People on social media have been left baffled by a mysterious skyscraper that’s as tall as 40 storeys in New York City.
The creepy and unsettling building stands out against those around it and has caught the eye of many confused passers-by.
Its concrete face towers 40-stories high but there are no windows in sight, leading people to question what on earth goes on inside?
From an office for vampires to Men in Black headquarters, there are crazy theories about what lurks behind its doors.
Every few years, images and videos of the eerie skyscraper re-circulate on social media — back in 2017, even Tom Hanks tweeted: ‘This is the scariest building I’ve ever seen! WTF goes on inside??’
After videos of the building were shared this week on Twitter and Reddit, commenters began to conspire about what’s inside, with one person writing: ‘Gives off MI-6 vibes,’ and another joking: ‘Lizard people don’t need windows.’
The creepy and unsettling building stands out against those around it and has caught the eye of many confused passers-by
After videos of the building were shared this week on Twitter and Reddit , commenters began to joke about what’s inside, with one person writing: ‘Gives off MI-6 vibes,’ and another joking ‘Lizard people don’t need windows’
What was the building used for?
The truth behind the building doesn’t quite live up to the wild theories of aliens and ‘lizard people’ — however, it is interesting and does reportedly have some dark secrets.
It’s located at 33 Thomas Street in New York City and is also known as the Long Lines Building.
It was designed and built between 1969 and 1974 to house AT&T (the American Telephone and Telegraph Company) telephone switching equipment — one of the most important telecommunications hubs in the USA.
The equipment required a high level of space and a secure location, therefore the building’s floors are taller than average.
Despite being as high as a 40-story tower, it actually only has 29 floors.
The skyscraper is also rumored to be originally designed to withstand a nuclear blast and had enough food to keep 1,500 people alive for two weeks in the event of a catastrophe.
What is it used for today?
Since being built it functioned as AT&T’s long-distance telephone exchange until 1999, when the company moved elsewhere.
Today, the windowless skyscraper is still sometimes used for its original purpose of telephone switching by some local exchange carriers.
Other areas of the building are reportedly used as a high security datacenter.
It’s now more commonly known as 33 Thomas Street, rather than the AT&T building or the Long Lines Building.
It’s located at 33 Thomas Street in New York City and is also known as the Long Lines Building
It was designed and built between 1969 and 1974 to house AT&T (the American Telephone and Telegraph Company) telephone switching equipment — one of the most important telecommunications hubs in the USA
The dark secrets behind it
However, an investigation by The Intercept in 2016, revealed that there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to this building.
They, alongside a multitude of conspiracy theorists, believe it’s a secret base of the NSA (National Security Agency).
Their investigation, that includes leaked documents by Edward Snowden, provides ‘compelling evidence’ that 33 Thomas Street has served as an NSA) surveillance site, code-named TITANPOINTE.
The Intercept claims that according to a former AT&T engineer, ‘there is a major international “gateway switch» which routes phone calls between the United States and countries across the world.’
Reportedly, the agency has tapped into these calls from a secure facility within the AT&T building, and it’s one of the most important National Security Agency surveillance sites in the United States.
The leaked Edward Snowden documents claim the structure was used for spying on phone calls, fax messages and Internet data and was first developed under the name ‘Project X’.
The NSA declined to give a comment to The Intercept on the investigation and what really goes on behind the building’s doors remains a mystery.
Surrounded by other normal looking buildings, 33 Thomas Street stands out like a sore thumb, towering into the sky
The Intercept, alongside a multitude of conspiracy theorists, believe it’s a secret base of the NSA (National Security Agency)
The Intercept claims that, according to a former AT&T engineer, ‘there is a major international “gateway switch» which routes phone calls between the United States and countries across the world’
What are the other theories?
Some social media users lean into the wild theories, whereas others aren’t as convinced.
One Redditor wrote: ‘Probably data center and not occupied by people’ while another added: ‘It’s a telecom central office no big mystery at all, most major cities have several. It’s air conditioned due to the equipment.’
Meanwhile on Twitter, users theorized: ‘So is this where all the vampires live now?’ and: ‘Looks like something that should be in Dune.’
The vampire theory has proved popular, as users jested that they wouldn’t be able to work with sunlight coming in through the windows.
Others are convinced little green aliens and other extraterrestrial creatures are being hidden away from the world, behind the building’s eerie walls.
One user said: ‘This where they keep the aliens,’ and another added: ‘100% Lizard headquarters.’
