History and architecture
The Trinity Building, designed by Francis Hatch Kimball and built in 1905, with an addition of 1907, is among the first Gothic-inspired skyscrapers in New York. Kimball's sensitive adaptation of this historical style establishes a sympathetic relationship between the skyscraper and its early Gothic Revival neighbor, Trinity Church and Churchyard. An entirely freestanding, steel-framed structure, the Trinity Building anticipates the skyscraper "cathedral" tower type which emerged just a few years later—of which the Woolworth Building is the most notable example.
The spire of Trinity Church, the picturesque rooflines of the Trinity Building, its companion, the U.S. Realty Building, and the Woolworth Building tower form a romantic ensemble and create a striking, Gothic silhouette on Lower Broadway. Kimball, who had worked with the English Victorian Gothicist William Burges, had won acclaim as a designer of theaters and churches before receiving several .important skyscraper commissions at the turn of the century; these tall buildings are known for their important innovations in the technology of caisson foundations.
His strong predilection for Gothic design and his engineering expertise made Kimball the ideal architect for the Trinity Building commission.
Sources and further reading
This history comes from the Landmarks app’s historical catalog. Names and building uses may reflect the period described.