65 Broadway will soon be celebrating its 100th anniversary.
The 21-story neo-classical office tower was constructed in 1916-1917 for the American Express Company, to the design of James L. Aspinwall, of Renwick, Aspinwall & Tucker at an estimated cost of $1 million.
This site had been the location of American Express headquarters since 1874: by the time the company purchased the property in 1903, it was one of the largest financial institutions in New York City. During its years in this building, American Express emerged dominant in foreign express and financial services, grew into one of the world’s leading travel-related organizations, and launched its credit card in 1958. The building was also the headquarters over the years of other prominent firms, including investment bankers J. &W. Seligman & Co. (1941-74) and the American Bureau of Shipping, a maritime concern (1977-86),
The concrete and steel framed building has an H-shaped plan with tall slender wings arranged around central light courts, a then popular solution to providing office towers with maximum light and air. The Broadway façade has a three-story base featuring a double story Corinthian colonnade with large arched windows. The center supports an arch ornamented by a large eagle, the insignia for American Express.
The building was opened in April 1917. In December, 1995, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the American Express Company Building as a Landmark Site.