Another guessed: ‘I believe it’s the headquarters of Men in Black,’ while someone else questioned: ‘Gotham city?,’ joking that the skyscraper belongs in Batman.
| 33 Thomas Street | |
|---|---|
|
AT&T Long Lines Building |
|
 |
|
 |
|
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Utility |
| Architectural style | Brutalist |
| Location | Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 40°43′00″N 74°00′22″W / 40.71678°N 74.00610°W |
| Construction started | 1969 |
| Completed | 1974 |
| Opening | 1974 |
| Owner | AT&T |
| Height | |
| Roof | 550 ft (170 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 29 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | John Carl Warnecke |
| Developer | AT&T |
33 Thomas Street (formerly the AT&T Long Lines Building) is a 550-foot-tall (170 m) windowless skyscraper in the Tribeca neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. The building stands on the east side of Church Street, between Thomas Street and Worth Street. Designed in the Brutalist architectural style, it is a telephone exchange or wire center building which contained three major 4ESS switches used for interexchange (long distance) telephony, as well as a number of other switches used for competitive local exchange carrier services. However, it is not used for incumbent local exchange carrier services, and is not a central office.
The CLLI code for this facility is NYCMNYBW. The building has also been described as the likely location of a National Security Agency (NSA) mass surveillance hub codenamed TITANPOINTE.[1]
History[edit]
The location was previously the site of cast-iron buildings, typical of the area, the facades of which were preserved before demolition.[2] The building was a core part of the AT&T Long Lines Department, housing solid-state switching equipment that required tight security and ample space. The Long Lines Department became AT&T Communications in 1984 after the Bell System divestiture. The AT&T Long Lines Building is now commonly known by its street address, 33 Thomas Street.[3]
AT&T gradually moved switches and other facilities from their former AT&T Long Lines headquarters building at 32 Sixth Avenue, just a few blocks away, completing the move by 1999.[4] 33 Thomas is still used for telephone switching, but some of the space is also used for highly secure datacenters.
On September 17, 1991, management failure, power equipment failure, and human error combined to disable AT&T’s central office switch at 33 Thomas. More than 5 million calls were blocked, and Federal Aviation Administration private lines were also interrupted, disrupting air traffic control to 398 airports serving most of the northeastern United States. The problem arose when the electric utility, Consolidated Edison, asked AT&T to temporarily stop drawing electricity from the grid and instead use the building’s on-site generators. The request was part of a previous load shedding agreement, and the switch had been performed successfully in the past, but on this occasion, it went wrong. After switching power sources, standard procedure was to check all the equipment power supplies, known as DC plants, for problems. But due to scheduled training, the check was not performed, and one plant went on battery backup. The alarms were not detected until it was too late to maintain uninterrupted power.[5]
After the destruction of the World Trade Center in the September 11, 2001 attacks, AT&T Local Services restored lost facilities they acquired from the former Teleport Communications Group based there, to 33 Thomas and 811 Tenth Avenue.[6]
Architecture[edit]
The Long Lines Building was designed by architect John Carl Warnecke in the Brutalist style and completed in 1974.[7] Its style has been generally praised, with The New York Times saying it is a rare building of its type in Manhattan that «makes sense architecturally» and that it «blends into its surroundings more gracefully» than any other skyscraper nearby.[8]
Facade[edit]
The exterior walls have no windows (other than the entrance) and are made from precast concrete panels clad with flame-treated textured Swedish granite faces. There are six large protrusions from the rectangular base which house air ducts, stairs and elevators. There is a series of large, protruding ventilation openings on the 10th and 29th floors.[9] William H. Whyte claimed that it features the tallest blank wall in the world.[10][11]
Features[edit]
As it was built to house telephone switching equipment, the average floor height is 18 feet (5.5 m), considerably taller than in an average high-rise. The floors are also unusually strong, designed to carry 200-to-300-pound-force-per-square-foot (9.6 to 14.4 kPa) live loads.[7] It is often described as one of the most secure buildings in America, and was designed to be self-sufficient with its own gas and water supplies along with generation capabilities and protected from nuclear fallout for up to two weeks after a nuclear blast.[2]
The building is a telephone exchange or wire center building which contained three major 4ESS switches[12] used for interexchange (long distance) telephony, two owned by AT&T[13][14] and one formerly owned by Verizon (decommissioned in 2009).[15] It also contains a number of other switches used for competitive local exchange carrier services,[16] but is not used for incumbent local exchange carrier services, and is not a central office.[12] The CLLI code for this facility is NYCMNYBW.[17]
33 Thomas is likely a location of a mass surveillance hub operated by the National Security Agency, codenamed TITANPOINTE.[1] An investigation by The Intercept, and in a documentary short film by Henrik Moltke and Laura Poitras titled Project X, both identified TITANPOINTE by drawing on the surveillance disclosures of Edward Snowden. The investigation ties the facility to a nearby Federal Bureau of Investigation building, and its rooftop equipment to NSA’s SKIDROWE satellite intelligence system.[18][1]
In popular culture[edit]
- In the 1979 conspiracy satire film Winter Kills, 33 Thomas is depicted as the headquarters of a global surveillance operation run by John Cerruti, played by Anthony Perkins.
