Editing Park Row Building (section)

=== Form and facade ===
The ground level of 15 Park Row occupies its entire lot. However, the center of the southwestern [[Elevation (architecture)|elevation]] (facing the eastern corner of Park Row and Ann Street) contains a [[lightwell|light court]] so the upper floors resemble a backward, warped "E", with the "spine" running along the northeastern facade.<ref name="NPS p. 3" /><ref name="NYCL p. 5">{{harvnb|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1999|ps=.|p=5}}</ref> Another light court to the east faces the corner of Theatre Alley and Ann Street.<ref name="NYCL pp. 5-6">{{harvnb|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1999|ps=.|pp=5–6}}</ref> The two four-story towers are capped with [[copper]]-clad [[dome]]s. The design is reminiscent of the double-towered [[Baroque]] churches of Europe, as well as the church of the [[Monastery of São Vicente de Fora|Monastery of São Vicente da Fora]] of [[Lisbon]].<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last=Korom|first=Joseph J.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JVzYO1TyZ6AC&pg=PA233|title=The American Skyscraper, 1850-1940: A Celebration of Height|publisher=Branden Books|year=2008|isbn=978-0-8283-2188-4|page=233|access-date=April 24, 2022|archive-date=December 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212002652/http://books.google.com/books?id=JVzYO1TyZ6AC&pg=PA233|url-status=live}}</ref> The towers were easily distinguished on the city's 20th-century skyline.<ref name="NPS p. 11">{{harvnb|National Park Service|2005|ps=.|p=11}}</ref> 

The facade contains decorative elements only on the elevations facing Park Row and Ann Street.<ref name="CB 1898" /><ref name="NYCL p. 5" /><ref name="LC p. 255">{{harvnb|Landau|Condit|1996|ps=.|p=255}}</ref> Due to its location along the middle of the block on Park Row, the building was designed with elements of both a freestanding tower and an infill building.<ref name="Nash 2005" /> The vast majority of the decoration is concentrated on the main elevation along Park Row.<ref name="Nash 2005" /><ref name="Stichweh2009" /> This elevation is divided into several horizontal groups, each containing up to five stories.<ref name="LC pp. 255-256">{{harvnb|Landau|Condit|1996|ps=.|pp=255–256}}</ref><ref name="SA pp. 409-410">{{harvnb|Scientific American|1898|ps=.|pp=409–410}}</ref><ref name="NYCL p. 4" /> The 3rd through 5th floors have granite cladding, while the 6th through 26th stories have terracotta, light-brick, and limestone cladding.<ref name="CB 1898" /><ref name="NYCL p. 5" /> The other elevations have plain red brick and window openings.<ref name="NYCL p. 5" /> The first and second floors on Park Row were initially clad with granite as well, but were replaced with bronze and glass in 1930.<ref name="NPS p. 3" /><ref name="NYCL p. 6">{{harvnb|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1999|ps=.|p=6}}</ref> Because of the modification, the "base" of the Park Row elevation is perceived as containing either two or five stories.<ref name="LC pp. 255-256" />

==== Park Row elevation ====
[[File:Park Row Building New York.jpg|thumb|left|Diagram of the building's Park Row elevation]]
The Park Row elevation is split into three vertical sections. The outer sections, or "end pavilions", each contain two window openings on the first through fourth stories, and three openings on the fifth story and above. The inner section is split into five [[Bay (architecture)|bays]] with a single window on each bay, and above the fifth story, is slightly recessed behind the outer sections.<ref name="NYCL p. 6" /><ref name="NPS pp. 3-4">{{harvnb|National Park Service|2005|ps=.|pp=3–4}}</ref>

The first and second stories are largely a commercial storefront with bronze-and-glass infill, though two granite [[Doric order|Doric]]-style [[pilaster]]s from the original design remain extant, at the extreme outer ends of this elevation. The rest of the first and second stories was originally [[Articulation (architecture)|articulated]] with Doric pilasters and columns. The main entrance is composed of three glass-and-bronze doors underneath a glass-and-bronze [[Transom (architecture)|transom]], within a black Belgian granite surround.<ref name="NPS p. 3" /><ref name="NYCL p. 6" /> The first- and second-story facade to either side of the main entrance is slightly asymmetrical, with two pilasters to the north and three to the south. Secondary entrances also exist on either side of the main entrance.<ref name="NYCL p. 6" /><ref name="NPS pp. 3-4" /> Bronze, gilded [[spandrel]]s separate the first and second stories. A granite Doric cornice runs above the second story.<ref name="NYCL p. 6" /><ref name="NPS p. 4">{{harvnb|National Park Service|2005|ps=.|p=4}}</ref>

The third and fourth stories are clad with rusticated limestone. These floors both contain nine bays, and there is a belt course separating these stories. There are four large console [[Bracket (architecture)|brackets]] outside the third story, supporting large female figures on the fourth story; these brackets flank the third-outermost windows on either side.<ref name="NYCL p. 6" /><ref name="NPS pp. 3-4" /> The brackets were designed by [[J. Massey Rhind]] and depict several facets of commerce.<ref name="NYCL p. 5" /> A small balustrade runs above the five center bays on the fourth story. The fifth story is clad with smooth limestone and has a large cornice with a frieze above it. There are recessed panels flanking the end pavilions on the fifth story, as well as between each of the five center bays on that story.<ref name="NYCL p. 6" /><ref name="NPS pp. 3-4" />

