New York, NY
Grand Central Terminal
Scope/Solutions
Constructed between 1903 and 1913 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Grand Central Terminal is a monumental Beaux-Arts Neoclassical building designed by Warren & Wetmore. As part of a major renovation, SGH investigated roof and skylight leakage and general material degradation.
After thorough investigation, including extensive sampling and water testing, SGH developed a rehabilitation program for the roofs and skylights to address:
- Fractured copper roofing as a result of thermal expansion/contraction that was not accommodated by the original design details
- Decades of “mastic” repairs that compromised ornamental copper details
- Broken skylight glass and skylights that were still partially covered with “black-out” building paper, a relic of World War II air raid precautions
We prepared plans and specifications, monitored the construction, and developed quality control inspection procedures for the repairs that included:
- Restoration of the rooftop stamped copper frieze with the installation of a concealed waterproofing membrane inside the copper enclosure to preserve the important ornamental element without sacrificing the building’s watertight integrity
- In-kind replacement of the batten seam copper roofing incorporating proper movement joints to ensure reliable and durable performance
- Replacement of skylight glazing to restore the light transmission of the original skylight, while providing impact resistance, condensation control, and energy efficiency consistent with current standards
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Project Summary
1986
Completion Date
Solutions
Repair & Rehabilitation | Preservation
Services
Building Enclosures | Applied Science & Research
Markets
Infrastructure & Transportation
Client(s)
Lee Harris Pomeroy Architects, PC
Specialized Capabilities
Condition Assessments | Preservation | Facades & Glazing | Roofing & Waterproofing | Environmental Simulations
Key team members
Additional Projects
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Suspended Concrete Ceiling Removal over Massachusetts Turnpike
As the ceiling reached the end of its useful life, SGH designed a demolition plan and observed its removal over a period of several months.
Northeast
Providence Place Mall Parking Garages
The garages exhibited chronic, premature cracking and spalling of the concrete around precast double-tee flange-to-flange connections as well as other common parking structure deterioration and distress. SGH assessed the condition of the garages and designed remedial work.