Keuffel & Esser Company Building, a New York landmark designed by De Lemos & Cordes, is well-preserved Renaissance Revival architecture on Fulton Street.
Like many commercial buildings in lower Manhattan, this has been converted (2010) to residential use – Compass Points Condominiums. “Compass Points” refers to two of Keuffel & Esser’s lines of business: Drafting/drawing instruments and surveying instruments.
Unlike many commercial buildings in lower Manhattan, this facade has been well preserved and restored. The Fulton Street side is the building’s most impressive facade, although the back of the building (42 Ann Street) is actually one story taller.
Architects Theodore W. E. De Lemos and August W. Cordes were successful designers of commercial buildings. Among their accomplishments are the Macy’s department store (original Broadway building), the Siegel-Cooper Department Store (now occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond) on Sixth Avenue, and the original Empire State Building (named for the Empire State Bank), 640 Broadway at Bleecker Street.
Keuffel & Esser Company Building Vital Statistics
- Location: 127 Fulton Street (block-through to Ann Street) between Nassau and William Streets
- Year completed: 1893
- Architect: De Lemos & Cordes
- Floors: 8
- Style: Renaissance Revival
- New York City Landmark: 2005
Keuffel & Esser Company Building Recommended Reading
- Wikipedia entry (Keuffel & Esser)
- Wikipedia entry (Architect Theodore De Lemos)
- NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission designation report
- The New York Times Streetscapes/Fulton Street Between Nassau and Williams Streets; A Vibrant and Noisy Block With Varied Architecture (January 12, 2003)
- City Realty: Marketing starts for landmark former Keuffel & Esser Building condo at 127 Fulton Street (May 14, 2010)
- Blocksy: For Sale: 127 Fulton Street #5
- Emporis database