Members of Kid Le Chat and Blac Rabbit pose with Dustin Pittman, Downtown editors, and Downtown’s CEO.
All photographs by Alice Teeple
On Friday, September 6th, bands took the stage as part of the 2019 World Trade Center Music Festival. Bands like Kid Le Chat,Blac Rabbit, Greko, Marc Scibilia, and Brooklyn’s Blake Charleton braved rain and wind to play for crowds of often-wet attendees. The event, put together by Downtown Magazine and WTC Silverstein Properties, honored first responders and Tuesday’s Children as well as the people and businesses who moved downtown following the September 11th tragedy.
“We heard about what Downtown Magazine (and Silverstein Properties) were doing, bringing these sort of cultural events and making more activities out of what’s typically a very corporate business environment,” says Blake Charleton Drummer Sam Berkowitz, “I work downtown as well. I work in one of the World Trade buildings. So it’s exciting to see all these creative and interactive events.”
Hundreds of people attended the event, including minor celebrity Hurricane Dorian, who traveled all the way from the Bahamas for the event. Unfortunately, some guests are better than others, and the rain from Dorian forced the show to end early. The show was short, but epic while it was going on. For those who unable to brave the rain this year, Downtown has brought some of the festival with us. Check out these pictures below, from the festival and a performance by artist Gus10 at the afterparty, and we’ll see you again next year. Don’t forget your raincoat.
Blake Charleton
Blac Rabbit
Blac Rabbit
Blac Rabbit
Gus10 performs at the festival afterparty
Gus10 performs
Downtown CEO Grace Capobianco introduces The Dogpound’s Kirk Myers
It’s been 18 years since September 11th and Lower Manhattan is stronger than ever. Our World Trade Center shines like a proud beacon for all the world to see.
This year WTC Silverstein Properties and Downtown Magazine have partnered to lift Lower Manhattan up with music and love. We want to honor the first responders and Tuesday’s Children, and to thank every company, person, family, developer, architect and organization who took the chance to move downtown. Each one of you have helped to make Lower Manhattan what it is today.
This Friday afternoon come enjoy our first Music Festival as we celebrate the beautiful iconic beauty of the World Trade Center campus. Enjoy delicious food from the New-York-based Smorgasburg food market, with 25 stalls to choose from.
Our team at Downtown Magazine, along with Dara McQuillan and his wonderful team at Silverstein Properties curated an array of both local and international talent who will bring
Artists include the Brooklyn-based synth-pop sounds of Kid Le Chat, psych-pop from Rockaway Beach’s Blac Rabbit, disco-dance vibes from Greko, the powerful vocals of Marc Scibilia, and groovy pop-rock from Brooklyn’s Blake Charleton.
Take a break from your day–it may be your day off, or you’re just visiting our stunning downtown area– to stop by or spend the entire day celebrating with music Downtown and WTC. The festival runs from 2p to 7p with free admission. We’ll see you there.
One of the most famous office buildings in Lower Manhattan, 120 Broadway aka the Equitable building, owned by real estate firm, Silverstein Properties, just completed its massive 50 million dollar renovation. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in celebration of the new designs Wednesday night, July 17, 2019. Redesigns were constructed by building tenant, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects, and Planners (BBB).
Photo courtesy of Silverstein Properties
Property owner and American businessman, Larry Silverstein, aimed to expand to the younger audience through the new designs within the lobby area and the buildings exterior materials. While renovating this entire building, much of the new renovations were also inspired by the original 1915 designs that architect Ernest R. Graham created for 120 Broadway, giving it a more modern and sophisticated taste. “The goal was to recreate what Ernest had designed throughout the building,” Carlos Cardoso, Director of Construction Administration for Beyer Blinder Belle Architects, and Planners said.
Renovations were done to the lobby, elevators, lighting, the 40th floor and more. The 40th floor and the rooftop were the most relevant areas to be redesigned since it is home to the Bankers Club, which was an exclusive club for professionals. The 40th floor has now been transformed into a rooftop lounge welcoming all tenants in the building to be able to enjoy the bar for food and drinks while resting on work breaks. The outdoor rooftop includes beautiful greenery and built-in seating to provide comfort and relaxation.
