Facebook just leased office space in a 128-year-old New York City post office — here's a look at the building's fascinating history

Mary MeisenzahlAug 7, 2020, 01:06 IST

Farley Building.Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Facebook just signed a lease to take all of the office space in the Farley Building in New York City.
The building is the main USPS hub in New York City, built in 1912.
The Farley Building has been renovated before, and offices and new train halls are the latest additions.

Facebook recently agreed to lease all 730,000 square feet of office space in the Farley Building in New York City. The new space will be a chance to grow the tech giant's New York presence beyond it's other large location at 770 Broadway, a spokeswoman said.

The Farley Building is a piece of New York City history. Formerly the James A. Farley Post Office, it is over 100 years old. It was first constructed alongside the original Penn Station, and has undergone renovations and name changes since.

Here's a look at the history of Facebook's newest office space.

The Farley Building is located across the street from Penn Station in midtown Manhattan.

Farley Building, 1930. Photo by The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images

It was completed in 1912, the same year as the original Penn Station.

Farley Building, 1950s. Photo by George Marks/Retrofile/Getty Images

It opened for business in 1914.

Farley Building 1914. Library of Congress

In 1933, postal workers cheered on the 18-foot National Recovery Administration banner during the Great Depression.

Farley Building. Bettman/Getty Images

James Farley, pictured here, was the 53rd Postmaster General of the US.

James Farley. Photo by Thomas D Mcavoy/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

In 1934, then Postmaster General Farley doubled the size of the building to take up two full city blocks in midtown.

Farley Building. Photo by Lehnartz/ullstein bild via Getty Images

The iconic building has the the largest Corinthian colonnade in the world, and was constructed in the neoclassical Beaux-Arts style.

Farley Building. Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images

Source: NYC GO

The building bears the famous inscription "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds," often falsely called the motto of the USPS.

Farley Building 1969. Photo by Lehnartz/ullstein bild via Getty Images

The building bears the famous inscription "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds," often falsely called the motto of the USPS.

In 1966, the building was declared a New York City landmark.

Farley Building 1988. Photo by Yvonne Hemsey/Getty Images

The New York City building was officially renamed for Farley in 1982.

Farley Building. Photo by Yvonne Hemsey/Getty Images

The large flight of stairs outside lead to the main level where customer services are located.

Farley Building. Library of Congress

The basement was used for non-customer facing activities like mail sorting by employees.

Farley Building. Library of Congress

In 2005, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor George Pataki announced plans to add a train station, commercial space, and residential housing to the Farley Building. The train station would be called Moynihan Train Station.

Farley Building model. Getty Images

In 2005, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor George Pataki announced plans to add a train station, commercial space, and residential housing to the Farley Building. The train station would be called Moynihan Train Station.

In 2010, New York broke ground on the first phase, adding new exits and a mezzanine.

Moynihan Train Station. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The second round of renovations started in 2017, adding an Amtrak and Long Island Rail Road train hall. It's planned to open in 2021.

Moynihan Train Station. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images