Story
Printing Money in Hunt's Point
The American Bank Note Company Printing Plant is endearingly referred to as the "Penny Plant" by locals. According to its landmark designation, it was "built at a time when industrial engineering was expressed in the design of industrial buildings." The arsenal-like quality of the three-building complex "embodies a sense of strength and efficiency."
American Bank Note Company Printing Plant
Before the American Bank Note Company built its plant, this was where the Doric-column-fronted mansion of Edward G. Faile and family once stood. The estate was also (fabulously) the residence of a flock of peacocks.
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American Bank Note Company Printing Plant
Construction for the new five-story brick plant began in 1909 and was completed just two years later. The architect, Kirby, Petit, & Green, was known for designing other printing facilities including the plant that produced the San Francisco Examiner.
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American Bank Note Company Printing Plant
The fortress-like character of the building, which extended along Lafayette Avenue, projected an imposing structure on the neighborhood. It's interior, however, was airy and open.
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American Bank Note Company Printing Plant
Saw-tooth skylights provided the printing presses with northern light that was totally glare-free. At its opening, it was of the most advanced printing centers in the country. The building was designated a landmark in 2009, citing a "unique character to the property" in its designation.
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