LPC Designates Temple Court Building (Now the Beekman Hotel) Atrium as an Interior Landmark

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Press Release

For Immediate Release: June 4, 2024

Contact: lpcpressoffice@lpc.nyc.gov, 212-669-7938

LPC Designates Temple Court Building (Now The Beekman Hotel) Atrium as an Interior Landmark

The Historic Interior Atrium Is a Stunning Centerpiece of the Temple Court Building and Annex, an Individual Landmark Designated in 1998

Temple Court Building's Atrium Is a Rare and Striking Example of a Full-Height Interior Skylighted Atrium in a Late-19th Century Tall Office Building

Atrium's Designation Means Both This Publicly Accessible Feature and Building's Exterior Are Protected Under the Landmarks Law

New York – Today, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted unanimously to designate the Temple Court Building (now The Beekman Hotel) Atrium as an interior landmark. The beautifully restored atrium is a central feature of the Temple Court Building and Annex, which was designated as a New York City individual landmark in 1998. The designation of Temple Court Building's atrium means that both this publicly accessible feature and the building's exterior are protected under the Landmarks Law.

The Temple Court Building was designed in 1881 by the firm of Silliman & Farnsworth for Eugene Kelly and was among the first significant office buildings built following the financial panic of 1879. When it opened in 1883, the building included more than 200 offices arranged around a strikingly ornate atrium that rose for nine stories to a large pyramidal skylight enhanced with decorative metalwork.

The building's historic atrium remained hidden for decades, sealed off due to fire safety concerns. In recent years, it underwent a sensitive restoration as part of the conversion of the Temple Court Building into The Beekman Hotel. The restoration included an innovative new fire safety system that enabled the building to comply with modern codes while restoring and revealing the historic atrium, allowing it to be reopened and visible to the public.

"The Temple Court Building's stunning skylighted atrium combined engineering ingenuity with beautiful design and incredible workmanship and helped make this building one of the most celebrated downtown towers of its era. Looking up through multiple stories of decorative cast-iron galleries to the skylight is truly breathtaking," said Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Sarah Carroll. "Thanks to a careful and sensitive restoration that adapted this tower and atrium to meet a new use and reopened this space as part of the site's transformation into The Beekman Hotel, this historic atrium is once again able to be viewed and appreciated, and its designation ensures it will be enjoyed for generations to come."

"I am very excited to support the interior landmarking of the Beekman Hotel atrium in the Financial District. This historic site has played an important role in our City's history, and now the architectural significance of its atrium can be recognized and enjoyed by the public for years to come," said New York City Councilmember Christopher Marte. "I am grateful to the owner of The Beekman Hotel for their unwavering commitment to preserving this beautiful space despite the undeniable challenges posed both technically and financially by the previous condition of the atrium and the complexity of our City's building and fire codes. A unique and historic interior atrium like this may be difficult to restore, but The Beekman has gifted us a remarkable precedent in creativity and passion necessary to preserve and protect New York City's historic buildings and spaces."

"GFI Development LLC is proud to have restored the Temple Court Building to its former spectacular glory," said Eric Bass, GFI Capital Resources Group Executive Vice President of Development. "We are delighted to be the stewards of this newly designated interior landmark which we feel is one of the most architecturally significant interiors in New York City."

The Temple Court Building is the earliest-remaining tall "fireproof" office building in New York City, and a rare surviving office building of its era constructed around a full-height interior skylighted atrium During the 19th century, commercial buildings in New York City developed from primarily four-story structures to much taller skyscrapers that were made possible by technical advances in construction methods including iron floor beams, elevators, and fireproof building materials. As buildings of the period grew taller, providing maximum light and ventilation for those inside became increasingly important. It was during this period that interior atrium became a popular feature in buildings like hotels, libraries, department stores, and office buildings, since the volume allowed for both natural lighting and an enclosed, usually grand, and often highly decorative space.

Enclosed atriums eventually fell out of favor due to fire safety concerns, and many of the earlier 19th century-era enclosed atriums were closed off as a result, making the Temple Court Building's nine-story atrium both an early and a rare example of this feature at this scale in a commercial building. Its nine levels of historic galleries showcase ornate ironwork and arched doors and windows, and the space has been sensitively restored as part of a site's conversion to The Beekman Hotel beginning in 2013. Surviving examples of the plasterwork, door/window enframements, and the door and window units informed the restoration, and floor and wall finishes, as well as historic ironwork, were restored to match their original appearance.

The building's architects, Benjamin Silliman, Jr. and James Mace Farnsworth, also designed several other New York City landmarks, including 1879-80 Morse Building at 140 Nassau Street and 17 and 19 East 17th Street in the Ladies' Mile Historic District.

Images: Photographs of Temple Court Building (now The Beekman Hotel) Atrium are available online

About the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC)

The Landmarks Preservation Commission is the mayoral agency responsible for protecting and preserving New York City's architecturally, historically, and culturally significant buildings and sites. Since its creation in 1965, LPC has granted landmark status to more than more than 37,900 buildings and sites, including 1,462 individual landmarks, 122 interior landmarks, 12 scenic landmarks, and 156 historic districts and extensions in all five boroughs. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/landmarks and connect with us at www.facebook.com/NYCLandmarks and www.twitter.com/nyclandmarks.