Herald Tower, 50 West 34th Street, New York, NY

Historic Façade Restoration

Herald Towers is a 26- story high, E-shaped building that was constructed in 1912 and occupies the western corner lot extending from 34th Street to 33rd Street and Broadway on the west. The structure was originally constructed as a hotel and then transformed into apartments addressing college graduate students.

The building facade consists of limestone on brick backup from grade to x floor with balconies and balustrades. The facade from x to x floor consist of brick laid in an ornamental pattern. The facade from x floor to the top of the main roof consists of recessed portions with terra cotta columns and glazed terra cotta units with colored figurines. The top of the parapet consists of cornice with terra cotta brackets.

The building exhibited extensive cracking at terra cotta units at top colonnade, window surrounds, window sills and horizontal bands within the voids of the E configuration. Vertical cracking at brick building corners and deteriorated brick at window lintels existed through the facade.

Diaz Architect & Associates P.C. was asked to design the restoration of the facade which consisted minimally of:

• Replacement of terra cotta column units, window surrounds and window sills with cast stone units
• Replacement of terra cotta water table bands with fiberglass replacement units with steel substructure truss.
• Replacement of brick at corners by exposing column and waterproofing and providing multi-wythe brick replacement with vertical expansion joints
• Replacement of brick and steel lintels with proper flashing
• Replacement of the brick parapet in isolated conditions
• Patching limestone facade with limestone patching and limestone Dutchman