The Morse Building, lower Manhattan; the Staten Island Savings Bank, S.I. Landmarks unanimously designated the two new individual landmarks on September 19, 2006. The crimson red and black brick terra cotta Morse Building, located at Nassau and Beekman Streets in lower Manhattan, was the city’s tallest building when constructed in 1880. Built by two nephews of Samuel Morse, the inventor of the electric telegraph, the building originally contained office space but was converted in 1980 to apartments.
In Staten Island, Landmarks designated the 1925-built Staten Island Savings Bank located on an angular lot at Water and Beach Streets in Stapleton. Designed by Delano & Aldrich, the building features a cast lead dome and a colonnaded portico angled dramatically to take advantage of the lot’s unique shape. Dolphin sconces, scalloped shells and knotted ropes mark the facade.
LPC: Morse Building, 14 Nassau Street (LP-2191) (Sept. 19, 2006); Staten Island Savings Bank, 81 Water Street (LP-2201) (Sept. 19, 2006).