Contemporary government buildings have a reputation for functional ugliness.
But in 1909, when the newly consolidated city of New York needed more office space, city officials seemed to realize that a forward-thinking metropolis should have triumphant architecture.
So they commissioned the McKim, Mead, and White–designed Manhattan Municipal Building at One Centre Street, which was completed in 1914.
One of the building’s loveliest features is outside: the vaulted ceiling at the south arcade.
Here, surrounding the entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge-Chambers Street subway station, are beautiful columns and white Gustavino ceiling tiles.
Look up at them for a brief moment, and you might imagine yourself at an Italian palazzo rather than in Lower Manhattan.
The vaulted ceilings are a reminder of the Gustavino-tiled ceilings of the long-shuttered City Hall subway station, all glorious curves and colors and light.
Tags: Audrey Munson Civic Fame, City Hall station vaulted ceiling, Gustavino Tiles City Hall, Manhattan Municipal Building, Vaulted Ceiling subway entrance, Vaulted Tiled Ceiling New York
Ephemeral New York 
August 12, 2013 at 3:44 pm |
This ceiling just might be the only enjoyable part of serving jury duty in NYC.
August 12, 2013 at 3:49 pm |
yes! And the video with Diane Sawyer, do they still show that?
August 15, 2013 at 12:00 pm |
I was on jury duty last week at 111 Centre Street and, yes, they still show that Diane Sawyer/Ed Bradley video. It is SO dated!
August 12, 2013 at 4:01 pm |
Guastavino also did the Tennis House in Prospect Park, unfortunately it is behind a fence now, but you can still get close enough to see it well.
August 12, 2013 at 5:40 pm |
I was married here, stood up for my brother’s wedding here, and while I was waiting, stood up for a stranger’s wedding as well. I wonder if they’re still together…. thanks for the memories, Eph!
August 12, 2013 at 6:08 pm |
You’re welcome! I was the witness at my sister’s wedding here. Very sweet experience.
August 14, 2013 at 11:07 am |
[…] August 14, 2013 by Of Gardens | Leave a comment […]
August 20, 2013 at 6:00 pm |
[…] Photo via Ephemeral New York […]
September 19, 2013 at 2:54 pm |
Beautiful. The Food Emporium under the 59th St Bridge has a similar ceiling. Does anyone know what the space was originally used for?
Ephemeral New York is wonderful; thank you for sharing these snippets of history.
September 19, 2013 at 3:20 pm |
Thank you! I’m curious about the 59th Street ceiling as well, if anyone knows.
September 29, 2014 at 3:14 am |
[…] newspaper business has long decamped uptown. The Staats-Zeitung building was bulldozed to make way for the New York Municipal Building, opened in 1909. On the left is the lovely New York City Hall of Records, constructed in […]
September 7, 2015 at 7:17 am |
[…] is the whispering gallery. It’s on the lower level outside the Oyster Bar, under beautiful original Gustavino tiles on a low domed […]
August 29, 2016 at 5:33 am |
[…] pieces from a French chateau, oak panels from Sherwood Forest, Turkish baths, vaulted corridors lined with Gustavino tile, 11 elevators, a pipe organ, 20-plus servant rooms, and galleries for Clark’s extensive art […]
March 27, 2017 at 6:50 am |
[…] much to love about this triumphant work of architecture: the vaulted entrance with Guastavino ceiling tiles, the bas relief panels, and the gilded copper statue, “Civic Fame” […]
February 4, 2019 at 7:09 am |
[…] decorative lampposts at the entrance to the bridge, and vaulted, Cathedral-like ceilings lined with famous Guastavino tiles under the Manhattan-side bridge approach, the commercial space known as […]
December 6, 2021 at 12:45 am |
[…] century, according to Architect Magazine. Grand Central Station’s Whispering Gallery, the Manhattan Municipal Building, and other architectural landmarks of New York’s progressive era also feature Guastavino […]