- Teju Cole refers to Long Lines in his first novel, Open City, about New York.
- Long Lines appears in season 3 of the TV show Mr. Robot as a bank records storage facility of E Corp.
- The building prominently appears in The X-Files episode «This».
- It is the building where Clive Owen, playing detective Sal Frieland, works in the 2018 Netflix movie Anon.
- The building has been cited as inspiration for the Oldest House, the setting of the video game Control by Remedy Entertainment.[19]
See also[edit]
- 375 Pearl Street
- Project Offices
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Gallagher, Ryan; Moltke, Henrik (November 16, 2016). «Titanpointe: The NSA’s Spy Hub in New York, Hidden in Plain Sight». The Intercept. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
- ^ a b «New York Scrapers – International Style III». Great Gridlock.net. Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
- ^ «MTA Neighborhood Maps: Lower Manhattan» (PDF). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
- ^ Weiss, Lois. «Rudins». AllBusiness.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
- ^ United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce (1992). Review of Telephone Network Reliability and Service Quality Standards. pp. iv to v.
- ^ «WTC Tenant Relocation Summary». TenantWise. Archived from the original on March 20, 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
- ^ a b «AT&T Long Lines Building». Emporis. Archived from the original on August 15, 2004. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
- ^ Goldberger, Paul (October 8, 1982). «The TriBeCa Scene: Architecture, Restaurants and Bargain Hunting; The TriBeCa Scene: The Flavor Is Found in the Architecture». The New York Times. p. C1.
- ^ «AT&T Long Lines Building». New York Architecture Images. Archived from the original on August 7, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
- ^ Roberts, Sam (February 20, 1989). «Urban Dance: Choreographing The City Streets; New York pedestrians, an expert says, ‘walk fast and they walk adroitly’«. The New York Times. p. B1.
- ^ White, Norval & Willensky, Elliot (2000). AIA Guide to New York City (4th ed.). New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 978-0-8129-3107-5., p. 76
- ^ a b Morris, John (July 21, 2009). «The Most Reclusive Building Downtown». Goodnight Raleigh. Archived from the original on June 9, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
It’s a long distance exchange … and not a CO, and houses three of the largest telephony switches ever created – 4ESS…..
- ^ «33 Thomas Street, owned by AT&T». Cylex Business Directory. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ^ «33 Thomas St, New York, NY 10007, owned by AT&T». Yahoo listing. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ^ «Retirement and Removal of Verizon Broadway 4ESS Tandem (NYCMNYBW21T)]» (PDF). Verizon. December 8, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 1, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
CLEC, IXC, IEC, wireless and paging carriers …
- ^ «PUBLIC NOTICE OF NETWORK CHANGE UNDER RULE 51.329(A)» (PDF). Verizon. November 9, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 1, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
33 Thomas St (tandem) NYCMNYBW21T … CLEC IXC, IEC, wireless and paging carriers will need to secure new trunk groups
- ^ «Search for Switches by (partial) CLLI Code». Telcodata.US. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
- ^ Dwyer, Jim (November 17, 2016). «National Security Agency Said to Use Manhattan Tower as Listening Post». The New York Times.
- ^ Wilson, Ewan (September 3, 2019). «Remedy’s Control is built on concrete foundations». Eurogamer. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
External links[edit]
This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 20 June 2019, and does not reflect subsequent edits.
- Emporis listing
Mystery of massive New York building with no windows built to survive nuclear apocalypse
A strange building in New York City that is 40 floors tall has perplexed users on social media. The eerie and unpleasant structure stands out from those nearby, drawing the attention of many confused onlookers.
