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37 Union Square West
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31 Union Square West
Post
31 Union Square West ARCHITECT: Bruce Price DATE: 1902-03 STYLE: Neo-Renaissance A limestone-faced bank and office tower, the Bank of the Metropolis, a columnar tripartite skyscraper, is a representative example of the major New York architect Bruce Price’s neo-Renaissance commercial architecture. The design incorporates classical elements which were traditionally associated with American bank architecture. Notable features include the bowed two-story portico with monumental polished granite columns, lions’ heads, consoles, foliated spandrels and spandrels with open-mouthed lions.
31-41 Union Square West
Post
31-41 Union Square West, October 26, 1938. The building at the far left is the Metropolis Bank, a neo-Renaissance structure designed by Bruce Price and completed in 1903. Next to it at no. 33 is the Decker or Union Building.The 1892 building was designed by John H. Edelmann. The style of the facade includes Venetian and Islamic traditions, rendered in terra cotta detail. From 1967 to 1973 the building was the venue for Andy Warhol's "Factory." It was here in 1968 that Valerie Solanas shot Warhol and critic Mario Amaya. The Hartford Building (no. 41 at the corner of 17th Street) dates to 1895 and was built as the headquarters of the Hartford Carpet Company. Today all of these buildings remain standing.
Then-and-Now Challenge: Union Square
Story
Are you ready for a closeup? Try your hand at re-creating these historic photos at Union Square! This challenge is only available to our iOS app users. If you don't yet have the Urban Archive App, download it here. Each location in this challenge has an address and a historic image tied to it. Check-in at each location by tapping the lock icon to the left of the clue. If you’re in the right place, it will turn green. Your challenge today is to take as many then-and-now photos as you can. Tap the image, and then the recreate button to line up the historical image with your present-day view. Once you’re happy with your photo, hit save to add it to your camera roll. Please share these photos with team@urbanarchive.nyc once you’ve completed the challenge. Happy snapping!
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31 Union Square West
31 Union Square West at the corner of East 16th Street. Bank of the Metropolis.
31 Union Square West
\[Metropolis Building, 31 Union Square West.]
31 Union Square West
Union Square West, looking north across 16th Street and 17th Street, 1929.
31-41 Union Square West
Changing New York; Union Square West, nos. 31-41 Union Square West including (from left to right) the Metropolis Bank, the Union Builidng and the Hartford Building.
37 Union Square West
Manhattan: Union Square (West) - 17th Street. Union Square West, at, adjoining and south of the S.W. corner of 17th Street. About 1913. Eugene L. Armbruster Collection.
31 Union Square West
Manhattan: Bank of Metropolis Building, northwest corner of 16th Street and Union Square, undated.
31 Union Square West
Manhattan: Union Square (West) - 16th Street - Broadway - \[Union Square Park.] Union Square West, north from but not including 16th Street (east), to and including Broadway. Also seen is Broadway, east side, north from but not including 17th Street (east). A section of Union Square Park is seen in the foreground. May, 1924. P. L. Sperr. The same, from a different angle. June, 1924. P. L. Sperr.
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