Who designed the Little Singer Building and when was it built?

The building was designed by Ernest Flagg in 1902, with construction beginning in 1903 and the company moving in by 1905.

What is the current use of the building?

Since 1979, the building has been a cooperative known as the Singer Studio Corporation, featuring a mixture of commercial offices and residential units, including live/work artist units.

How can you tell the building was associated with the Singer Manufacturing Company?

The name 'Singer Manufacturing Company' is cast into the ironwork on the Prince Street frontage, which serves as the only remaining external evidence of the building's Singer heritage.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

Little Singer Building in New York City

Little Singer Building

A Beaux-Arts architectural masterpiece in SoHo, this 12-story L-shaped building features intricate terracotta panels and wrought-iron balconies, serving as a precursor to the modern glass-curtain-wall skyscraper.

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What is the Little Singer Building known for?

The Little Singer Building is a historic 12-story Beaux-Arts commercial structure in Lower Manhattan known for its decorative terracotta panels, large glass windows, and intricate wrought-iron balconies. It is considered an important forerunner of the glass-curtain-wall skyscrapers that became popular in the later 20th century.

What to know

The Little Singer Building, located at 561 Broadway, is a historic 12-story commercial structure designed by architect Ernest Flagg in 1902. Construction began in 1903, and the Singer Manufacturing Company officially moved into the space in 1905. The building is characterized by its L-shaped footprint, with frontages facing both Broadway and Prince Street. Its Beaux-Arts design is defined by a combination of large glass windows and decorative terracotta panels, complemented by intricate wrought-iron trellis work and balconies. Architecturally, the building is recognized as an important forerunner of the glass-curtain-wall skyscrapers that became dominant in the late 20th century. Flagg used this project to experiment with abundant glazing and iron balconies, design cues he later echoed in the 47-story Singer Tower completed in 1908. While the massive Singer Tower was demolished in 1967, the Little Singer Building survived as a tangible link to the city's lost grandeur. In 1979, the building transitioned from corporate offices and factory space into a cooperative known as the Singer Studio Corporation. This conversion created a mixture of residential and commercial uses, including 20 offices and 15 live/work units specifically for artists. Today, the structure contains 22 cooperative apartments. To maintain its historic appearance, the co-op began a restoration effort in 1983. This project involved cleaning the terracotta panels and repainting the ironwork in a dark green hue to match the original color from the building's completion. This vibrant detailing makes it one of the most colorful landmarks in the SoHo neighborhood.

Visitor tips

Walk around to the Prince Street frontage to find the 'Singer Manufacturing Company' name cast in the ironwork.
Look up at the dark green iron balconies to see the original color restored in 1983.
Visit during the day when sunlight highlights the terracotta panels and broad glass expanses.

Nearby context

Situated at the intersection of Broadway and Prince Street, the Little Singer Building stands as a colorful anchor in the SoHo and Greenwich Village border area, contrasting the typical cast-iron architecture of the neighborhood with its Beaux-Arts elegance.