Users on social media are baffled by a weird 40-floor structure in New York City. Many perplexed passersby are drawn to the strange and uncomfortable structure since it stands out among the others in the area.
Social media users encounter the creepy tower over and again every few years. In 2017, even Tom Hanks tweeted, «This is the scariest building I’ve ever seen!» WTF happens inside? Crazy rumors about what lies behind its doors range from a vampire office to the Men in Black headquarters on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This week, videos of the structure were posted on Twitter and Reddit, prompting speculation over what might be within. One user wrote: «Gives off MI-6 vibes,» while another quipped: «Lizard people don’t need windows.»
For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
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Image:
Getty Images)
The primary function of the structure would not be to shield people from harmful radiation during nuclear conflict. Instead, the fortified skyscraper would protect sophisticated switchboards, wires, and computers, according to The Intercept.
The world’s largest center for processing long-distance phone calls, run by the New York Telephone Company, an AT&T affiliate, would be housed there, making it one of the most significant telecommunications hubs in the United States.
The structure was created by the architectural company John Carl Warnecke & Associates, whose lofty goal was to develop a communication hub resembling a «20th century fortress, with spears and arrows replaced by protons and neutrons laying quiet siege to an army of machines within,» according to The Intercept.
The skyscraper’s construction started in 1969, and it was finished in 1974. It is now a massive, gray structure made of concrete and granite that rises 550 feet into the New York skyline at 33 Thomas Street, in the center of lower Manhattan.
(
Image:
Getty Images)
The brutalist building is unique to others in the area and is still utilized by AT&T, who, according to the New York Department of Finance, owns it. It is impossible to see inside 33 Thomas Street, unlike the other nearby residences and offices. There are no windows, and the structure is not lit, as intended by the creators.
It is common practice to conceal the existence of a facility that houses essential telecommunications equipment from the general public. 33 Thomas Street, however, is unique: According to The Intercept’s study, the building serves as more than just a hub for long-distance calls. It also looks to be one of the most significant NSA surveillance locations on American soil, a clandestine monitoring center that is used to intercept phone calls, faxes, and internet traffic.
According to a former AT&T engineer, 33 Thomas Street houses a significant international «gateway switch» that handles call routing between the United States and other nations.
New York is a vibrant city. You probably have heard, it never sleeps. And as Frank said again and again: «If you can make it here you can make it anywhere.»
It’s a concrete jungle where dreams are made. More than 8.5 million people from all over the world call the Big Apple home, and another 60 million or so visit it every year.
That happens for a good reason: no matter what you love or which are your interests – art, food, architecture, photography, shopping, sightseeing, theater, music, romance, adventure, exploration – New York is the place where you can find it all and much more.
It’s a new surprise on every corner, every day. It’s a dream in every heart. Just have your eyes and sensibility open. In New York you can learn a new thing every single day. In New York you can make your dream come true. So, why not give it a try?
If you think about a modern building , the thing that would instantly come into mind are skyscrapers with large glass windows that are extremely appealing to the eye. This, however, is not the case of one very unique building in New York. The building at 33 Thomas St., New York.
So what makes the 33 Thomas St., building in New York extremely different from the other metal skyscrapers in the Big Apple? Well, for one, it does not bare a single window.
Yes, that’s right, a commercial building that does not give its workers or residents a view at all. Although it is an odd concept for a building, the previous company that owned it had a legit reason for making it that way.
The building with no windows, a past AT&T HQ
The building was owned by the company AT&T back in 1974 by the architect John Carl Warnecke. AT&T asked Warnecke to create a building for them that was secure enough to protect their expensive technology in case of a nuclear blast. It is said that the structure could even survive for more than 2 weeks after a fallout.
Well, it looks like Warnecke delivered what AT&T asked for.
Looking like a modern fortress as it stands out from all the skyscrapers.
Previously, the skyscraper was called Long Lines Building. The reason behind this was AT&T housed all of their solid-state switches and their long distance phone company lines in the building, thus the name Long Lines. The building might look like it could have more than 40 floors but in reality. it only has 29 floors.
Air vents can be seen on the side of the building.
Each floor of the building is 18 feet high and was also designed to bare extreme heavy weights. But today the building is no longer operated by AT&T although it is still used by some local phone companies for telephone switching as well as high security datacenters. It is also no longer named as Long Lines Building instead it has been named accordingly to the street at where it is located.
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