The International Mercantile Marine Company Building, also known as One Broadway and the "United States Lines-Panama Pacific Lines Building", is a historic office building located on Broadway in New York, New York. The building was built in 1882 in the Queen Anne style as the Washington Building, on the former site of the Washington Hotel. The building was acquired by International Mercantile Marine Company (IMM) in 1919 to serve as its corporate headquarters and extensively altered to its present Neoclassical style. One Broadway served as the headquarters of IMM and its successor company, United States Lines, until 1979 when the firm relocated to Cranford, New Jersey.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 2, 1991. A restoration was carried out in 1992, and the ground floor now houses a Citibank branch in the former lobby space.
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History
The spot is more famous for its previous use: In the late 18th century it was the Kennedy House, built for Archibald Kennedy, who resided in it until he succeeded as Earl of Cassilis. During the American Revolution it served briefly as headquarters for Generals George Washington and Henry "Lighthorse Harry" Lee. The structure survived as the Washington Hotel. In 1884, Edward H. Kendall designed the "Washington Building", an ornate commercial building.
The building was bought by the International Mercantile Marine Company (later known as the United States Lines) in 1920 or 1921, then extensively refaced and remodelled on a maritime theme in 1921 from plans by Walter B. Chambers).
Currently, the only tenants are a Citibank branch on the ground floor, and Kenyon & Kenyon, a prominent intellectual property law firm, the sole tenant on the upper floors.
Architecture
The building has side entrances facing Battery Park which are modeled "First Class" and "Cabin Class"; The main entrance is surrounded by shells and sea icons; the windows on the second floor alternate with mosaic shields of renowned port cities; inside, a compass rose is prominently depicted in the marble floor, and two enormous murals depict shipping lanes. The former booking room is modelled on an 18th-century ballroom, with columns and elaborate railings at either end, along with four imposing chandeliers. Now a bank branch uses the room as its banking floor. The IMM competed with the Cunard Line, which had remodeled its building in a similar way two years before.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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