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

Project Summary

Icon: completion-date

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

Michael Louis
Senior Principal

Additional Projects

Northeast

LaGuardia Airport, Airfield Configuration Program

LaGuardia Airport and Delta Airlines determined Terminals C and D had exceeded their useful life and were undersized for future needs. SGH consulted on the building enclosure for the new terminal, featuring glass curtain wall and metal wall panels.
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Northeast

Unionport Bridge

During construction of an approach span to a new bascule bridge, New York City Department of Transportation questioned the finishing procedures and long-term durability of the concrete bridge deck.
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