Four DDC Projects in Manhattan and Queens Receive Lucy G. Moses Award for Historic Preservation

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Four DDC Projects in Manhattan and Queens Receive Lucy G. Moses Award for Historic Preservation

DDC: Shoshana Khan, 718-391-1251, khanSho@ddc.nyc.gov

(Long Island, NY – May 12, 2020) Commissioner Lorraine Grillo of the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced today that three DDC projects in Manhattan and one in Queens have been selected to receive the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy.

Preservation Awards are given to projects that “demonstrate excellence in the restoration, preservation, or adaptive use of historic buildings, streetscapes, and landscapes that preserve commercial, residential, institutional, religious, and public buildings.” The award ceremony originally scheduled for April has been postponed and will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine on September 23rd.

“The Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award represents DDC’s commitment to preserving the history and great architecture of our City,” said DDC Commissioner Lorraine Grillo. “I want to thank the Landmarks Conservancy for this recognition, and congratulate all the DDC employees whose hard work and attention to detail made this possible.”

The four selected projects include interior and exterior restorative work at the New York State Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, downtown’s Surrogate’s Courthouse and the Sun Building in Manhattan, plus the rehabilitation of the Bachelor Officers’ Quarters in Fort Totten, Queens.

New York State Appellate Division of the Supreme Court’s restored exterior at 27 Madison Avenue

The exterior of the New York State Appellate Division of the Supreme Court at 27 Madison Avenue was designated a City landmark in 1966 and the interior received its’ title in 1981. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

The roofing, walls and flashings were replaced with lead-coated copper and all caulking, sealants and in-kind hardware were replaced. Marble Dutchman repairs were made and all ironwork was repainted on the façades. Various spaces in the basement and cellar, including the mechanical, electrical and plumbing areas, were replaced and new office spaces were installed. A new fuel tank and vent pipe were installed and a new emergency generator is now located in the interior courtyard. Murals located within the lobby and courtroom were cleaned and restored.

The restored skylight above the atrium of the Surrogate’s Court Building at 31 Chambers Street. Photo courtesy of Ola Wilk from Wilk Marketing Communications

The Surrogate’s Court Building at 31 Chambers Street in downtown Manhattan was designated a City landmark for its exterior in 1966 and interior in 1976, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and became a National Historic Landmark in 1977.

DDC’s reconstruction of the building’s historic central atrium skylight included the restoration of the atrium laylight ceiling and plaster lunettes. The heating/ventilation system of the interstitial space between the skylight and the laylight ceiling was fully renovated. Cast iron frames that held 2,100 hexagonal glass blocks on the skylight were all re-cast and new glass blocks with the original historic design markings were installed. Existing perimeter marble cornices were repaired and restored to the original finish.

In 2019, the project received Honorable Mention in the “Project of the Year” category from the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Metro New York/New Jersey Chapter.

The restored façade of the Sun Building at 280 Broadway

The Sun Building at 280 Broadway in Manhattan once housed A. T. Stewart Company Store, the first American department store, and is now home to retail stores and the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). The building became a National Historic Landmark in 1978 and was designated a New York City Landmark in 1986.

DDC’s façade restoration at the Sun Building included stone cleaning, stone and brick repointing, brick and marble replacement and cast iron restoration. The roofing, copper gutters and brick parapet were replaced and new lead-coated copper hoods and cornice covers were installed. The cast iron vault light glazing and skylight glazing were replaced. The wooden windows and storefronts were preserved and repainted. The iconic exterior clock and thermometer were refurbished.

Repairs were made to the exterior of the Bachelor Officers’ Quarters at 207 Totten Avenue

DDC’s rehabilitation of the historic Bachelor Officers’ Quarters in Fort Totten, Queens included the interior and parts of the exterior that were damaged by animals which took shelter at the property after it was abandoned in 1974.

The fireplace with the original stonework and the hardwood flooring were restored. The ceiling and walls were cleaned and painted. Three bathrooms on the ground floor received new plumbing and a new boiler and water main connection were installed. New wiring and panels were installed to accommodate new, energy efficient lighting.

On the exterior of the building minor repairs were made to the roof and the front porch, and columns were rehabilitated. A new fire alarm and sprinkler system was installed throughout the entirety of the building. The main level was also upgraded to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with the installation of an exterior lift to reach the front porch.

The Center for the Women of New York began using the property for their new headquarters in December 2019.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction

The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $14 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.