Woolworth was 5 blocks away, walking from WTC. Several other structures were in-between, all completely undamaged. The empty claims of ‘WTC debris falling onto Woolworth Building’ are fantastically farcical fabrication. What actually damaged the Woolworth Building was a particle beam weapon fired from Brookhaven National Labs RHIC “ion-gun”, 61.1 miles distant, at an angle of 119 degrees, headquartered in Building 911 on the BNL campus. This particle beam was an ingredient in the weaponized Hutchison Effect used to disintegrate the WTC on 11 Sep 2001. It’s an awful reality pretty ‘far out there’ yet offering the most plausible explanation of all otherwise inexplicable anomalies permeating the totality of 911 evidence.
The Woolworth Building: History, 9/11 Roof Damage, and Aftermath
The Woolworth Building, designed by Cass Gilbert and financed by Frank W. Woolworth, opened in 1913 as the world’s tallest skyscraper and earned the title “Cathedral of Commerce.” It was owned by the Woolworth Company until 1998, when it was sold to Steven Witkoff’s Witkoff Group for \$137.5 million. Among the investors was former NYPD detective and private security executive Bo (Bob) Dietl, who publicly noted his stake. In 2012, Alchemy Properties, led by Kenneth Horn and with partners such as Adam Neumann, purchased the top 30 floors for residential conversion, while the lower 28 floors remained with Witkoff and Rubin Schron’s Cammeby’s International. Today, the building is split: offices remain in the lower portion, and luxury condominiums occupy the crown.
On September 11, 2001, the Woolworth Building suffered damage when debris from the collapsing North Tower struck its ornate roof. A turret was smashed, copper cladding torn away, and windows blown out; utilities were disabled for months. The building was closed for repairs for over half a year but structurally survived, reopening to tenants like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which temporarily relocated there. While conspiracy theories later circulated about directed-energy weapons or an “orb” above the building, the evidence points to conventional falling debris as the cause of the rooftop destruction. Notably, the crown appeared skeletal in the years following 9/11, until it was repaired during restoration and later during condo conversion.
For more than a decade after 9/11, the Woolworth’s top floors sat closed to the public, and the lobby was locked down under tight security. Attempts to repurpose the upper floors, such as a private “office club,” failed until Alchemy’s 2012 acquisition. Their work created 33 luxury residences, including the five-level “Pinnacle” penthouse inside the building’s copper crown. Restoration contractors like Nicholson & Galloway replaced terra-cotta, roof membranes, and cresting, bringing the crown back to life. Today, the Woolworth Building stands as both a protected landmark (a National Historic Landmark since 1966 and a NYC Landmark since 1983) and a split-use icon of New York: offices below, exclusive homes above, its rooftop turrets once again intact.
Early History and Significance of the Woolworth Building
The Woolworth Building in Lower Manhattan opened in 1913 as the world’s tallest skyscraper at that time (792 feet, 57 stories)en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. Financed by retail magnate F.W. Woolworth (using cash from his five-and-dime empire) and designed by architect Cass Gilbert, it earned the nickname “Cathedral of Commerce” for its neo-Gothic splendoren.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. Early tenants ranged from Columbia Records’ recording studio to offices of innovators like Nikola Tesla (briefly in 1914)6sqft.com. During World War II, a secret project tied to the Manhattan Project took place here: the Kellex Corporation (an arm of M.W. Kellogg) had offices in the Woolworth Building to develop methods for uranium isotope separation6sqft.com. This was part of the effort that led to the first atomic bomb – a historical footnote underscoring the building’s importance during wartime science. (Notably, the broader scientific research effort was supported by agencies and foundations of the era – for instance, the Rockefeller Foundation had funded many American scientists’ early nuclear research trainingstage.energy.gov – although the Woolworth Building’s role was mainly as office space for the Kellex engineers.)
As an architectural icon, the Woolworth Building has been recognized as a protected landmark for decades. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1966en.wikipedia.org. New York City gave it landmark status in 1983, including its ornate lobbyen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. Maintaining such an old skyscraper has been a challenge: by the 1970s, the terra-cotta façade was deteriorating (cracks, fallen tiles, rusting steel beneath). A major restoration from 1977–1982 replaced thousands of terra-cotta pieces with precast concrete and even removed or refaced some decorative elements at the crownen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. (For example, four of the small corner tourelles – turret-like pinnacles – were refaced in aluminum during that 1980s rehab due to damage and maintenance issuesen.wikipedia.org.) Despite these changes, the Woolworth Building retained its historic grandeur and remained an emblem of New York’s skyline.
Ownership and Use Before 9/11
For most of the 20th century, the Woolworth Company (later Venator Group) owned the building and leased space to commercial tenantsen.wikipedia.org. By the late 1990s, however, the Woolworth Company was struggling and no longer needed such a “trophy” headquarters. In 1998 the company sold the Woolworth Building to the Witkoff Group, a real-estate investment firm, for $137.5 millionen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. (Witkoff’s investment group notably included former NYPD detective Bo “Bob” Dietl, who acquired a stake in the Woolworth Building alongside other propertiesinvestigations.com.) Witkoff initially aimed to modernize and possibly convert upper floors to condominiums. In fact, in 2000 – before the September 11 attacks – the owners proposed converting the top 27–30 floors into luxury residential units and even adding two stories on certain setbacksen.wikipedia.org. Though the Landmarks Commission approved a modified version of the plan, the 9/11 disaster shortly thereafter put those plans on holden.wikipedia.org.
By 2001, the Woolworth Building was an office building with a mix of tenants reflecting the dot-com era and government use. Tech and advertising companies had moved in – for example, the digital ad firm Xceed had its 65,000 sq.ft. headquarters there, and an ad agency (Fallon Worldwide) occupied two floorsen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. (Xceed would actually downsize and leave in April 2001 due to the dot-com crashen.wikipedia.org.) Many floors were still occupied by traditional firms and city agencies. One prominent tenant was the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): after 7 World Trade Center was destroyed on 9/11, the SEC’s NYC office (330+ employees) relocated into five floors of the Woolworth Building in October 2001en.wikipedia.org. The SEC stayed until 2005, using Woolworth as a temporary base while their new offices were prepareden.wikipedia.org. This underscores that, even immediately post-9/11, the Woolworth Building remained structurally sound enough to house major tenants. Other government-related tenants included the NYPD Pension Fund (leasing two floors) and, later, offices for the federal court system and city agenciesen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. In short, prior to and immediately after 9/11, the Woolworth Building was primarily used as commercial office space – home to tech startups, law firms, agencies, and even a new Starbucks on the ground floor by 2003en.wikipedia.org. Its famous observation deck atop the tower had long been closed to the public (it originally drew tourists in the early 20th century, but had been shut decades ago). And after the 1998 sale, Woolworth’s own corporate presence had shrunk to just a few floors, then exited entirely by 2000en.wikipedia.org.
September 11, 2001: Roof Damage and Mysterious Incidents
The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center (left) and the Woolworth Building (right) prior to 9/11. The Woolworth’s ornate crown sat just a few blocks from the Twin Towers.
The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks – and the collapse of the Twin Towers – had a significant impact on the Woolworth Building’s upper floors and roof. Though not directly struck by the airplanes or the main collapse force, the Woolworth Building stood only a few blocks from the World Trade Center site. When the towers fell, massive clouds of debris and some fragments of the structure were thrown into the surrounding area. According to contemporaneous reports, the Woolworth Building lost power, water, and phone service for weeks and suffered physical damage: windows were blown out, and falling rubble struck the roof, damaging one of the building’s high corner turretsen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. The “turret” damage refers to one of the four decorative neo-Gothic pinnacles that crown the tower. Photographs after 9/11 showed that a portion of the Woolworth’s copper-clad pinnacle was torn or left mangled by the impact. Observers described the turret as “skeletal,” with its ornamental copper cladding ripped away and underlying steel exposed. This kind of damage suggests that heavy debris (potentially steel pieces from the towers) either clipped the Woolworth’s crown or landed on it, gouging the ornament. There were even reports of metal melted or deformed on the Woolworth’s roof – possibly from burning jet-fuel debris or the extreme heat of the dust cloud – though no official engineering report has confirmed melted steel on Woolworth, only conventional impact damage. What is clear is that significant repair work was needed at the top: the affected turret and roof sections had to be structurally assessed, and any weakened steel or torn copper roofing there was replaced in the months after the disaster. Indeed, the building was closed for repairs for over six months, reopening to tenants by around May 2002 after its utilities were restored and the damage was patchedcommons.wikimedia.org. (Woolworth’s swift reopening stands in contrast to more severely hit neighbors like the nearby 90 West St. building, which burned and needed years of restoration. The Woolworth’s sturdy frame and earlier fireproofing measures spared it from the worst, containing the damage mostly to its facade and crown.)
Beyond the physical damage, the Woolworth Building was at the center of some mysterious reports on 9/11. In the chaos during and after the towers’ collapse, rumors and false reports swirled among first responders. One dramatic rumor was that someone was “shooting missiles” at the Twin Towers from atop the Woolworth Buildingfirehouse.comfirehouse.com. Police radio transmissions shortly after the attacks include panicked shouts about “The Woolworth Building! They’re shooting at the Trade Center from the Woolworth Building!” – which we now know was not truefirehouse.com. (Likely, the officers saw flaming debris or secondary explosions and, amid the confusion, imagined an attack from Woolworth’s high roof.) This rumor was quickly debunked, but it shows how the Woolworth’s rooftop became a focal point of 9/11’s immediate confusion.
In the months and years that followed, conspiracy theories latched onto the Woolworth Building’s rooftop incident. One fringe theory posits that a directed-energy weapon or “orb” was involved in the destruction of the Twin Towers, and that this mysterious force also struck the Woolworth Building’s crown. A widely circulated speculative account claimed that a glowing “orb” was caught on video around 4:04 PM on 9/11, allegedly hovering above Woolworth’s spires and possibly “delivering an explosive” to the roof (or using some energy beam) to damage it. Of course, no credible evidence ever emerged for such an orb or energy weapon – this belongs to the realm of 9/11 conspiracy lore. The actual cause of the Woolworth’s roof damage was almost certainly falling debris from the collapsing North Tower (which stood only about 400–500 yards away). Engineers who examined the building never reported anything anomalous like a laser burn or exotic weapon effect; they found broken windows, facade scars, and a smashed turret consistent with impact by steel or stone chunksen.wikipedia.org. In short, the Woolworth Building was collateral damage of the towers’ collapse, not a target of a separate attack. Any “energy beam” theories remain unsubstantiated speculation – interesting to note as wild rumors, but not supported by the physical evidence or eyewitness reports on the ground.
Aftermath: Repairs, Renovation, and Reuse of the Top Floors
In the aftermath of 9/11, the Woolworth Building underwent a thorough clean-up and repair. Once utilities were restored and safety inspections passed, tenants gradually returned. The broken windows were replaced, and the damaged turret at the top was painstakingly rebuilt. If one looked up at the Woolworth’s crown in the decade after 2001, one of the four turrets appeared newer or slightly different – a testament to the repairs (the fresh copper or aluminum cladding initially stood out until it weathered to match the green patina of the older sections). For at least 10 years, the uppermost floors remained closed off – not due to any lingering structural danger, but because of redevelopment plans and security measures. Immediately post-9/11, authorities tightened access: the ornate lobby was closed to the public, and tourists could no longer wander in as they once diden.wikipedia.org. (A New York Times reporter in 2006 noted that a guard would expel any curious visitors within secondsen.wikipedia.org.) This security lockdown lasted for over a decade – the lobby only reopened to limited guided tours in 2014en.wikipedia.org. The top 30 floors also sat largely vacant through the 2000s. An attempt around 2007 to create an exclusive “office club” for financial firms on those upper floors fell through during the 2008 financial crisis, leaving the spaces gutted but unuseden.wikipedia.org. Essentially, the highest floors – once home to executive offices and the long-closed observatory – were empty and off-limits, which understandably invited some suspicion and lore (given the building’s 9/11 brush with mystery). In reality, it was a combination of economics and logistics: the owner, Witkoff, was awaiting a profitable plan for them.
Ultimately, the Woolworth Building entered a new chapter in the 2010s. In 2012, an investment group led by Alchemy Properties (and including investors like Adam Neumann, of later WeWork fame) purchased the top 30 floors from Witkoff for conversion into luxury residencesen.wikipedia.org. This marked a dramatic change: the “cathedral of commerce” would also become a condominium address. Over the next few years, those vacant upper floors were completely renovated into 33 high-end apartments, with a separate residential lobby and dedicated elevators. The crown jewel is the so-called “Pinnacle” penthouse – a five-level residence spanning the very top of the tower (roughly floors 50–58, including the space inside the copper-clad peak). That penthouse, occupying the once-skeletal turret area and more, was listed for an eye-popping $110 million6sqft.com6sqft.com (later repriced around $79 million). The developers restored many historic elements during this conversion. For example, they carefully repaired the terra-cotta exterior and even fully replaced the roof membranes and copper work as needednicholsonandgalloway.comnicholsonandgalloway.com. A preservation contractor installed new terra-cotta pieces and decorative cresting along the roof, ensuring the 1913 look was preservednicholsonandgalloway.comnicholsonandgalloway.com. Inside, they salvaged treasures like Mr. Woolworth’s 40th-floor coffered plaster ceiling and relocated it to the new condo lobbyen.wikipedia.org. By 2015–2016, the construction was largely complete (delayed a bit by the challenges of working in an occupied landmarken.wikipedia.org), and the Woolworth Tower Residences officially opened.
Today, the Woolworth Building serves a mixed role: the lower 28 floors remain commercial offices (still owned by Witkoff/Cammeby’s International), housing firms, a college program (NYU’s global affairs school), and city agenciesen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org. The top floors are residential, with some of Manhattan’s most unique condos nestled behind the Gothic terra-cotta façade. The ownership reflects this split – the bottom portion is held by the original 1998 investment group, and the upper portion by the Alchemy Properties entity (sometimes referred to as “KC Properties” in filings)en.wikipedia.org. After the condo conversion, public access has also partially returned: architecture buffs can book guided tours of the spectacular lobby and sometimes peek into restored sections, reconnecting New Yorkers with this cherished landmark.
In summary, the Woolworth Building has endured over a century of history, from Frank Woolworth’s 1913 opus, through world wars and Manhattan Project secrets, to surviving the 9/11 calamity. The damage to its roof on September 11, 2001, while dramatic – a shattered turret and torn copper cladding – was not catastrophic to the structure. It was painstakingly repaireden.wikipedia.org, even as rumors of “energy beams” and rooftop missiles faded into urban legend. The top floors did stay dark for years, but not due to ghosts or conspiracies – it was the march of progress, waiting until the time was right to transform the skyline’s oldest skyscraper for its next life. Now, fully restored and partly repurposed, the Woolworth Building stands both as a living historic landmark (protected since the 1960sen.wikipedia.org) and as a modern address. Its once-skeletal turret is whole again, its lobby gleams, and its crown lights up the night – a resilient survivor of 9/11 and a continued icon of New York Cityen.wikipedia.org6sqft.com.
Sources
- Woolworth Building – Wikipedia (history, 9/11 damage, renovations)en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org
- New York Times and others (landmark status, restoration details)en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org
- Firehouse Magazine – “NYPD Cops’ Confusion Amid the Chaos” (9/11 Woolworth missile rumor)firehouse.comfirehouse.com
- Bo Dietl official bio – investment in Woolworth Buildinginvestigations.com
- 6sqft (NYC history site) – Woolworth trivia (Kellex/Manhattan Project, modern conversion)6sqft.com6sqft.com
- Nicholson & Galloway (restoration contractor) – project summary (recent roof/façade restoration)nicholsonandgalloway.comnicholsonandgalloway.com.
Sources
Here’s a clean, hyperlinked sources list for the Woolworth Building deep dive:
- Woolworth Building – Wikipedia
- National Register of Historic Places Listings – National Park Service
- Firehouse Magazine: “NYPD Cops’ Confusion Amid the Chaos”
- Bo Dietl Official Biography
- 6sqft – “The Woolworth Building’s many secrets”
- Nicholson & Galloway Restoration Projects – Woolworth Building
- New York Times Archives – Landmark designation, restoration coverage
Timeline Table
Here’s a timeline table summarizing the Woolworth Building’s history, ownership, damage, and renovations. Each entry includes a hyperlinked source where available.
| Year / Period | Event | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | Completion | Woolworth Building opens as the tallest skyscraper in the world (792 ft). Designed by Cass Gilbert, financed in cash by F.W. Woolworth. Nicknamed the “Cathedral of Commerce.” | Wikipedia |
| 1940s (WWII) | Manhattan Project role | Kellex Corp. (uranium separation research contractor) housed offices in Woolworth as part of wartime atomic program. | 6sqft |
| 1966 | Historic status | Declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark; later added to the National Register of Historic Places. | NPS |
| 1977–1982 | Restoration | Façade restoration replaces damaged terra-cotta with precast concrete; some turret/tourelle elements refaced in aluminum. | Wikipedia |
| 1983 | NYC Landmark | Designated a New York City Landmark (interior lobby). | NYTimes archive |
| 1998 | Ownership change | Woolworth Company sells to Witkoff Group for \$137.5M; investors include Bob Dietl. | Wikipedia, Bo Dietl bio |
| 2000 | Planned conversion | Witkoff proposes converting top floors to condos; plan approved but shelved after 9/11. | Wikipedia |
| Sept 11, 2001 | Roof damage | Falling debris from North Tower collapse strikes Woolworth roof, smashing turret and tearing copper. Power, water, and phone lost; building closed 6+ months. | Wikipedia |
| Sept 11, 2001 | Rumors | False NYPD reports claim “missiles” were fired from Woolworth roof at WTC; later debunked. | Firehouse |
| 2001–2005 | SEC tenancy | SEC relocates 330+ staff into Woolworth after 7 WTC collapse; occupies 5 floors until 2005. | Wikipedia |
| 2000s (post-9/11) | Access restricted | Lobby closed to public; top 30 floors vacant, with failed office club attempt in 2007. | Wikipedia |
| 2012 | Sale of top floors | Witkoff sells upper 30 floors to Alchemy Properties for condo conversion. | Wikipedia |
| 2015–2016 | Condo completion | Renovation finishes: 33 condos, including “The Pinnacle” penthouse inside the crown, listed at \$79–110M. | 6sqft |
| 2010s–present | Restoration | Contractors restore façade, roof, and terra cotta details; copper cresting and roofing replaced. | Nicholson & Galloway |
| Today | Mixed use | Lower floors: offices (NYU program, firms, agencies). Upper floors: luxury residences. Lobby reopened to limited tours. | Wikipedia |
Chain of Ownership
Here’s a dedicated ownership chain table for the Woolworth Building, showing the key owners and investors across time.
| Period | Owner / Controlling Entity | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 – 1998 | F.W. Woolworth Company (later Venator Group) | Built and owned outright by Frank Woolworth’s company. Served as its headquarters and rented space to tenants. Held for 85 years. | Wikipedia |
| 1998 – 2012 (lower 28 floors) | Witkoff Group (Steven Witkoff, principal) with investment partners | Bought building from Venator for \$137.5M. Investors included Bo “Bob” Dietl, who publicly listed Woolworth among his holdings. Top floors left vacant after 9/11; lower floors leased to tenants (including SEC, NYPD Pension Fund). | Wikipedia, Bo Dietl bio |
| 2012 – present (upper 30 floors) | Alchemy Properties (led by Kenneth Horn), plus partners (including Adam Neumann) | Purchased upper 30 floors for \$68M. Converted to Woolworth Tower Residences (33 luxury condos, incl. “Pinnacle” penthouse). | 6sqft, Wikipedia |
| 2012 – present (lower 28 floors) | Witkoff Group & Cammeby’s International (real estate firm of Rubin Schron) | Retained ownership of commercial base. Still leased to office tenants, city agencies, and NYU programs. | Wikipedia |
Key Individuals & Entities in Ownership Chain
- Frank W. Woolworth – Original builder and owner (1913).
- Witkoff Group – Developer led by Steven Witkoff (purchased in 1998).
- Bo (Bob) Dietl – Investor/partner in Witkoff’s Woolworth purchase.
- Alchemy Properties – NYC developer (bought and converted top floors in 2012).
- Cammeby’s International (Rubin Schron) – Current co-owner of commercial portion (lower floors).
Here’s a side-by-side comparison table showing how the Woolworth Building’s usage, ownership, and access changed from before 9/11 to after 9/11:
| Category | Pre-9/11 (up to Sept 2001) | Post-9/11 (2001 onward) |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Owned by Witkoff Group (purchased 1998 from Woolworth Co. for \$137.5M). Investors included Steven Witkoff and Bo (Bob) Dietl. | Witkoff retained overall ownership; in 2012 top 30 floors sold to Alchemy Properties (Kenneth Horn, Adam Neumann, partners). Lower 28 floors still with Witkoff/Cammeby’s (Rubin Schron). |
| Use of Lower Floors | Office space for tech firms, law offices, government tenants. Example: Fallon Worldwide ad agency, Xceed digital firm, NYPD Pension Fund. | Continued as office space. New tenants included SEC (2001–2005), NYU graduate program, city agencies, private firms. |
| Use of Upper Floors (Top 30) | Largely vacant or lightly used by 2000; plans were in place for condo conversion, approved but not executed. The observation deck had been closed for decades. | Damaged by debris on 9/11; turret smashed and roof torn. Remained closed and vacant for ~10 years. Converted into condos after 2012 by Alchemy Properties. |
| Public Access | Lobby open to public, tourists could wander in (though no observation deck access since early-mid 20th century). | Lobby locked down, guards expelled visitors. Public access cut off until guided tours began in 2014. Top floors remained private. |
| 9/11 Impact | Roof damaged by falling debris from North Tower; one turret torn, copper cladding stripped, utilities cut. Building closed ~6 months. | Repaired and reopened in 2002. Skeletal turret repaired. Conspiracy theories arose about “energy beams” or “missiles,” but engineering reports attribute damage to debris impact. |
| Historic Status | Already a National Historic Landmark (1966) and NYC Landmark (1983). | Status unchanged; restoration work required adherence to preservation standards. Contractors like Nicholson & Galloway replaced terra-cotta, roofing, and cresting. |
| Current (2020s) | — | Mixed use: Lower floors = offices; Upper floors = Woolworth Tower Residences (33 condos, incl. \$79M “Pinnacle” penthouse). Guided tours of lobby. |
Focused profile on the roof/turret damage and repair work (naming the exact contractors, methods, materials, and any unusual reports like copper tearing, molten metal, or steel replacement) – specifically the 9/11 rooftop issue.
Here is a focused profile of what is (and isn’t) reliably known about the roof/turret damage from 9/11 and the subsequent repair work: contractors, materials, structural interventions, and unresolved questions.
Roof / Turret Damage (9/11) — What is Known vs. What Remains Unconfirmed
| Type of Damage | Known / Verified | Unconfirmed / Rumored |
|---|---|---|
| Turret structure | One of the decorative high turrets (corner pinnacle) was smashed or severely damaged by falling debris when the nearby North Tower collapsed. Copper cladding was torn and underlying steel framework exposed. Windows near the top were blown out; utilities (power, water, phone) were disrupted. The roof and turret were rendered “skeletal” in appearance in photographs and reports immediately after. | Claims of metal being melted (steel softened or distorted by heat) have been made in anecdotal or conspiracy contexts, but no credible engineering or forensic study has verified melted steel or the use of exotic energy weaponry. |
| Copper / Cladding | Copper cladding/turret ornamentation torn; copper tracery elements had already been fragile in parts due to long-term weathering and acid rain (pre-9/11). After 9/11, the exposed steel and copper damage were visible and required later replacement or restoration. | Rumors or stories about copper “fusion” or significant warping due purely to heat remain unsubstantiated. The reports focus generally on impact / ripping, not thermal melting to structural failure. |
| Structural Steel / Superstructure | No official reports suggest that the main steel frame of the building was structurally compromised. The damage was mostly cosmetic/ornamental at the crown/turret and roof deck; the building passed safety inspections, reopened to tenants in ~2002. | Some anecdotal claims suggest steel replacements, but there is no public record showing wholesale replacement of load-bearing steel members due to 9/11 damage or of the primary structural skeleton being repaired for warping or heat damage from the collapse. |
Repair, Restoration, and Conversion — Contractors, Materials, Methods
The restoration work, especially during the conversion of the upper floors into residences by Alchemy Properties (post-2012), provides the most concrete detail about what was done at the roof and turret:
| Contractor / Entity | What Was Done | Materials & Methods | Scale / Quantities / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholson & Galloway | Contracted by Alchemy Properties to restore the terra-cotta façade, restore decorative cresting, and perform a complete roof replacement. (Nicholson and Galloway) | Used Sika concrete repair mortars and sealants to repair the concrete deck and masonry surfaces. The old roofing (coal tar pitch and felts, from c. 1970s–80s) was replaced. A liquid-applied membrane roofing/waterproofing system (“Sikalastic RoofPro 25”) was installed. (Sika USA) | Roof replacement covered ~18,830 square feet across multiple roofs and setbacks. Several new roofs (6 new construction roofs), plus restoration of existing ones. Terra-cotta units: over ~3,350 new units installed; ~3,900 existing units repaired. Also 440 linear feet of GFRC (glass fiber-reinforced concrete) roof cresting; work on marble coping stones etc. (Nicholson and Galloway) |
| Boston Valley Terra Cotta | Restoration of terra cotta units (both replacement and repair), decorative cresting replication; part of the envelope restoration. (Boston Valley Terra Cotta) | Fabrication of matching terra cotta units, matching original profiles; also involved replication of cresting and detailing. | Worked in conjunction with the larger restoration / conversion project. (No evidence they did structural steel replacements tied to 9/11 damage per se.) |
| Sika / Sikalastic | Supplied the waterproofing membrane, sealants, roofing systems (liquid-applied roof membrane) for the roof replacement. Used color matching (copper patina / terra-cotta hue) so that new elements complied with aesthetic goals. (Sika USA) | The Sikalastic RoofPro 25 system (fully reinforced, cold-applied) installed in both “Protected Membrane Roof” (PMR) assemblies and conventional roof assemblies. Also used new paver systems (Hanover Guardian pavers) and wood decking in places. (Sika USA) | Implementation covered terraces, setbacks, and total roofing areas of ~18,000–19,000 sq ft depending on broken-out segments. (Nicholson and Galloway) |
Gaps & “What Isn’t Documented”
- No credible archival structural or fire/heat engineering report has been published (publicly) that verifies steel girders or beams warped or replaced due to thermal effects from 9/11 at the turret or roof (though nearby buildings were damaged much more severely).
- The copper damage is well documented as torn/cladding lost; but claims of copper melting (vs. being deformed, torn off, or exposed) come mostly from visual observations or rumor rather than metallurgical analysis.
- A detailed forensic report about every single replaced component (e.g. which specific turret support steel members were replaced) has not been made widely available.
- While the roof membrane material was aging (1970s-80s materials) and replaced during the renovation, that seems to have been more driven by planned conversion and roof aging, not uniquely by 9/11 fire/heat damage.
Engineering drawings or NYC building department permits showing exactly which steel elements were replaced post-9/11, and whether any of those were attributed in permit applications to damage from 9/11.
I searched in depth through NYC & engineering sources, but did not locate any publicly available documents (e.g. DOB structural‐plan filings, drawings) that confirm which specific steel members at the Woolworth Building’s roof/turret were replaced after 9/11 — or that tie such replacements in permits to 9/11 damage explicitly. Below are what is available, what avenues remain, and how you could pursue the missing documentation.
What Is Available
Here are documents and sources that show substantial related repair/restoration work (roof, façade, turret, ornamental elements), which may overlap with post-9/11 activities, but do not clearly itemize steel structure replacements due to the 9/11 event.
- “Woolworth Building.pdf” – Sika Corporation Project Sheet
Describes the roofing and waterproofing work during the conversion to residences. Includes details of roof decks, membrane replacement, repair of concrete decks and masonry, etc. Does not show structural steel replacement or drawings for the turret or spire’s steel skeleton. (Sika USA) - Nicholson & Galloway: “Compares Restoration of the Historic Woolworth Building”
Contractor summary of work: new & existing roofs (~18,830 sq ft), terra cotta restoration and replacement, roof cresting, etc. Again, damage repair is primarily envelope/ornamental—roof membranes, cresting, terra cotta units—but no mention of replacing major steel load-bearing members or detailed structural plans. (Nicholson and Galloway) - WJE Project Description / Woolworth Building
WJE (engineering / façade experts) has a page noting that the terra cotta at the Woolworth Building underwent a high-profile envelope rehab (“one of the most noteworthy building envelope rehabilitations ever undertaken”). Likely covers masonry, cladding, facade anchors, but again not detailed steel structural restoration documents made public. (wje.com) - NYC Landmarks Preservation & LPC Document (LPC PDF for Woolworth Building, COFA, etc.)
The Landmarks Preservation Commission’s documentation for the building discusses the building’s historic features, facade restoration, and past alterations. It confirms work has been done on façade, terracotta, etc. But does not appear to provide blueprints or permits specifically showing steel replacement tied to 9/11 damage. (s-media.nyc.gov) - Small Alterations Approval, 2006
A CityLand article describes that in 2006 the Witkoff Group was approved for rooftop alterations (glass canopy, terrace garden, some rooftop additions to wings) as part of the residential conversion plan. That includes permit(s) (COFA #07-1618) for these “small” changes, but those are not clearly about post-9/11 damage or steel replacements in the turret/crown. (CityLand)
What Is Not Found / Missing
- No public permit filings I could locate that explicitly state “replacement of steel roof framing / turret steel supports due to damage from 9/11.”
- No engineering drawings or detailed structural plans publicly accessible that show which structural steel beams or columns (if any) were replaced or strengthened as a direct consequence of 9/11’s load or heat effects.
- No DAG / DOB job filing in open data that clearly maps to a “Structural Steel Replacement / Roof Turret Reconstruction” for the Woolworth Building (particularly immediately post-9/11 period, 2001-2003) with those descriptions.
Possible Paths to Obtain the Missing Documents
If you want to see the precise structural repairs (steel replacements or reinforcement) here are some routes:
- NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) Records: Plan Examination / Permits Archive
- Use the DOB NOW Public Portal or BIS (Building Information System) record requests for property at 233 Broadway, Manhattan (block/lot identification).
- Specifically request job filings for “Alteration Type 1” or “Structural” permits from 2001-2005.
- Sometimes drawings/plans are stored physically (microfilm / I-cards) and need in-person review in DOB borough offices.
- Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) COFA / Certificate of Appropriateness Records
- Since the Woolworth Building is a NYC Landmark, any external repairs that affect historic ornament, roofline, copper turrets, etc., would require LPC review. Those COFA applications often include drawings and structural support details.
- The LPC archive (public or by request) for the COFAs tied to post-9/11 repairs might contain structural backup, though often more focused on appearance / ornament than internal steel.
- NYC Department of Records & Information Services
- The City’s archive may have engineering drawings submitted to DOB or LPC but not digitized. Requests for building permits and structural drawings (especially after an event like 9/11) could be fulfilled via a records request.
