Some buildings are “all of the above” in terms of their architectural details and array of materials. That was the case with today’s “Throwback Thursday” profile: the MacIntyre Building (R. H. Robertson, 1892). SUPERSTRUCTURES’ restoration of the structure was honored with a Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award in 2010.

Designed as an office building in a unique rendition of the Romanesque Revival style, it became a residential co-op. The AIA's Guide to New York City characterized its style as "Unspeakable eclectic: a murmuration of Byzantine columns, Romanesque arches, Gothic finials and crockets . . . the whole arsenal of history in one shot." Its facade features a rich palette of masonry, with windows framed in cast iron and wood, and a clay tile and copper roof. So, it’s no wonder that SUPERSTRUCTURES’ restoration of the building’s facade and roof presented multiple challenges.

The structure’s exterior masonry includes blocks, panels, polished columns, and carved ornaments in terra cotta, limestone, bluestone, granite, and marble. Each material presented a variety of deteriorated conditions, requiring various repair methods: pinning, patching, crack injection repairs, and replacement in kind. Whenever possible, the original materials were conserved in situ. Where masonry had deteriorated beyond repair, molds were made, and new cast stone units were installed.

The building’s bricks were laid with “butter” joints, challenging for modern masons to repoint. SUPERSTRUCTURES required each mason to submit a mock-up panel for approval, and only four craftsmen were cleared to perform the repointing work.

For the roof restoration, 15 domestic manufacturers of clay tile were vetted, with Ludowici providing tiles that closely matched the original in size and finish. Because the tiles were attached to an original gypsum concrete roof deck, which is softer than more modern materials, pull tests were conducted for five different types of fasteners to determine which would be most effective.

The copper spire, like many components of the building, had deteriorated beyond an elegant patina. The original fabric was retained where possible, with new copper integrated when necessary. Due to the difficulty of accessing the spire, a copper patina-colored waterproofing coating was applied to guard against future water infiltration.

Following tests on each type of material, the entire facade was cleaned. Some terra cotta elements had been partially de-glazed, so a special coating was applied to preserve and protect the porous material from the elements.

SUPERSTRUCTURES, Skyline Restoration, the MacIntyre Building’s owner, and other project participants worked closely with the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to ensure that this restoration was appropriate to the building and its context in the Ladies Mile Historic District. We’re proud to have preserved a historic structure described by the New York Times as an “exuberant architectural gateway.”