Above the fifth story, the end pavilions are clad with brick that is patterned to look like rusticated stone. On the end pavilions, there are balconies on the 10th, 18th, and 27th floors, each supported by four brackets and highly ornamented. [[Keystone (architecture)|Keystones]] above the 10th story windows of the end pavilions are ornamented with lions' heads. In the center section, terracotta pedestals separate each bay of the 6th story, supporting pilasters that span the 7th through 9th stories. Pilasters also separate each of the center bays on the 11th–13th, 14th–16th, and 18th–21st floors, while rectangular panels separate the 17th-floor center windows; each set of pilasters is separated by friezes. Angled balconies extend from the center bay on the 11th and 23rd floors. A decorative band extends horizontally between the 22nd and 23rd floors. The windows on the 23rd floor contain thick pedestals that support terracotta Doric columns spanning the 24th through 26th stories. A cornice with lions'-heads ornamentation rises above the 26th story.<ref name="NYCL p. 6" /><ref name="NPS p. 4" /> There is a 27th story above the center section topped with sheet-copper balls.<ref name="NPS p. 4" /> The 27th story contains no ornamentation other than [[engaged column]]s between brick walls, and contains a round addition above it.<ref name="NYCL p. 7">{{harvnb|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1999|ps=.|p=7}}</ref> The ceiling of the 27th story is lower within the towers than in the space between the towers.<ref name="EN p. 227" />

==== Towers ====
[[File:15ParkRowTower.jpg|thumb|South Tower]]
Above the end pavilions are a pair of circular four-story towers spanning the 28th through 30th stories. Both towers have three visible stories, as well as a fourth story in cupolas that surmount both towers. On each tower, there are cornices above the 29th story, as well as four octagonal piers, one at each corner, supporting the 30th-story dome.<ref name="NYCL p. 6" /><ref name="NPS p. 4" /> The piers separate the towers into four sides, each of which contains three bays. The bays are separated by Corinthian brick pilasters ornamented with terracotta capitals, while the floors are separated by terracotta spandrels.<ref name="NPS p. 4" /> Both domes have oculus windows and a copper-domed cupola on the 31st story.<ref name="NYCL p. 6" /><ref name="NPS p. 4" /> There are eight sheet-copper [[caryatid]]s and 16 figures on the towers that are attributed to Rhind.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="NPS pp. 4-5">{{harvnb|National Park Service|2005|ps=.|pp=4–5}}</ref> The tops of the towers both formerly supported one-story-tall [[finial]]s.<ref name="NPS p. 4" />

==== Other elevations ====
The Ann Street elevation is {{Convert|20|ft||abbr=}} wide.<ref name="Nash 2005" /><ref name="NYCL p. 6" /><ref name="NPS p. 5">{{harvnb|National Park Service|2005|ps=.|p=5}}</ref> At ground level is a service entrance with Doric pilasters on each side and a wave molding above it. There are two windows on the second floor with a Doric pilaster between them, and a cornice and frieze above the 2nd floor. There are rusticated limestone blocks on the 3rd through 5th floors, which have two windows each, and a molding above the fifth floors. On the 6th through 27th floors, there are three windows on each floor and balconies on the 10th, 18th, and 27th floors.<ref name="NPS p. 5" /><ref name="NYCL pp. 6-7">{{harvnb|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1999|ps=.|pp=6–7}}</ref>

The remaining elevations, which are made of brick and contain very little ornamentation, are visible from the street.<ref name="NYCL p. 7" /> The northern elevation contained many window openings nearer the Park Row side and fewer nearer the Theatre Alley side.{{efn|Most of these openings are concealed by 25 Park Row, which [[topped out]] during 2019. A small number of window openings on the upper floors have not been concealed.<ref>{{cite web | title=25 Park Row Prepares For Anticipated Spring Debut in the Financial District | website=New York YIMBY | date=February 11, 2020 | url=https://newyorkyimby.com/2020/02/25-park-row-prepares-for-anticipated-spring-debut-in-the-financial-district.html | access-date=July 24, 2020 | archive-date=July 24, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724234922/https://newyorkyimby.com/2020/02/25-park-row-prepares-for-anticipated-spring-debut-in-the-financial-district.html | url-status=live }}</ref>}} The southern and eastern elevations, as well as the light court facing southwest, have single, double, or triple windows set within a bare brick facade. These elevations were originally painted in a cream color, the same color as the Park Row and Ann Street facades.<ref name="NYCL p. 7" /><ref name="NPS p. 5" /> Eight steel beams, each with a depth of {{Convert|48|in||abbr=}}, span the light court.<ref name="EN p. 227" /><ref name="NYCL p. 7" /><ref name="NPS p. 5" />