This 1907 Beaux Arts icon is defined by its lavish interior and features a soaring and glowing atrium ceiling. Water infiltration, humidity and temperature extremes had been unsympathetic to the historic fabric, including the skylight and many of the decorative elements. The skylight consists of two arched glazed panels with a 3-foot space in between. For the outer skylight the design involved removal of the old glazing system and replacement with new laminated glass within an aluminum frame, replication of the copper ridge ventilator, as well as the replacement of the drainage system and access walkway. For the ornamental inner “laylight”, the design involved the restoration of extant glass, replacement of missing or broken glass, rehabilitation of structural steel and decorative bronze work. Within the interstitial space between the two, we designed a new climate control system to ensure a safe temperature and humidity range. Urbahn’s design also included the restoration of the hand painted faux marble plaster cornices and lunette friezes.
