Lever House architectural drawings, 1950-1953

Lever House architectural drawings, 1950-1953

Summary Information

At a Glance

Bib ID:
6104671 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Bunshaft, Gordon, 1909-1990; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Weiskoff & Pickworth; De Blois, Natalie, 1921-2013; Jaros Baum & Bolles
Repository:
Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
Physical Description:
60 drawings
Language(s):
English .
Access:

This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information and to make an appointment, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.

Description

Scope and Content

Collection consists of sixty original architectural and furniture drawings for Lever House in New York City, drawn between 1950 and 1952. Most sheet are graphite on paper, with a smaller group of sepia diazo prints with extensive graphite annotations. All sheets were treated by a paper conservator and are now encapsulated in polyester film.

General Note

In 1980, Lever House was awarded the 25-Year Award by the American Institute of Architects, prompting the donation of these drawings to Columbia University

Arrangement

General architectural sheets are stored in numerical order, Index Sheet followed by A-1 through A-53; followed by Arcade architectural sheets, A-1 through A-3; and one unnumbered furniture sheet.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access

This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information and to make an appointment, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Permission to publish must be obtained in writing from the Director, Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, 1172 Amsterdam Ave., MC 0301, New York, NY 10027.

Preferred Citation

Lever House architectural drawings, 1950-1953. Located in Columbia University, Avery Archiectural & Fine Arts Library, Department of Drawings & Archives.

Related Material

Gordon Bunshaft architectural drawings and papers, 1909-1990 (bulk 1950-1979). Dept. of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.

Skidmore, Owings Merrill LLP collection of Ezra Stoller photographs, bulk 1940-1970. Dept. of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.

Skidmore, Owings Merrill photographs, 1945-1969. Dept. of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Gift of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Accession number--1982.002.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library

Processing Information

Drawings Processed ET, AvR 03/06/07.

Revision Description

2007-11-27 File created.

2009-11-17 File revised.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Biographical / Historical

Lever House, one of the major landmarks of International Style architecture, was designed by Gordon Bunshaft, of the the New York office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Sited along Park Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets in New York City, the building was completed in 1952. Weiskoff & Pickworth were the structural engineers and Jaros Baum & Bolles were the mechanical engineers.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form
Architectural drawings -- American
Name
Lever House (New York, N.Y.)
Subject
Architecture -- United States -- Designs and plans
Commercial buildings -- New York (State) -- New York

Series I: Architectural Drawings

Drawer 313 Folder 1

Folder 1 [Index Sheet, A-1 to A-10]

Index Sheet, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-1] Plot Plan, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-2] Sub-Cellar Plan, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-3] Cellar Plan, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-4] First Floor, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-5] Second Floor , 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-6] Third Floor, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-7] Fourth Floor, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-8] Fifth and Sixth Floors, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-9] Seventh and Eighth Floors, 1950 Jul 01

Reverse sepia print with graphite annotations

[A-10] Ninth and Tenth Floors, 1950 Jul 01

Reverse sepia print with graphite annotations

Drawer 313 Folder 2

Folder 2 [A-11 to A-20]

[A-11] Eleventh and Twelfth Floors, 1950 Jul 01

Reverse sepia print with graphite annotations

[A-12] Thirteenth and Fourteenth Floors, 1950 Jul 01

Reverse sepia print with graphite annotations

[A-13] Fifteenth and Sixteenth Floors, 1950 Jul 01

Reverse sepia print with graphite annotations

[A-14] Seventeenth and Eighteenth Floors, 1950 Jul 01

Reverse sepia print with graphite annotations

[A-15] Nineteenth and Twentieth Floors, 1950 Jul 01

Reverse sepia print with graphite annotations

[A-16] Twenty-First Floor, 1950 Jul 01

Reverse sepia print with graphite annotations

[A-17] Twenty-Second Floor, Elevator Machine Room and Roof Plan, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-18] East 53rd St. and Park Ave. Elevations, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-19] East 54th St. and West Elevations, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-20] Longitudinal and Cross Sections, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

Drawer 313 Folder 3

Folder 3 [A-21 to A-30]

[A-21] Detail of Stair No. 1, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-22] Detail of Stair No. 2, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-23] Detail of Stair No. 3, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-24] Fire Tower Balconies and Stair Details, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-25] Detail of Elevator Shafts, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-26] Elevator Lobbies and Mail Conveyor, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-27] Exterior Wall Sections, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-28] Exterior Wall Sections, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-29] Window Details Sheet No. 1, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-30] Window Details Sheet No. 2, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

Drawer 313 Folder 4

Folder 4 [A-31 to A-40]

[A-31] Window Details Sheet No. 3, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-32] Service Area Sheet No. 1, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-33] Service Area Sheet No. 2, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-34] Service Area Sheet No. 3, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-35] Door and Buck Details, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-36] Toilet Room Layouts, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-37] Louver Details, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-38] First Floor Lobby Sheet No. 1, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-39] First Floor Lobby Sheet No. 2, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-40] Detail of Marble & Granite Walls, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

Drawer 313 Folder 5

Folder 5 [A-41 to A-50]

[A-41] Kitchen & Cafeteria Layout - Third Floor, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-42] Details of Third Floor Dining Area, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-43] Miscellaneous Wall Details, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-44] Miscellaneous Details Sheet No. 1, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-45] Miscellaneous Details Sheet No. 2, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-46] Miscellaneous Details Sheet No. 3, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-47] Cellar Plan Alternate "B", 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-48] Window Details Sheet No. 1 Alternate "C", 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-49] Window Details Sheet No. 2 Alternate "C", 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-50] Window Details Sheet No. 3 Alternate "C", 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

Drawer 313 Folder 6

Folder 6 [A-51 to A-53, A-1 to A-3]

[A-51] Assembly Hall, SPRY Kitchen and Foyer, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-51-1] Plan - First Floor Assembly Hall and Demonstration Kitchen, 1951 Sep 12

Reverse sepia print with graphite annotations

[A-51-2] Elevations - First Floor Assembly Hall and Demonstration Kitchen, 1951 Sep 12

Reverse sepia print with graphite annotations

[A-52] Screen Partition and Counter Details, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-53] Typical Detail of Screen Part. 4 to 20 Floor, 1950 Jul 01

Graphite on paper

[A-1] First Floor Arcade Sculpture, 1953 Aug 26

Sepia diazo print with graphite annotations

[A-2] Details of Arcade Sculpture and Planting Boxes, 1953 Aug 26

Graphite on paper

[A-3] Details of Display Cases, Window Seats, Planting Boxes, Drinking Fountain and Etc., 1953 Aug 26

Graphite on paper

Details of Lobby Furniture, undated

Graphite on paper