1903 Times Square Construction: Is the White Cladding Here Insulation? or Just Brick?

D107

Looks like some kind of insulation--if so wonder what they would have been using then: asbestos?

Mad Dog_2

Looks like carved Limestone panels to me ..Mad Dog 🐕 

D107

Seems like a good guess--the window panels seem finished--so any insulation would have been under that. But in those days doubt there was insulation used except maybe below the roof. And those first few floors look like cinderblocks.

mattmia2

The first floors are stone carved in a different shape.

Steamhead

Is that the "Flatiron Building"?

D107

Supposed to be 1 times square

Jamie Hall

Steamhead said:

Is that the "Flatiron Building"?

If it isn't, it's a pretty close duplicate...

mattmia2

The flatiron building is more curved on the end. it is by far not the only building crammed in a weird triangle of land between 2 roads. the flatiron building is just famous for the first use of ci instead of stone for the more intricate details

ethicalpaul

It's the old NYTimes building, north of Flatiron by 15 blocks or so. Broadway created both buildings and the other triangle ones as it cuts at a small angle away from the N/S streets

It's the one that the New Year's ball is on!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Times_Square

Jamie Hall

ah. Well, I'n not a New Yorker... and have no desire to be... thank you!

Mad Dog_2

Any wall we ever opened in Commercial buildings in NYC Pre-WW II was void of any insulation..brick, block, Terracotta Block, cinder block....thats it. Pipe was almost always wrapped in Asbestos.   Mad dog