A New York City Landmark Building Receives a Well-executed Facade Restoration

2nd Place, Exterior

55 Reade Street, New York, is a transitional Italianate/French Second Empire cast iron building and an individual New York City landmark. It fell under State Historic Preservation Office jurisdiction because the client sought historic tax credits.

Designed by noted architect John B. Snook for the estate of whole grocer and tobacco mer- chant Stephen Storm, the building’s slate-clad mansard roof topped by iron cresting signified the prestige of this commercial structure.

The comprehensive restoration work included repair and replacement of missing and deteriorated cast-iron elements, including decorative columns, capitals and cornices; restoration and re-creation of deteriorated sheet metal dormers; replacement of damaged slate roofing; and replacement of arched wood windows and wood storefronts.

CTS Group Architecture/Planning PA assessed all building conditions guiding the selective repair and replacement and recorded existing details of all features, which served as the basis of the replication of missing and severely damaged features. Scientific paint sampling provided the basis for repainting of existing and new cast-iron and wood elements. New wood windows were fabricated based on detailed field drawings, and the decorative iron cresting was replicated from remnant pieces found on the site.

Retrofit Team

METAMORPHOSIS AWARD WINNER and RESTORATION ARCHITECT: CTS Group Architecture/Planning PA

• David Abramson
• Brian Compertore
• William Slack, principal in charge

ARCHITECT: Greenberg Farrow

CAST IRON RESTORATION CONTRACTOR: InDetail LLC, (347) 971-2233

Materials

CUSTOM SHEET METAL AND CAST IRON INSULATED WOOD WINDOWS: Caoba Doors