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When was the Starrett Lehigh building built?

Published in Building Construction History 2 mins read

The Starrett-Lehigh Building was constructed between 1930 and 1931. This iconic structure was designed as an enormous warehouse, occupying an entire city block in New York City.

Construction and Design Highlights

A significant landmark of industrial architecture, the Starrett-Lehigh Building stands as a testament to early 20th-century functional design. Its construction during the early 1930s marked it as a modern marvel of its time, designed to efficiently handle large-scale freight and warehousing operations.

Key Building Details

Aspect Detail
Construction Period 1930-1931
Principal Architects Russell G. and Walter M. Cory
Associate Architect Yasuo Matsui
Consulting Engineers Purdy & Henderson
Original Function Enormous warehouse building
Location Occupies the entire block bounded by West 26th and 27th Streets and 11th and 12th Avenues in New York City.

Architectural Significance

  • Scale: The building's massive footprint covers an entire city block, showcasing its intended use for large-scale industrial operations.
  • Designers: The collaboration between Russell G. and Walter M. Cory as principal architects, Yasuo Matsui as associate architect, and Purdy & Henderson as consulting engineers resulted in a highly functional and architecturally distinct edifice.
  • Purpose: Primarily built as a warehouse, its design integrated features necessary for efficient freight handling, including direct rail access and large loading docks, which were cutting-edge for its era.

The Starrett-Lehigh Building remains a prominent feature of the Manhattan skyline, recognized for its distinctive architecture and historical significance as a major industrial hub.