Three Renowned Village Architects, Born in November

Are Scorpios the most architecturally attuned astrological sign? This is the question that came to mind when I realized that three of New York City’s and the Village’s most celebrated and renowned architects were all born in early November. I know next to nothing about the Zodiac, but according to a Google search, Scorpios are persistent, strategic, and intuitive… all attributes that might serve well in designing some of our city’s most monumental buildings and structures, as James Renwick Jr., Stanford White, and John Carrèrre all have done.
Whether influenced by the heavens or not, these three architects made an indelible mark on our streetscapes in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. Here are some examples of their many designs in and interwoven connections to our neighborhoods:
James Renwick Jr. (November 11, 1818 – June 23, 1895)

Born in Upper Manhattan to a wealthy family, James Renwick Jr. never received formal training as an architect. Nevertheless, he went on to design some of the Village’s, and the City’s, most beautiful buildings. He mastered the Gothic Revival style, exemplified in his designs for Grace Church and its rectory, as well as St. Patrick’s Cathedral — all individual NYC landmarks.

Renwick Jr. also designed the striking six-story loft building at 806 Broadway, which runs the entire block from Broadway to Fourth Avenue, just behind Grace Church. The design of the manufacturing building was meant to harmonize with the adjacent historic church. Located within Village Preservation’s proposed South of Union Square Historic District, the building has been home to notable publishers and was the scene of significant labor disputes.

A young Renwick Jr. was also involved in the development of Fifth Avenue, as a portion of the avenue near East 9th Street was part of his family’s estate. Renwick’s family had been deeded the land from Henry Brevoort Sr., James Renwick Jr.’s maternal grandfather. In 1851 Renwick Jr. designed a Romanesque Revival-style house, 21 Fifth Avenue, the first building to be constructed at the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 9th Street. Just starting out in his career as an architect, Renwick Jr. was simultaneously completing Grace Church, which was his first commission, a couple of blocks away.
Visit our South of Union Square and Fifth Avenue resources to learn more.
Stanford White (November 9, 1853 – June 25, 1906)

Stanford White is known for his role as partner in McKim, Mead & White, an extremely prolific architectural firm that designed many Beaux Arts masterpieces throughout New York City at the turn of the 20th century. He is perhaps equally remembered for his “complicated” personal life. White was the lead on many projects in our neighborhoods, including the Washington Square Arch, and Judson Memorial Church, located across the park.

White and his firm also designed an imposing, through-block Beaux Arts style powerhouse and office building in NoHo. The Cable Building was built in 1892-1894 for the Broadway & Seventh Avenue Railroad Company. The basement once held giant wheels that powered the Broadway cable car line, giving the building the name it retains to this day. The basement continued its use as a powerhouse until May 21, 1901, when the final steam-powered car ran its route and the Broadway line switched to electric power.
White was also born and raised in the East Village, in a house whose design is attributed to James Renwick.
Visit our Fifth Avenue and NoHo resources to learn more.
John Merven Carrère (November 9, 1858 – March 1, 1911)

Like McKim, Mead & White, the firm Carrère and Hastings specialized in Beaux Arts architecture, and was involved in the design of many of NYC’s great public assets, including parks and public libraries. John Carrère and Thomas Hastings both studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in France and even worked at McKim, Mead & White before establishing their own firm.

Birthday twins Stanford White and John Carrère were both involved in designing buildings for the New York Public Library system: McKim, Mead & White designed the Tompkins Square Branch (located in the East Village) in 1904, and Carrère and Hastings designed the Hudson Park Branch (West Village) just two years later, in 1906. Carrère and Hastings had also designed the adjacent Hudson Park (now called J. J. Walker Park), in 1895, and both the library and neighboring public bath house (constructed in 1906-08, now the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center) were integrated into that design.

Carrère and Hastings was also involved in the development of Fifth Avenue: in 1923-24 the firm designed the second structure to be constructed at 60 Fifth Avenue, replacing a mid-19th-century Italianate-style mansion at that location, in partnership with architectural firm Shreve Lamb & Blake. This was, however, after Carrère’s passing, as he was struck by a streetcar in 1911 and suffered a severe concussion from which he never regained consciousness.
Visit our Fifth Avenue and South of Union Square resources to learn more.