure, it COULD have been tall and elegant, with a REAL Spiral. It's footprint is one of the largest in the whole district. It's Atrium could have been a treasure for people.

Instead? BAH!!!
It gets my curmudgeon stamp Twice over!

[Guiltyspark]

Originally Posted by jd3189

I kinda like it. I need to make a thread about why many people hate post-modern architecture.

I don't hate post-modernism. I just hate this building. The massing is horrible.

[marvelfannumber1]

This one has always dissapointed me, because it could have been good. The overall shape and materials (except for the top, good god) are alright for the 80's and could have been good. The main problems come from the horrible proportions and the TERRIBLE location (one of the worst I have ever seen). While still not as ghastly and offensive as the nearby Chase Manhattan bank, this thing is still an eyesore and completely ruins the financial districts classic skyscraper trio (40 Wall, 70 Pine and 20 Exchange).

It's so awful infact that I refused to take any pictures of NYC with it in the main focus when I was there. However due to it's prominent location I managed to get a few shots:


http://i.imgur.com/Y94lzku.jpg

Thank you Beekman tower for finally (partially) blocking this turd from the ESB view.

http://i.imgur.com/A72CcSF.jpg

You know this view would be perfect if it was not for this thing.

http://i.imgur.com/jrQ9JHN.jpg

Intrusive as always.


Anyways, I can sit here on my soapbox complaining about this thing all day, but that's gonna get annoying so i'll stop now.

[The North One]

Originally Posted by yumiko ^.^

Its try-to-be neo-Classicism "pillars" near the top are hilarious

IKR? What is this building trying to be? Fake columns, a mansard roof, like wtf?

It's a total insult to post-modern buildings. Post modern can look really awesome, unlike this piece of shit.

[Dac150]

This building sort of defines a Wall Street era and for that I like it. It's certainly gaudy and tacky, however as someone stated above, it's a product of its time.

[ThatOneGuy]

What on earth were they thinking?

[supertallchaser]

you people have problems,this building adds diversity to the skyline its not like all the pre war buildings were going to be alone for all time honestly its footprint in relation to its height is a little short but besides that its very nice.

[Crawford]

I used to work in this building, and it's actually great inside from an employee perspective.

A couple corrections- the atrium pics do NOT show the lobby. The lobby is closed to the public, a beautiful, austere space, and on the second level (up an escalator).

The atrium in the pics is a public atrium, connected to the subway, and to the side of the building. It doesn't really play any role in the daily life of building employees.

The lower levels have a huge cafeteria and fitness facility for the employees. The board room at the top has fantastic views. As for the bulk, this was built as world HQ for JP Morgan, and is currently North American HQ for Deutsche Bank. In other words, this is a building for Investment Bankers. If you get the space needs, you'll understand the fat floors and the like. There's a huge trading floor on a lower level.

[shadowbat2]

From last Friday: