Century Building
Why it's listed
Facing Union Square Park at 33 East 17th Street and running through to East 18th Street, this six-story Queen Anne building was erected in 1880-81. William Schickel designed it for the Arnold-Constable family, who owned the land and built it as an investment. Red brick, Wyoming bluestone and terra-cotta ornament, a cast-iron storefront and a slate mansard roof define the more elaborate 17th Street front. Inside, it keeps an open plan with ornate cast-iron columns and a restored original staircase. The Century Publishing Company, publisher of Century Magazine under editor Richard Watson Gilder, rented space here from 1881 until 1914/15. The building also reflects the northward spread of New York's commercial district into the Union Square area. Queen Anne design was rare for large commercial buildings, and this one is considered Schickel's first commercial work. It was converted to a bookstore in 1994-95.
Significance in brief: The building is tied to the Century Publishing Company, publisher of Century Magazine, which was a tenant from 1881 until 1914/15. It represents the commercial growth north of 14th Street in the later nineteenth century. It is also a rare example of Queen Anne style commercial architecture and an important work by architect William Schickel.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97001148, listed September 18, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 33 E. 17th St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | September 18, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001148 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1880-1915 |
| Architect / builder | Schickel, William |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to a Barnes and Noble bookstore in 1994-95; the building retains a high degree of integrity inside and out, and its upper floors serve as office space and retail areas. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.73717, -73.98975 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 97001148.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q601881
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.