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 Neo-Classical 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
Northeast
Court Square Parking Garage
Set in the urban area of Court Square, the new 193-space parking garage was scheduled to be built following the demolition of an existing structure. SGH was prime consultant, function designer, and structural engineer of record for the project.
Northeast
275 Wyman Street
SGH was the structural engineer for the five-story office building, plaza structure, and parking garage, and also consulted on the building enclosure and plaza waterproofing.