Art deco dame restored to former glory with a $20m renovation

Real Estate Weekly, Feb 16, 2005

When the devastating attacks occurred on September 11, 2001; Merritt Engineering Consultants, P.C. was in the process of monitoring the facade restoration project they specified for the 75-year old, landmark designated Verizon building at 140 West Street.

This building is one of Verizon's critical communications hubs, responsible for telecommunication services for downtown Manhattan including Wall Street. The location of this building, (just north of the World Trade Center site and west of WTC 7), which was formerly one of the Verizon's biggest assets, became its greatest liability. When the buildings collapsed; columns from the towers were driven through the facade of this 33 story art deco structure and the mountains of debris descended upon the building, burying the lower portions of the ornate facades.

Merritt Engineering immediately began the daunting task of assessing the damage, determining the critical areas to be repaired and developing plans and specifications for a far greater restoration project, all under extraordinary circumstances.

Merritt delivered contract documents within three months to repair the damage, which resulted from the attacks, as well as to restore the building to its original glory when first opened in 1926. In coordination with the construction manager (Tishman Interiors Corp.), restoration resumed immediately after approval was given by authorities to return to the site.

Merritt Engineering's efforts included: specifying and monitoring the replacement\re-pointing of large sections of the brick masonry, replacement of many of the ornate limestone units throughout the facade and numerous parapet walls on the building's 18 setbacks, as well as replacement of the granite panels at the ground floor level. Merritt coordinated the approval process with the NYC Landmarks Conservancy to ensure that an appropriate match for all of the above masonry and mortar was utilized.

Full window replacement on all four elevations, including three-story monumental windows at the 30th floor, was required as well as repair and replacement of the two-story bronze ornamental store-front windows at the ground floor level. To further waterproof this magnificent structure, Merritt is currently supervising the replacement of the roof systems at several setbacks and the main roof. The large number of HVAC units and associated piping at the main roof make the roof replacement quite a challenge; however Merritt's experience with similar projects and foresight have helped eliminate potential pitfalls. The firm is currently overseeing the final stages of this massive project which is scheduled to be completed this year. As Verizon employees begin to re-occupy this structure; they are welcomed into a revitalized building whose original beauty and strength has been restored similar to the revitalized spirit of its occupants.

In addition to commercial clients like Verizon; Merritt Engineering also provides facade and roof restoration services for numerous coops\condominiums, hospitals, schools and industrial facilities through out the tri-state area. Presently they are conducting Local Law 11-98 6th cycle facade inspections. The firm also represents many financial institutions by preparing Property Condition Assessments and Phase I Environmental Site Assesments (ESA's).