Summary: The 33rd Street IRT station might be small in size, but thanks to architects Heins amp LaFarge, it is huge in architectural and design detail, well deserving its spot on the National Register of Historic Places. The original station is a standard four track 1904 local station, measuring 200 feet long and 55 feet wide, and sitting close to the surface of Park Avenue. The ceilings on the downtown platform and fare collection area are higher than average they are fifteen feet high instead of twelve, the standard for most 1904 stations. Chief Engineer William Barclay Parsons called this a high arch station when he and LaFarge visited it in September 1903 to check on its progress.One of the stations most striking features are the original ceramics adorning the walls on the north side of the downtown and uptown platforms. Every 15 feet along the cornice are faience plaques featuring an eagle holding a blue and white shield containing the station name, 33. On the uptown platform, near the exit turnstiles, you will see that the eagle motif is carried through later design for a station expansion. While nearly identical in design to the original faience eagles, the newer eagles are made of flat mosaics. These mosaics were found to be easier to maintain than the threedimension faience plaques and became the standard for ceramic ornament.The stately eagle with his shield pays homage to the 71st Regimental Armory that once stood above the station and was built at the same time as the subway it opened in 1905. Since George Heins was the State Architect of New York at that time, he oversaw the construction of the armory and would have been especially sensitive to tying this neighborhood structure into the character of the subway station. The armory was home to the 71st Regiment, New York National Guard. Designed by the firm Clinton and Russell, it was modeled after the town hall in Siena, Italy. With the grand, imposing armory flanking the graceful IRT station kiosks, the corner of Park Avenue and 33rd Street must have been an impressive sight in the early 20th century. Sadly, like the subway kiosks, the 71st Regimental Armory no longer exists. It was torn down in 1972, a decaying building too expensive to maintain. Today, a mixeduse skyscraper sits in its place.The station plaques were made by Grueby Faience Company of Boston. Similar eagles were installed at the 14th Street and Brooklyn Bridge stations, though neither of those locations had armories. Were these stations examples of Heins amp LaFarge reusing an attractive design in the interest of cost and time Quite possibly. The 33rd Street and Brooklyn Bridge eagles were manufactured from a 15 part mold. Oddly though, the Brooklyn Bridge ceramics were made from a sevenpart mold, so Grueby may not be the manufacturer. Today, some of the 14th Street plaques are still visible, but those at Brooklyn Bridge can only be seen in a closed track area.Two dimensional mosaic name tablets are also prominently featured on the 33rd Street station walls. In these, white mosaic tiles reading 33RD ST sit in a blue, green, and buff tablet, surrounded by scrolls and foliate motifs. Here again, Heins amp LaFarge adapted a standard design for this particular station. Similar name tablets can be seen at the Fulton and Wall Street stations. Interspersed with these are mosaic tablets with the number 33. Here, white 33 tiles sit in a blue background, with green and buff pilasters coming down from the number.The ceiling at 33rd Street has also retained much of its original design. Look toward the northern end of the uptown platform near the exit and youll see a strikingly ornate decorative cornice that divides the ceiling into rectangles. The station design has not remained static. In 1997, Arts for Transit installed unique station seating. James Garveys Lariat Seat Loops are bronze seat rests attached to platform columns. Bronze was an important material in the Heins amp LaFarge stations. Using bronze as a station element that blends both form and function helps to integrate Lariat Seat Loops into the spirit of the historic station.The stairs also received a nod towards historic design. The modern railings are designed and constructed to look similar to original IRT railings. They have small spikes, squared plinths, and column lampposts on either side of the entrance. The signage here is thoroughly modern though, and adheres to current design guidelines.Today, the Kips Bay neighborhood surrounding the station owes its development, in part, to the opening of the 33rd Street subway station. Though the area was already heavily populated thanks to the 2nd and 3rd Avenue elevated lines, the subway opening in 1904 increased the pace of development in this fashionable neighborhood. Subway access also contributed to the decision to build Bellevue Hospital in the neighborhood. The hospital opened in 1908 and since then has grown into a major medical center.
