Building of the Day: Tammany Hall

*This event is offered in person; proof of vaccination (for those eligible) and masking are required in order to attend.*

44 Union Square sits prominently at the northeast corner of Manhattan’s Union Square Park repurposed as a 70,200s square-foot Class A commercial building, with dramatic changes unanimously approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The design restored three floors of historic street facades and added a new 3-story glazed dome to the roof expanding the building by 30,000 square feet.

The reinvented building commands attention—its former life as the last headquarters for the political machine, Tammany Hall, inspired a daring, iconic design that draws interest to its storied past. While the design brief asked for a distinct separation from the Tammany name, we saw an opportunity to honor the indigenous Lenape People.

The origins of Tammany Hall as a populist organization include its namesake, the legendary Lenape Chief Tamanend. Early in the design stage, the architect initiated an ongoing consultation with founding members of the Lenape Center to bring an authentic, legitimate voice and representation to the concept of a dome addition inspired by the Lenape creation story of a great turtle rising from the sea. While respectful of the building’s historic character, the organic domed intervention provocatively yields insight into the underlying social history of the building as well.

The restoration and expansion of the building includes sensitively preserving two façades, new bronze storefronts in the likeness of the original 1928 design, the dome rooftop addition, composed of a self-supporting free form shell grid atop a reconstructed hipped roof of steel-and-glass with dappled gray terra cotta sunshades.

This tour will take place outside the building in Union Square.

Architect: BKSK Architects

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This program is organized in conjunction with Archtober, New York City’s month-long architecture, and design festival.

All Archtober sales are final. No refunds available.