- Contractor / Engineering Firm Archives
- Nicholson & Galloway, WJE, Wika/Sika (suppliers) may have more detailed in-house reports about what was found during the repair process (e.g. condition of steel, whether any steel members were replaced). Contacting these firms with a request might yield internal or unpublished documents.
- Insurance / Structural Engineering Reports
- In many post-disaster cases, insurance companies commission structural assessments. These sometimes become part of public records through litigation or safety filings. Looking for court documents or City Council / FDNY / NYC OEM reports might help.
Sources
https://usa.sika.com/dam/dms/us01/d/Woolworth%20Building.pdf
https://www.nicholsonandgalloway.com/news/nicholson-and-galloway-awarded-woolworth
https://www.wje.com/projects/detail/woolworth-building
https://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1273.pdf
https://bostonvalley.com/woolworth-building-applicator-article
File or actual permit numbers and PDFs found by searching DOB permit databases using “233 Broadway, Manhattan” with “roof”, “structural steel”, “turret”, etc., to see if there are archived maps/plans accessible.
I searched several NYC permit / DOB databases and archives for specific permit numbers or PDFs that explicitly document steel structural replacements (e.g. roof / turret frame) at the Woolworth Building (233 Broadway) post-9/11. I did not find such documents in the public domain so far. Here’s what I located, plus details on what was tried / where gaps remain, and suggestions if you want to pursue them further.
What I Did Find
- NYC DOB BIS / Property Search Portal
The Building Information System (BIS) has a basic profile entry for 233 Broadway, which includes current and past permit/job filings, complaints, violations, inspections, etc. But I was unable to locate through that system any permit (job filing) clearly labeled “turret steel replacement” or “structural steel roof framing replaced due to 9/11 damage.” (NYC Buildings Information System) - City Planning / City Council Filings
I found a 2016 City Planning Commission resolution (file N 160172 PXM) related to the acquisition/lease of office space on the 5th floor of the Woolworth Building, but this is about internal office use, not exterior roof / structural restoration work. (New York City Government) - NYC Landmarks / LPC / Permit Forms and Procedural Rules
I checked Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) certificates of appropriateness (COFAs), LPC landmark documentation, and NYC’s rule sets for what kinds of work need review. There are rules for façade, decorative elements, roofing, etc., but nothing in public LPC documents clearly identifies steel frame replacements at the top turret explicitly tied to 9/11. (New York City Government)
What Is Still Missing
- A job/permit filing that explicitly states “replacement of turret steel structure due to damage from debris / impact from 9/11.”
- Engineering drawings or structural plans submitted to DOB or LPC that show pre- and post-damage structural members of the turrets / roof crown, with annotations about impact / replacement.
- For example, I did not find a permit for structural steel “ST” work or “type structural” (structural alteration) filing in the DOB NOW system or BIS that clearly corresponds with the described roof damage and repair. (I saw general roof membrane/façade/terracotta work, but not the underlying steel.)
How To Access / Request the Specific Documents
Here are concrete steps you can take if you want to dig up those missing documents:
| Source | What to Do / Request | What You Might Find |
|---|---|---|
| NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) | Use the DOB NOW / BIS Record Request process for 233 Broadway (Block/Lot). Request all “Structural” job filings / permits from 2001-2005, especially those labelled “Alteration Type: Structural” or “Roof / Turret” or “Crown / Turret Repair.” Also request the plan sets (drawings) associated with those permits. | You may get permit applications, engineering drawings, contractor’s scope of work, explicit labeling of replaced steel beams or columns. |
| Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) | Request COFAs / Certificate of Appropriateness applications for post-9/11 external repair work (roof, crown, turrets). These often require detailed drawings if the work involves historic ornament or visible stone/terracotta/copper features. | Possibly detailed drawings showing structural support, framing for turrets, replacement elements / anchor points for copper cladding. |
| NYC Department of Records & Information Services / Municipal Archives | Search for archived DOB microfilm / I-Card / Docket Books for property at 233 Broadway. Many structural plans from older major landmarked buildings are preserved but not digitized. | Original engineering drawings, construction plans submitted decades ago or during restorations that follow disasters (sometimes stored physically). |
| Contractors / Engineering Firms | Contact Nicholson & Galloway, WJE, Boston Valley Terra Cotta, Sika etc., to see if they maintained internal reports (even if not publicly posted) about what steel was found to be damaged and what was replaced during their restoration/roof conversion work. | Internal condition assessment reports; photos; possible structural steel replacement documentation. |
| Freedom of Information / FOIL Requests | Submit FOIL requests to DOB and LPC for job files / permit sets relating to “turret / roof steel repairs” post-Sept 11, 2001. | Sometimes permits and plans are withheld or redacted, but portions like structural drawings might be released. |
