January 30, 2025 • F.W. Woolworth Co.

Restoring the Backbone: Structural Steel Columns Reinforced at Woolworth

Welder in orange shirt crouching in an excavated subfloor area beneath the Woolworth Building, reinforcing a steel column with bright welding arc visible, surrounded by soil, pipes, and concrete work.

A welder reinforces a historic steel column in the subfloor of the Woolworth building, part of a major foundation restoration phase.

Thirty-two original structural steel columns were excavated, assessed and repaired—reforming the core strength of the Woolworth building from the ground up.

Restoration crews uncovered and restored these original steel columns at the heart of the Woolworth building. Each was excavated from decades of concrete encasement, evaluated by structural engineers and reinforced where needed.

Repairs included welding in new steel plates and repouring the surrounding floor slab using 70 cubic yards of concrete. These foundational upgrades enhance the long-term stability of the historic structure.

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A restoration crew member welds a steel column as part of the reinforcement process at the Woolworth building.
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 A restored structural steel column at the Woolworth building, fully excavated from its concrete encasement.

The restored columns now serve both a functional and symbolic role—supporting the building’s future while honoring its past. Learn more about the full restoration plan for the F.W. Woolworth Co. building.

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