William and Helen Ziegler House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William and Helen Ziegler House |
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(2017)
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| General information | |
| Type | Town house converted to offices |
| Architectural style | Neo-Georgian |
| Address | 116 East 55th Street Manhattan, New York City |
| Coordinates | 40°45′36″N 73°58′15″W / 40.759868°N 73.970914°W |
| Current tenants | SUNY Global Center |
| Construction started | 1926 |
| Completed | 1927 |
| Client | William Ziegler Jr. |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Lawrence Bottomley |
| Designated: | May 1, 2001 |
The William and Helen Ziegler House is a special building in New York City. You can find it in the Midtown area, on East 55th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues. It was built a long time ago, between 1926 and 1927. A famous architect named William Lawrence Bottomley designed it. He used a style called Neo-Georgian, which was popular back then.
About the House's Design
This house is about 37.5 feet wide and has four and a half floors. Its outside walls are made of light-colored bricks, a style called Flemish blond brickwork. You can also see special stone blocks at the corners, called quoins, and flat stone pieces above the windows, known as lintels.
The house has wooden shutters and a dark gray roof made of slate. The roof is very steep and has windows that stick out, called dormer windows. There are also chimneys on each end of the roof. All these details make the house look very grand and old-fashioned.
Who Lived Here?
The house was built for William Ziegler Jr.. He was a very busy person! He was a businessman, a sportsman, and someone who gave a lot of money to help others. This is called being a philanthropist. William Ziegler Jr. was especially known for helping foundations that supported people who were blind.
He lived in this house until 1958. After he moved out, the house changed. It was turned into offices for an architecture company.
What is it Used For Now?
Over the years, the house has had a few different owners. In 1962, the Radio Advertising Bureau bought it. Later, it was owned by different banks, like Allied Bank International and BBVA's Ancla Investments. In 2001, TIAA, a company that helps people with their retirement, bought the building.
On May 1, 2001, something important happened: the building was named a New York City landmark. This means it's a special building that is protected because of its history and unique design.
Today, the William and Helen Ziegler House is used by the State University of New York (SUNY). It's called the SUNY Global Center and is home to the Levin Graduate Institute of International Relations and Commerce. So, it's still a very active and important building in New York City!
