The AT&T Long Lines Building, more commonly known today as 33 Thomas Street, stands as one of New York City’s most perplexing skyscrapers. Constructed between 1969 and 1974, the building was designed by architect John Carl Warnecke and served as a crucial hub in the telecommunications network. It was built to meet the demands of the AT&T Long Lines Department, which later became AT&T Communications following the divestiture of the Bell System in 1984.
A Brutalist Monument to Telecommunications
Rising 29 stories above the streets of Manhattan, the building’s stark, windowless façade embodies the architectural style known as brutalism. The structure, which occupies the block bordered by Broadway, Church, Worth, and Thomas Streets, was built for machines rather than people. Its robust design—complete with soaring columns, air ducts, intake valves, and fire stairs—reflected its function: housing sensitive telecommunications equipment while providing security and maintaining a stable internal environment.
The absence of windows was not just an aesthetic choice but a functional necessity. The solid-state switching equipment inside generated a significant amount of heat, and sunlight would have only increased the cooling requirements. Additionally, the windowless design helped protect against external threats, from natural disasters to potential man-made attacks, aligning with the Cold War-era mentality of resilience. The building was also reportedly constructed to withstand a nuclear fallout and was equipped with provisions to support up to 1,500 people for two weeks.
The Role of 33 Thomas Street in Telecommunications History
33 Thomas Street was an essential part of the AT&T Long Lines network, a system of microwave relay towers that facilitated long-distance communication across the United States before the era of fiber optics. The building housed the world’s largest long-distance phone call processing center, reportedly capable of handling an average of 175 million calls a day in the early 1990s. It also contained one of AT&T’s major 4ESS switches, which served as an “international gateway” for long-distance traffic, linking the United States to the rest of the world.
The Long Lines network, including facilities like 33 Thomas Street, was crucial in enabling rapid communication across the country during a time when telecommunications infrastructure was adapting to geopolitical needs, particularly during the Cold War. Many of the Long Lines towers, including 33 Thomas, were built with security and resilience in mind, capable of withstanding a nuclear attack to ensure the continuation of vital communication channels. The photograph shown below depicts a room full of large batteries, where according to the original planning documents, would supply the building with enough power to last two weeks with the intent of becoming a ‘self-contained city’ if a catastrophic event was to occur.
From Switching Hub to Data Center
Today, 33 Thomas Street still plays an important role in telecommunications, though its function has shifted. The building now houses data centers and continues to support some telecommunications switches, albeit fewer than in its heyday. The transition from a core telephone switching hub to a modern data center shows the evolution of telecommunications from copper wires and microwave towers to fiber optics and data services.
Despite its mysterious appearance and numerous conspiracy theories, the significance of 33 Thomas Street lies in its history as a resilient and crucial part of the telecommunications infrastructure that shaped modern communication. Its unique design, driven by function and security, serves as a reminder of the lengths taken to protect and maintain communication networks during pivotal moments in history.
References
Cardinalis, K. (2024, July 5). 33 thomas street: A sleek brutalist habitat for machines. Atomic Ranch. https://www.atomic-ranch.com/retro-road-trip/33-thomas-street/
Ryan Gallagher, H. M. (2016, November 23). Look inside the windowless New York skyscraper linked to the NSA. The Intercept. https://theintercept.com/2016/11/19/nsa-33-thomas-street-att-new-york-photos-inside/
Thalenfeld, A. (2019, March 8). AT&T Long Lines Building. NYC URBANISM. https://www.nycurbanism.com/brutalnyc/att-long-lines-building
Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, October 17). 33 Thomas Street. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/33_Thomas_Street
