Here’s Why The Flatiron Building Originally Didn’t Have Female Bathrooms
The Flatiron building was among NYC’s very first skyscrapers. Constructed in 1902 by Chicago architect, Daniel Burnham, the building was originally intended to serve as the offices for Chicago contracting firm, George A. Fuller Company. Hence why it was first known as the Fuller building, rather than the Flatiron building.
Its unique shape comes from the triangular site constraints being between Broadway and Fifth Avenue. The Flatiron building stacks 22 stories high and is made from a steel skeleton. According to Britannica, the most narrow point is on the top floor, only stretching 6.5 feet wide from wall to wall.
Out of its many interesting historical facts including the floors being built at a rate of one per week and the use of water-powered elevators, one bit of information that most don’t know about is that the Flatiron building originally didn’t have female bathrooms. Why is that? Simply, the designer didn’t put any in the plan. Management later had to implement gendered bathrooms on alternating floors, a system still used today.
The most recent conversation regarding the Flatiron building was surrounding last year’s drama-filled auctions. After the first winning bidder, Jacob Garlick, failed to pay the down payment, the Flatiron building was sold for $161 million to Jeffrey Gural.
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