NY Building Series: Brief History of the Lord & Taylor Building
The Lord & Taylor building is a historic landmark in New York City probably most well known for their whimsical Christmas windows every year. It was built in 1914 by the department store company Lord & Taylor and is on Fifth Avenue between 38th and 39th streets.
The building was designed by the prominent architectural firm of Starrett & van Vleck, who were known for their work on many other department stores and office buildings in New York City. The building's design is characterized by its Beaux-Arts style architecture, with ornate details and a grand entrance on Fifth Avenue.
The building was originally constructed as the flagship store for Lord & Taylor, one of the oldest and most well-known department stores in the US. It quickly became a popular shopping destination for New Yorkers and visitors alike, thanks to its prime location and luxurious interior.
Over the years, the building underwent several renovations and expansions, including the addition of a large atrium in 1989. However, as the retail industry changed in the 21st century and online shopping became more prevalent, Lord & Taylor struggled to maintain its relevance and profitability. In 2018, the company announced that it would be closing its flagship store at the Fifth Avenue location.
In 2019, the building was purchased by WeWork, a company that provides shared workspace and office services. WeWork announced plans to renovate the building and turn it into a new headquarters for the company. However, following financial difficulties and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, WeWork decided to abandon these plans and put the building up for sale.
The building was then purchased by internet giant Amazon in March 2020 for around 1 billion dollars. Seems they intend to use it for more New York CIty offices as they already have some spaces that they lease downtown in Hudson Yards, however this is their first big purchase in NYC since their big Long Island City purchase went south in 2019. Now with the pandemic leveling off and more construction work starting up again work on the old Lord and Taylor building has now begun.
Photo Credit: GloJoy Companies