Photo courtesy of Silverstein Properties
The Equitable building was first designed by Ernest R. Graham in 1915 and stood to be the largest office building in the world until 1930. The Equitable Building is also very famous for changing the zoning laws in New York City due to problems with ventilation, transit facilities, local residents, and more. The building’s height made an impact on how sunlight could reach into the city which affected a lot of people. Many people around the area made complaints and city officials quickly became concerned. Later in 1981, Silverstein Properties, owned by Larry Silverstein, purchased the Equitable building and yesterday he was able to cut the ribbon in honor of the building’s new transformation.
Equitable Building Returns to its Original Grandeur
With the continued renaissance right here in the birthplace of New York, Downtown just keeps getting better!
Just this month, the Downtown Alliance reported, Lower Manhattan recorded its strongest quarter of commercial leasing activity in seven years and outpaced the five-year quarterly average in Q2.
For 300 years Lower Manhattan has dominated the city’s economic life. At the start of the 1920’s this area took a detour to midtown. Fast forward after the September 11 attacks, Lower Manhattan was as at its lowest point. Shortly after, an article written by the Wall Street Journal quoted Larry Silverstein as saying that he felt a moral obligation to rebuild. “The city is not dead and can’t be allowed to die,” he said. “We owe it to our children and to our grandchildren.” His words ring true each and every day as we witness and enjoy Lower Manhattan’s trendy booming population, manicured neighborhoods, economic renaissance, and the arrival of new and exciting commercial properties.
AT 103 YEARS OLD, YOU’D NEED A FACELIFT, TOO.
In 1985 Silverstein Properties purchased 120 Broadway. Today 25 years later, 120 Broadway is returning to its original grandeur, offering soaring vaulted ceilings, gold leaf accents, marble floors, and hand-carved architectural detail, it has been an icon of classic style for over a century. This Beaux-Arts masterpiece, located in the heart of Lower Manhattan, is widely considered Downtown’s original symbol of power and stature. Now, the property is set to undergo a series of major capital improvements by Silverstein Properties.
This endeavor will focus on restoring the building to its original grandeur.
Equitable Building Returns to its Original Grandeur
120 Broadway was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978. New York City landmark in 1996. It was restored in 1983–90 by Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Whitelaw. Peirce Anderson as the architect-in-charge completed the building in 1915. At the time it was the largest office building in the world by floor area. This building was built to be the headquarters of the Equitable Life Insurance Company.
Equitable Building Returns to its Original Grandeur
This site had previously been intended in 1906 for a 62-story tower designed by Daniel H. Burnham, but the project had been postponed. When the Equitable’s previous headquarters, the Equitable Life Building was destroyed by fire in 1912. 120 Broadway was chosen as the location for its new headquarters building. It was originally intended to be 40 stories high, but it was reduced by four floors on the advice of consulting engineer Charles Knox, who determined the lower height as being optimal for its elevators.
Equitable Building Returns to its Original Grandeur
Tenants will experience modern luxuries, including – rooftop terrace, tenant lounge & cafe, and for the many NewYorkers who ride to work, a bike storage with locker room & showers. New elevator cab finishes, turnstiles going into the elevators, retail renovation and activation, and a grand entryway are some of the planned updates.
Equitable Building Returns to its Original Grandeur
Rising 40 stories, the building spans a full city block bordered by Broadway and Nassau, Pine and Cedar Streets. The property has 1.9 million square feet of space, accentuated by a grand lobby with soaring ceiling heights and generously-proportioned 50,000 square foot floor plates.
Equitable Building Returns to its Original Grandeur
3 World Trade is no longer a dream but a reality. “To be clear, our city was never brought to its knees by the horrific 9/11 attacks on its largest symbol of strength -The World Trade Center-and neither was the man who has been the architect of its amazing revival. The renowned developer is responsible for restoring not only the infrastructure of the world’s primary financial and cultural hub but its pride as well. Mr. Larry Silverstein’s dedication to bringing new life to a crushed community is embodied in the many magnificent living monuments to the human spirit that define Lower Manhattan today.” Mike Hammer
If you are not familiar with how Mr. Larry Silverstein purchased World Trade and his belief in rebuilding, please check our Fall 2016 issue dedicated to Mr. Silverstein and his journey thus far.
