Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Name: Court and Remsen Building
Address: 26 Court Street
Cross Streets: Montague and Remsen Streets
Neighborhood: Downtown Brooklyn
Year Built: 1926-26
Architectural Style: Neo-Romanesque
Architect: Schwartz & Gross
Other buildings by architects: apartment buildings on the Upper East and West Side, as well as Harlem.
Landmarked: Yes, in the new Borough Hall Skyscraper District (2012)

The story: What I like about our new Skyscraper District is that it’s small enough to actually see and appreciate the buildings as individual structures, as well as parts of a whole. Manhattan, which certainly has some amazing buildings, is often so crowded that you can’t see what’s going on, as each building competes for airspace on crammed and crabbed streets. Here, you can approach, as I did in the photo, from Cadman Plaza, and see the Court Street buildings in all of their glory.

I’ve always liked this building. Like many skyscrapers, you have to look up for the real treats, and if you are taking pictures with a zoom lens, the opportunity to see the details in buildings is so much fun. Only the people whose offices are inside get to appreciate the detail on the upper stories, when they look out their windows.

Our skyscrapers were built in a couple of time phases, and 26 Court Street represents the last major phase of building, when commercial architecture of this kind was heading into its zenith, in my opinion, with Art Deco starting to develop and grow. This building was the first of the 1920’s skyscrapers on Court St, and at 30 stories and about 350 feet high, was the tallest building in Brooklyn for a hot minute, until surpassed by its neighbor.

It rises 18 stories before a series of set-back stories that tier upward to the peaked roof, which is an unexpected feature. The set-backs allow for the use of some beautiful Romanesque details, with corbeled cornices and spandrel panels recessed between brick piers. On the ground floors, the large arched limestone storefront windows carry the weight of the building and provide a strong base, visually. Fortunately, the commercial facades have not been altered too much, and the lines of the original building are still very visible.

The architects, Simon I. Schwartz and Arthur Gross, were in partnership for over forty years. They are known mostly, for their luxury apartment buildings in Manhattan, on the Upper East Side, and along Riverside Drive. They also were responsible for the design of posh apartment buildings in Morningside Heights and Sugar Hill, in Harlem. They designed 409 Edgecombe Avenue, in 1916-17, today a landmark, which was home to Harlem’s elite in the 1930’s-50’s. The pair also designed commercial buildings in the Ladies’ Mile area and the Garment Center. Schwartz & Gross were also among the first of the great 20th century Jewish architects to be principle names in their architectural firms, along with Emery Roth, and George and Edward Blum. Their works are part of what makes New York City the great architectural treasure it is. GMAP


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