American Bank Note Company Building

American Bank Note Company Building

Company type	Building
Industry	Engraving, Printing (historical)
Founded	1908
Headquarters	Manhattan, New York City , United States
Products	Banknotes, currency, stamps, stock certificates (historical)

The American Bank Note Company Building is a five-level edifice situated at 70 Broad Street within Manhattan's Financial District. Crafted in the neo-classical manner by the architectural firm Kirby, Petit & Green, it encompasses close to of combined office and residential areas. The principal facade facing Broad Street is distinguished by a pair of columns, while pilasters adorn the side elevations along Beaver and Marketfield Streets.

Erected in 1908, this building originally functioned as the headquarters for the American Bank Note Company, a leading engraving enterprise known for producing banknotes, currency, stamps, and stock certificates. Before relocating here, the company operated from multiple locations in Lower Manhattan and subsequently established a printing facility in the Bronx. After divesting the property in 1988, ownership transferred several times, eventually leading to its adaptation for mixed office and residential purposes. The structure holds status as a New York City designated landmark and is registered on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Additionally, it forms part of the Wall Street Historic District, which received designation in 2007.

Site

Positioned within Manhattan’s Financial District, the American Bank Note Company Building lies two blocks east of Bowling Green. It occupies a trapezoidal parcel bordered by Broad Street on the east side, with Beaver Street to the north and Marketfield Street to the south. The site measures approximately along Broad Street and along Beaver and Marketfield Streets. Nearby notable structures include the Broad Exchange Building to its north and 26 Broadway to the west.

Architecture

This neo-classical five-story building provides nearly of space, combining office facilities with upscale residential units on its upper levels. The design was executed by architects Kirby, Petit & Green, who based it on their previous project at the Bush Terminal Company building located at 100 Broad Street. Construction oversight was provided by Hedden Construction Company, with Charles H. Nichols serving as consulting engineer. The building exemplifies an early 20th-century "hybrid" model that integrates banking operations with executive office spaces.

Facade

The exterior is segmented into three horizontal zones delineated by prominent cornices positioned above the first and fourth floors. The ground-level base consists of rusticated stone blocks resting atop an elevated basement and a smooth ashlar water table, crowned by a string course. The second through fourth floors along with the attic level (fifth floor) are clad in smooth ashlar. Above the fourth story runs an ornate entablature featuring a metal railing, while another cornice embellished with gargoyle medallions caps the attic. Granite for the facade was supplied by the Woodbury Granite Company.

The main entrance on Broad Street is accessed via a short staircase flanked by pedestals, featuring glass-and-metal doors. Positioned above this entryway is a carved eagle perched atop a cartouche resting on crossed branches. Tall casement windows flank either side of the doorway, complemented by shorter windows near the water table. Between the second and fourth floors are two fluted Corinthian columns supporting a metal-lettered frieze that displays the American Bank Note Company's name, enclosing a recessed central section fitted with casement windows.

On both Beaver and Marketfield Streets, the side facades feature five vertical bays. The ground floor presents rusticated stonework with large square aluminum windows located in central bays. Floors two through four contain aluminum windows bordered by substantial Doric pilasters within center bays, whereas outer bays consist of flat ashlar masonry incorporating narrow windows alongside ventilation openings. Attic-level openings align in width with those below.

Interior

The interior was originally adorned with intricate details, featuring furnishings crafted by the Shaw Furniture Company, lighting fixtures supplied by Black & Boyd Manufacturing, and plaster ceiling work executed by McNulty Bros. The structure was equipped with two elevators.

On the first floor, a general office was centered around a substantial oval mahogany counter, complemented by wooden wainscoting beneath an elaborate tapestry. A bank vault occupied the western section, while the mezzanine boasted a mahogany handrail alongside a gilded clock. The president’s office, located on the second floor, showcased a plaster ceiling with exposed floor beams and was furnished with green leather seating. The third floor served as a general workroom, characterized by pale terra cotta walls and woodwork painted red. On the fourth floor, a boardroom featured blue-and-gold decor with indigo leather accents; there was also a private office paneled in mahogany wainscoting and illuminated by gold chandeliers, as well as a private dining room adorned with wood wainscoting and tapestry. A kitchen was situated on the fifth floor.

Since its original construction, much of the interior decoration has undergone significant alterations. By 2018, each of the top three floors had been converted into full-floor residential units comprising two bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living rooms, a dining room, breakfast room, kitchen, and laundry area, all accessible via a dedicated private elevator.

History

The American Bank Note Company, renowned for its engraving expertise and lending its name to this building, specialized in producing banknotes, currency, stamps, and stock certificates. Established in 1858 through the consolidation of seven companies, its initial headquarters and manufacturing site were at 55 Wall Street, where it added a penthouse factory in 1862. The firm relocated to 142 Broadway in 1867 and later moved to 78–86 Trinity Place in 1882. Expansion included additional factories across Canada and the United States to diversify its product range.

In the early twentieth century, under President Warren L. Green’s leadership, the company acquired property at 70–72 Broad Street in 1906 to construct new headquarters. Designed by Kirby, Petit, and Green, this new building was completed in 1908. Additionally, the American Bank Note Company established its Bronx printing plant in 1911, which remained operational until the 1960s and helped consolidate its New York City operations.

Administrative functions continued at Broad Street until 1988 when offices moved to Blauvelt, New York. Subsequently, the building was sold to the Bank of Tokyo before being purchased by Murray and Irvin Reise for $3.5 million; they envisioned a "department store restaurant" concept featuring various dining venues. In 1995, Tony Goldman acquired it for $1.3 million, launching a restaurant on the lower levels while relocating Goldman Properties’ offices upstairs. The structure received New York City landmark designation in 1997 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999; it became part of the Wall Street Historic District in 2007.

In 2004, Global Country of World Peace (GCWP), founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, purchased the property for $5.5 million due to its east-facing orientation deemed "spiritually beneficial." After investing $4.9 million in renovations, GCWP utilized upper floors as residential apartments and lower floors for lectures and meditation sessions. The building was placed on the market again in late 2009 with an initial asking price of $45 million that later dropped to $25 million; it sold to an undisclosed Chinese construction and investment company in 2010 for $18 million. Following further refurbishment in 2015, it was listed for $88 million in 2016 before being offered at $43 million in 2018.

The property remained unoccupied throughout the COVID-19 pandemic period. In May 2024, owner Winta Asset Management filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to facilitate auctioning of the asset. Ultimately, Wilmington Trust acquired the building at auction in March 2025 for $20 million.

See also

• List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan below 14th Street
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan below 14th Street