The former classic Cunard building is situated at 25 Broadway in Manhattan’s Financial District. It is a vast, 22-story limestone office building with a facade in neo-Renaissance style. It was the lines’ counterpart to its famous Liverpool headquarters. Although an impressive building, it is the gorgeous interior that sets it apart.
Cunard Line had been in New York since 1848, but in the early 1900’s it became clear the line needed larger offices and a new building was commissioned which opened on May 2, 1921.
The Cunard Steamship Line has British-American roots and was named after its founder Samuel Cunard from Nova Scotia. Cunard was awarded the first British transatlantic steamship mail contract. His company started as British and North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company. When business started to flourish he reorganized his company to raise more working capital, calling it the Cunard Steamship Line. Cunard ships held the Blue Riband, a reward for the fastest transatlantic crossing for over three decades and multiple times in later years with their Lusitania 1907-1909, Mauretania 1907-1929(!) and Queen Mary 1936-1952.
The Cunard Building was designed by the architect Benjamin Wistar Morris along with the architectural firm Carrere & Hastings, located in New York City and one of the most outstanding Beaux-Arts architecture firms in the United States. Morris worked together with muralist Ezra Winter to create a decor plan that focused on marine and shipping themes for the building. The building’s lobby served as the business’s ticketing hall, which was 183 feet long with a 68 foot dome, until 1968.
When entering the building, before entering the main hall, we pass through the vestibule with its gorgeous ceiling decorations. Stunnning images of sea life and sailing the oceans adorn the walls and ceilings. The architecture and opulent decorations make it obvious why the first floor was made a New York City Landmark.
Spaces not in use by Cunard were rented out to a variety of tenants, most of these active in the shipping industry. Two luxurious apartments were used by Cunard’s managing director and the other by millionaire Rockefeller.
As the passenger liner market declined because of the growth in airline travel, Cunard left its US offices in New York, today its head office is located inThe Carnival House, Southampton, UK.
In the 1970’s, Cunard Building was leased to US Postal Service. Once tickets for crossings on one of the great Cunard Liners were bought here in the Great Hall, they were now substituted by stamps and packages… Cunard sold the building in 1977. US Postal left in 2000, today the building’s upper floors’ current tenants are Internet-related media businesses.
The still majestic ground floor is now owned and in use by the luxury hotel / restaurant and events-hosting firm Cipriani S.A. as an event space.
When visiting New York in August 2023 we went to the Cunard Building, a most friendly employee granted us access and we were able to make the photographs below. Some of them are a bit dark, as an event was about to begin and lighting was dimmed.
