THE MOST STUPENDOUS STRUCTURE FOR HUMAN OCCUPATION EVER PLACED UPON THIS PLANET

 "Mr. Gilbert proceeded to the realization in Gothic lines of the most stupendous structure for human occupation ever placed upon this planet—the Woolworth building, New York." By  B. J. S. CAHILL, A. I. A. 1914

 ***Gilbert was on a committee  judging a competition for the design of the San Francisco Public Library.*** 

THE WOOLWORTH  BUILDING, NEW YORK THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD, CASS GILBERT, ARCHITECT

 Cahill writes - Mr. Cass Gilbert received his training at the Boston "Tech." Among the many buildings he has designed may be mentioned the new capitol, St. Paul, Minn; Essex County court house, Newark, N. J.; the Agricultural building  at the Omaha Exposition ; the Brazer building,  Boston; the Broadway-Chambers building, New York; the New York custom house; the Art building and Festival Hall of the St. Louis Exposition; the Central Public Library of St. Louis; the Detroit Public Library; the plans of the University of Minnesota and the University of Texas; the completion of the Arkansas capitol, Little Rock, etc.

 This is a wonderful list for a man in the prime of life, and I have not yet mentioned two buildings that in importance and magnitude far transcend all the rest put together. The West Street building in New York City is an extraordinary architectural triumph along lines that at the time were entirely new, although perfectly logical, and in my own opinion absolutely inevitable sooner or later. I allude, of course, to the use of Gothic forms and motives wherewith to clothe the soaring steel work of a modern skyscraper. With the West Street building as a standing vindication of a theory that school men with their college conceit fresh upon them always frowned at, Mr. Gilbert proceeded to the realization in Gothic lines of the most stupendous structure for human occupation ever placed upon this planet—the Woolworth building, New York.

 With such a record of achievement, it sounds rather tame to add that Mr. Gilbert has been honored by Presidents Roosevelt and Taft. placed upon important art commissions, and that he has been loaded with honors and recognition both at home and abroad, not the least of these being' the presidency of the American Institute of Architects.

 Click HERE to see the terracotta  carvings attached to the building and HERE to see Woolworths' Empire style office.