Great Architects of New York: Henry J. Hardenbergh
The Whitehall Building
Address
17 Battery Place
New York, N.Y. 10004
Location
Battery Place from West Street to Washington Street (a.k.a. Western Union Plaza), north site
Neighborhood
Financial District
Built
July 15, 1902, to Feb. 10, 1904; a large addition, built in 1910, was designed by Clinton & Russel.
Style
Neo-Renaissance
Use
Rental apartments
AIA Guide
"This colossal bulk offers the best views of the harbor from any of the Battery's older buildings."
Landmark Status
This building was designated an individual landmark in 2000.
Web resources
New York Architecture Images
Emporis
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This building exhibits great use of subtly darker orange used on the center panel, reminiscent of the Textile Building, where, as here, the horizontal scoring is absent. The air around this building was no doubt more fresh, and the neighborhood more lively, before Robert Moses tore down the adjacent block to make way for a Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel ventilation tower. The logical nautical theme appears in the details, alongside some land-based creatures.


See the Textile Building for another caduceus.


The helpful lion appeared already, as a puma, at 43 West 23rd Street, and would appear in more fearsome form at the Rumford Falls Power Co. Building.
The south facade, facing Battery Place, and the west facade facing West Street.


The south facade, and the east facade, facing the foot of Washington Street.


It's hard to notice the kings of the jungle looking down from the sixth floor. But they notice you.


The nautical theme begins at the top.


A detail from the south facade.


Puffy lintels at the second floor.


This guy peers at you as you enter the building. He resembles the figure, Neptune or Zeus, from the Dakota's railings.