New Yorkers don’t need a calendar to recognize Art Deco. The style is woven into the city’s iconic skyline—from the distinctive spire of the Chrysler Building to the elegant stepped terraces of Rockefeller Center. April 28 offers a moment to celebrate this architectural treasure: World Art Deco Day marks the centennial of the 1925 Paris Exposition that inspired a movement. While technically a showcase for decorative arts, the exposition’s true legacy was architectural. Within five years, American banks, theaters, office towers, and department stores embraced its aesthetic principles—sleek facades, bold geometric motifs, and meticulously designed interiors. One Wall Street, completed in 1931 and now home to some of lower Manhattan’s most prestigious condominium residences, stands as a quintessential expression of this distinguished lineage.

When the 1925 exposition debuted in Paris, the United States wasn’t formally invited to participate. French organizers claimed American designers lacked a distinctive national decorative tradition. Nevertheless, American architects and designers attended—observing, documenting, and gathering inspirations that would transform Manhattan’s skyline within the decade. What they witnessed wasn’t merely an exhibition but a spectacle: a purpose-built landscape of pavilions, gardens, fountains, and electrified displays that attracted 16 million visitors. This April celebrates not just a centennial but a transatlantic exchange that redefined architectural language, from grand department stores to the most prestigious financial towers in New York.

One Wall Street opened its doors in 1931—after the market crash but before its full repercussions had materialized. Conceived during the boom years but completed in an era of economic contraction, the building received from architect Ralph Walker a distinctive limestone exterior characterized by subtle folds and setbacks that recede with precision at the corners. The vertical ridges and narrow, inset windows create a rhythmic pattern that becomes more pronounced as the tower ascends. At its summit, the crown expands into angular facets that capture light differently on each surface—an exercise in pure geometry rather than decorative ornamentation.

By the late 1920s, Hildreth Meière had established herself as one of America’s most sought-after muralists. Her work graced statehouses, churches, and early skyscrapers, known for its harmonious blend of classical training and modern material techniques. When Walker commissioned her for the banking hall at One Wall Street, she proposed something revolutionary: a complete mosaic tile surface with abstract composition that would immerse Irving Trust’s clientele in gradations of red, orange, and gold. Designed in New York but fabricated in Germany and installed in sections by the Ravenna Mosaic Company, the completed work—now known as the Red Room—remains intact. In 2024, it received interior landmark status, and this spring, it reopened to the public as part of Printemps, the Parisian luxury retailer making its American debut at One Wall Street.

On April 28, the Art Deco Society of New York will host an exclusive guided tour of the Red Room at One Wall Street in commemoration of World Art Deco Day. This event provides a privileged glimpse of the landmarked space following Printemps’ opening. In May, residents of this distinguished New York condominium will enjoy a private evening with Kathleen Murphy Skolnik, author of The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meière, whose scholarship has helped cement Meière’s position as a central figure of the style. Her presentation will explore the Red Room’s design within the broader context of Meière’s impressive portfolio—from Radio City Music Hall to the Nebraska State Capitol.

One Wall Street now houses luxury condominium residences that harmonize with the building’s architectural heritage. Kitchens are thoughtfully proportioned to complement the window spacing, while bathrooms are elegantly positioned within corners defined by the original steel and stone structure. Residents traverse the same elevator shafts once reserved for financiers, now redirected toward club amenities, a stunning rooftop pool, and private co-working environments. The Red Room occupies a premier position near the base, showcasing Meière’s gradient tilework, now reimagined for retail. One level above, Printemps, which opened in late March, brings Parisian sophistication to this landmark lower Manhattan address.

As World Art Deco Day approaches, visitors will enter through the Broadway entrance, passing limestone, brass, and mosaic elements that speak to the building’s distinguished history. This celebration offers the perfect opportunity to experience one of lower Manhattan’s most significant architectural treasures—now transformed into an exceptional condominium residence that honors its Art Deco heritage while embracing contemporary luxury living.

For information about available residences and to experience the unique opportunity of calling this architectural masterpiece home, we invite you to contact our sales team today.