Last night, the AIA New York Chapter / Center for Architecture took over the West 4th Street subway station for the opening of their New York Now architecture showcase. Elemental Architecture’s historic reconstruction of New York City Landmark Gothic Revival building, Shepard Hall at the City College of New York, is among the work featured in the exhibit.
New York Now includes work of all type and scale – small, large, commercial, residential, public, private, interiors, historic preservation, engineering, landscape and urban design – presenting the scope and quality of projects by Chapter members in New York City today. This high-visibility exhibition offers a snapshot of where we are at this moment and celebrates the diversity of the Chapter’s membership.
The exhibit runs through the end of October. For additional information and online slideshow of work featured, click here.
Along with the recently unearthed entry stairs a major portion of the original entry wall has been unearthed. Following inspection, the team is now evaluating how this remnant of the original entry can be incorporated into the reconstruction. The wall, constructed of Manhattan schist likely from the building site, was buried under fill during a mid-twentieth century alteration. As part of the reconstruction efforts to the entire building, a new entry in keeping with George Post’s original entry is being created. Stay tuned for continued updates from the field.
As demolition and excavation progress continues for the newly designed building entry, a startling discovery: the original entry stairs built in 1907, long believed to have been demolished, are found buried under earthwork fill below the recently removed concrete ramp. Along with the stairs a significant portion of original schist stone wall is also uncovered. Elemental and the construction team are now evaluating if portions of the original elements can be incorporated into the new entry design.
The 9th & 10th phases of the award-winning historic reconstruction of Shepard Hall at the City College of New York has officially begun. The project, which includes the replacement of nearly 8,000 pieces of failing terra cotta sculpture ornament with new glass-fiber reinforced concrete replacement units and a new main entrance to the building, is expected to be complete by May 2011. Stay tuned for regular construction progress updates from the field.
Elemental co-founders Carl Stein, FAIA & Tom Abraham, AIA give tours of the Great Hall at Shepard Hall, The City College of New York, as part of the annual Open House New York Architectural Tour program. The $12.8 million restoration of the 14,000 sf Great Hall includes the introduction of modern, state of the art acoustic and lighting systems which make the grand assembly space available for a wide variety of programs ranging from lectures and musical performances to commercial film and television shoots. The work also included the refurbishment of twelve sixty-foot stained glass windows, extensive repair of the elaborate decorative plaster and woodwork, and newly designed limestone floor and new control booth. The restoration was the recipient of the Lucy G. Moses Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy, one of the nation’s most prestigious preservation awards.
Architect George Post’s neo-gothic confection at City College “would be almost impossible to conceive of today,” says architect Carl Stein, who recently completed a two-decade restoration that uses modern technology and materials while remaining faithful to Post’s artistic vision. The University celebrated the centennial of Post’s collection of buildings in 2007.
