Historic Preservation

A Replacement Detail

by Don Friedman on April 5, 2012

We’ve shown a few old details that we like, but of course we also design new details to repair or replace the old.

We’re still working on that large facade project, and our detail for a new outrigger system to support an upper-floor water-table has been installed.

The spandrel beam is on the right, with some interesting bolt patterns at the interior connections; the wood is shoring holding up the masonry above the removal area off the masonry below the removal area, and the shiny things are our new stainless-steel brackets. The horizontal portion will carry new terra cotta blocks for the replacement water-table; the verticals are present to engage more of the spandrel than just the web to cary the cantilevered horizontals.

 

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Preservation Engineering at Manhattan College

February 21, 2012

Preservation Engineering is being taught as a new course this semester at Manhattan College, as part of what we hope will become a masters degree program within the Civil Engineering department. Pat Morrissey (Conspec) recruited interested preservation professionals through a LinkedIn website to participate in establishing a course at his alma mater. After several meetings [...]

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Temporary Bracing

February 14, 2012

We are currently working on combining two brownstones to create one very large single family residential home on the Upper West Side. The buildings have landmarked facades which we will preserve while creating a new steel framed building within the existing facade. The existing party wall dividing the two lots will be removed to create [...]

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A Site Visit

August 8, 2011

We’ve just begun investigation work on Bow Bridge in Central Park. Shaquana Lovell was fortunate to have a nice day to pull the floating platform into position to see the bridge underside. Click on the pictures to enlarge.

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Failure Portrait 1

July 7, 2011

We spend a lot of time with the issue of masonry veneer separation. During investigation, we look for signs that veneer has separated from the back-up masonry. In reports, we warn of the potential for veneer failure. In discussion with clients, we recommend pinning or otherwise stabilizing veneer. Sometimes we actually see the failure that [...]

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West Park Presbyterian Church

July 5, 2011

We are proud to be part of the team starting on the long-term restoration of the West Park Presbyterian Church. The link leads to the New York Landmarks Conservancy web page describing their advocacy and role in promoting the restoration of this beautiful building. The fourth picture in the NYLC page slideshow is Don, in [...]

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Historic Structural Detail 2

June 20, 2011

Even when dealing with large and unsubtle structure, small details often provide important information. The picture below shows the underside of a floor in a loft building constructed in the 1920s. (Some tenant decided that dark gray paint would look nice.) Given that New York is full of concrete-encased steel floor beams, the question comes [...]

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NYC Media

June 13, 2011

The official New York City website has a section called “NYC Media” that includes short video clips on various topics of interest to city residents. In the “Life” section is a subsection called “Blueprint | NYC” that contains videos on various landmarks. It began with City Hall and Gracie Mansion but has since moved on [...]

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Historic Structural Detail 1

May 31, 2011

In the course of building investigation, we see a lot of details that are no longer used. From time to time, we’ll post one here. Cast iron columns were to some extent mass-produced, but the casting process allowed for easy customization. In the picture below, the beam seat that is cast integrally with the square [...]

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“Bannerman’s Island”

May 23, 2011

One of our projects was given a slide show on the New York Times website yesterday. In unromantic terms, Pollepel Island has the ruins of an abandoned military-supply business, including the home of the business’s owner, Francis Bannerman, but it’s hard to discuss the island in those terms. To anyone who’s ever seen the island [...]

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