1 minute read
Goldman Sachs Headquarters at 200 West Street
from 20 in 20: Twenty Real Estate Developments That have Defined The Changes Seen In The Post-9/11 Era
11
Designed by: Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, with Adamson Associates Architects
Developed by: Goldman Sachs
Size: 44 stories
Completion: 2009 The Goldman Sachs global headquarters at 200 West Street, an indelible legacy of the financial giant, and a tribute to teamwork, creativity, and diversity. — Jacqueline Pezzillo, Center for Architecture
GOLDMAN SACHS HEADQUARTERS AT 200 WEST
Investment banking behemoth Goldman Sachs has a long history in Lower Manhattan, with a pre-9/11 headquarters at 85 Broad Street, in addition to a trading floor at One New York Plaza and office space at 32 Old Slip. In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Goldman Sachs explored the area for new construction and cemented its commitment to Lower Manhattan, as other companies considered moving out of the city. After some back-and-forth with the state, Goldman agreed to develop a large site at West Street, using state and city subsidies, and commissioned venerated architecture firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners to design the new building.
Construction began in 2005 and reached completion in 2009, topping out at 44 stories; in 2010, Goldman Sachs officially moved in its employees. Critics celebrated the building for its innovative exterior and interior design, with modern highlights including movable workstations and an environmentally-friendly underfloor air system. An elegant glass canopy covers North End Way, known as Goldman Alley, a public pedestrian walkway between the Goldman headquarters and the neighboring Conrad Hotel, which was an Embassy Suites until 2012. The building was awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification, and now stands as an attractive symbol of the finance industry’s resilience in the face of disaster.
