Location: Park Avenue to Lexington Avenue, East 66th Street to East 67th Street, Upper East Side, New York, NY
Landmark Status: NYC Individual Landmark, National Historic Landmark
Original Architect: Charles W. Clinton
Date of Construction: 1877-1879
Date of Restoration: 2006-Present
Scope of Work: Full Building Renovation & Alteration, Masonry Repair & Reconstruction, Roofing Replacement, Sheet Metal Cornice Replacement, Metal Railing Restoration
Walter B. Melvin Architects, LLC was engaged in 2006 as part of a multidisciplinary team to design the renovation and alteration of the re-imagined Park Avenue Armory. Now home to a progressive visual and performing arts program, the landmark Armory was built across an entire city block in 1877-79 for New York State’s Seventh Regiment of the National Guard. It is composed of a cavernous drill hall and highly decorative company rooms, and enclosed by massive masonry walls detailed in an Italianate manner.
As exterior restoration consultant, WBMA assessed the condition of the building envelope, identified points of water infiltration, and developed a phased scope that ensures a long-term restoration, meets the new programmatic demands of the spaces, and fits within the budgetary constraints of the project. The firm also provided technical support in evaluating the design direction of possible alteration schemes.
Several phases of the exterior restoration have been completed. These include the reconstruction of various parapets and corners to address deteriorated and cracked brickwork; the cleaning, repointing, and repairing of the brick and stone masonry; the replacement of the clerestory sheet metal cornice and gutter to address active leaks and coordinate with window replacement; the roofing and flashing replacement of selected areas with a variety of membrane waterproofing solutions; and the restoration and resetting of shifted granite planter curbs in connection with the restoration of the associated metal railings.
Additional work is anticipated over the next few years to ensure the preservation of this historic structure while adapting it to better serve in its role as a premier cultural institution.
Principal Martin has worked in the architecture and construction industry for over 30 years, including 26 years at WBMA specializing in the assessment and repair of exterior envelopes. He has overseen several award-winning restoration projects including St. Paul’s Chapel – Columbia University, 451 Broome Street, Liberty Tower and Alwyn Court, as well as restoration projects at Louis Sullivan’s Bayard-Condict Building, the Cosmopolitan Club, several City parks and residential cooperatives. Martin is well versed in the myriad building materials that have been used in the northeast and has extensive experience assessing and restoring a variety of masonry and roofing systems. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and is a Registered Architect in New York State.
Education
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Architecture
Professional Registration
Registered Architect in the State of New York
Principal Martin has worked in the architecture and construction industry for over 30 years, including 26 years at WBMA specializing in the assessment and repair of exterior envelopes. He has overseen several award-winning restoration projects including St. Paul’s Chapel – Columbia University, 451 Broome Street, Liberty Tower and Alwyn Court, as well as restoration projects at Louis Sullivan’s Bayard-Condict Building, the Cosmopolitan Club, several City parks and residential cooperatives. Martin is well versed in the myriad building materials that have been used in the northeast and has extensive experience assessing and restoring a variety of masonry and roofing systems. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and is a Registered Architect in New York State.
Education
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Architecture
Professional Registration
Registered Architect in the State of New York
With over 19 years of experience in the field, Sergio has been instrumental in the successful restoration, repair, and continued maintenance of numerous historic structures in New York City and beyond. 13 of those years have been at WBMA, where he has taken a detailed and methodical approach to his projects. Some of his noteworthy ongoing projects include Casa Italiana, Columbia University; The Osborne; 100 Hudson Street; 525 Park Avenue; 130 East End Avenue; and 300 West 108th Street. Previous award-winning projects include 131 Duane Steet – the Hope Building, 451 Broome Street, Donald Judd Home & Studio, and Marymount School of New York. He is a Registered Architect in the States of New York and New Jersey. Originally from Puerto Rico, Sergio received his Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania and Bachelor of Architecture with a Minor in Architectural History from Carnegie Mellon University.
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Master of Science in Historic Preservation
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor of Architecture
Minor in Architectural History
Registered Architect in the States of New York and New Jersey
Principal Martin has worked in the architecture and construction industry for over 30 years, including 26 years at WBMA specializing in the assessment and repair of exterior envelopes. He has overseen several award-winning restoration projects including St. Paul’s Chapel – Columbia University, 451 Broome Street, Liberty Tower and Alwyn Court, as well as restoration projects at Louis Sullivan’s Bayard-Condict Building, the Cosmopolitan Club, several City parks and residential cooperatives. Martin is well versed in the myriad building materials that have been used in the northeast and has extensive experience assessing and restoring a variety of masonry and roofing systems. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and is a Registered Architect in New York State.
Education
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Architecture
Professional Registration
Registered Architect in the State of New York
With 35 years of professional experience at WBMA, Robert has overseen restoration projects at many of New York City’s premier institutions, including The Met Cloisters, Donald Judd Home and Studio, Green-Wood Cemetery and Riverside Church, as well as McKim Mead and White’s 998 Fifth Avenue and William Tuthill’s Schinasi Mansion at 351 Riverside Drive. A graduate of Lehigh University, Robert is a Registered Architect in the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, as well as a member of the American Institute of Architects. He has a strong understanding of traditional building materials and has developed many new restoration techniques over the years. Robert has published articles on waterproofing of historic masonry walls, restoration of cast iron, and roofing replacement.
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
Bachelor of Art in Architecture
Registered Architect in the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