Tommy Graney Photographer – Larry Silverstein Panelist
Members of the architecture & design and real estate community attended this lively conversation with these powerhouse panelists on the 68th floor of 3 World Trade Center with New York City as the backdrop. Attendees got a first look at the new 80-story 3 World Trade Center office building that marks the fourth out of the fifth building to rise again on the World Trade Center campus.
Downtown’s CEO Grace A. Capobianco and Photographer Sophie Kietzmann were in attendance. When asked what Ms. Capobianco thought of 3 World Trade, the panel and event she replied, truly magnificent, the design is modern and young, the bold red wall behind the entrance going towards the elevators makes me smile each time I see it. I was never more proud when Mr. Silverstein was asked, what makes towers 1-7-4 and 3 different? “these towers 1-7-4 and 3 have one thing in common, they are the best buildings to ever be built in America, life-saving feat, they are nothing short of extraordinary” Larry Silverstein
With a structure that is exposed and visible — the design for 3 World Trade Center will stand out at the center of the new WTC. The defining aspect of 3 WTC is its load-sharing system of diamond-shaped bracing, which helps to articulate the building’s east-west configuration. This allows unimpeded 360-degree panoramic views of New York.
Located at 175 Greenwich St. and bound by Greenwich, Cortlandt, Church and Dey Streets
GroupM has signed a 20-year lease for ~700,000 square feet
3 World Trade Mr. Silverstein, Grace A. Capobianco, Dara McQuillan Silverstein Properties
DESIGN
3 World Trade tower will consist of a reinforced concrete core with steel structure, outside the core, and clad in an external structural steel frame. Its safety systems will exceed New York City building code and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey requirements, and it will seek to achieve the LEED Gold standard for energy efficiency. The three-story-high lobby will provide visitors a “big picture window” of the Memorial park outside. Upper-level floors will straddle those beneath in a ‘podium building formation, lending the tower a distinct interlocking nature and facilitating the high occupancy of the office floors. Finally, the redeveloped Cortlandt & Dey Streets that interface with 3 WTC will improve the accessibility both of the retail spaces in the building, and the WTC Transportation Hub.
ABOUT THE ARCHITECT
Richard Rogers is the recipient of the 2007 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate, a RIBA Gold Medal in 1985, the 1999 Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation Medal, and the 2000 Praemium Imperiale Prize for Architecture. Lord Rogers is the chief advisor on architecture and urbanism to the Mayor of London and was recently appointed the chair of the Greater London Authority’s Design for London Advisory Group.
The first tenants will arrive end of summer 2018. Group M will make their way down from midtown to their new home 3 World Trade. We are excited to see the continued progress in our beautiful community downtown!
A project nearly a year in the making, 4 World Trade’s street-art inspired gallery on the building’s 69th floor is finally finished. The exhibit will feature the work of over 50 artists from New York, and around the world, in a variety of mediums.
Stickymonger, Cosmic Tower
ART4WTC is a dramatic and shift in style for the Silverstein Properties artist residency program, which they have used to decorate their unleased spaces for around the past 15 years. The idea for the art project was born when Silverstein Properties Chief Marketing Officer, Dara McQuillan, viewed a display of similar work at World Trade Gallery, and offered curator Doug Smith the opportunity to turn the 69th floor into a giant canvas.
Layer Cake + Belowkey, Joe LaPadula, Jenna Krypel, Beautiful Cleanup
Smith jumped at the chance, and since June 2016, the space’s barren cement interior has been transformed into a kaleidoscope of color propelled by each artist’s enthusiasm for their craft. The project not only seeks to revitalize the Lower Manhattan art scene and elevate street art from its humble beginnings, but also celebrate the Financial District’s progress since 9/11.
Fans of Hamilton can even find quotes from the hit musical in the very fabric of David Hollier’s$10 Bill, which faces the direction of the Trinity Church cemetery where the Founding Father himself is buried. Fortunately, Spotify — who will eventually occupy the space — plans to keep as many of the pieces as they can. Downtown recommends art fans of all ages check out the 3D tour available online to see the work of those keeping New York creative and colorful.
