The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) has approved proposals to complete ground-floor renovations and lighting enhancements on 32 Avenue of the Americas, a 27-story Art Deco office tower in Tribeca. Completed in 1932 by Ralph Thomas Walker of Voorhees, Gmelin and Walker, the building features a landmarked façade and lobby with extensive mosaic murals by Hildreth Meière.
Rudin Management Company, current owner of the office building, has retained Fogarty Finger to design and complete the proposed enhancements. Scope of work includes the installation of new glass doors and new lighting behind a brass-finned lightbox at the Sixth Avenue entrance. The renderings also illustrate new glass doors and integrated lighting along Church Street.
Existing conditions at 32 Avenue of the Americas, Elevation at 6th Avenue – Rudin Management Company, Fogarty Finger
Existing conditions (left) and proposed alterations (right) at 32 Avenue of the Americas, Elevation at 6th Avenue – Rudin Management Company, Fogarty Finger
Existing conditions at 32 Avenue of the Americas, Elevation at Church Street – Rudin Management Company, Fogarty Finger
Existing conditions (left) and proposed alterations (right) at 32 Avenue of the Americas, Church Street elevation – Rudin Management Company, Fogarty Finger
Existing conditions (left) and proposed alterations (right) at 32 Avenue of the Americas, Church Street elevation – Rudin Management Company, Fogarty Finger
Existing conditions (left) and proposed alterations (right) at 32 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Avenue Entrance – Rudin Management Company; Fogarty Finger
Drawings reveal the installation of additional modern uplights in the floor to supplement the existing wall sconces, which will be relamped. The Sixth Avenue entrance will also receive multiple inlay LED floor strips to illuminate the historic mosaic murals and subway entrance.
Legend illustrates proposed lighting upgrades within the 32 Avenue of the Americas corridor – Rudin Management Company, Fogarty Finger
In voting to approve the proposal, the LPC stipulated that the project team must install horizontal push bars similar to existing conditions and modify the number of lighting installations and level of brightness within the lobby. Once the commissioners receive final drawings for the approved work, a Certificate of Appropriateness allowing the project to break ground will be issued.
Historic photo of 32 Avenue of the Americas – Library of Congress
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Such an impressive and beautiful building.
AKA AT&T Long Lines Building.
A truly wonderful historic building, and it’s a total mistake to modernize the entry doors. Why is this approved? There’s no necessary reason to change the doors other than somebody wanting something modern. It’s a terrible mistake.
And all that crap installed on the roof of this building should be removed as part of the approval?
Not sure this is that big a deal.
Yes, why can’t the ‘new’ doors be closer to the originals..
I agree. While I don’t think it’s that much of a big deal. I do think it’s not in the same character as the original brass doors. They should be refurbished, not rebuilt.
Doors do wear out. My apartment building from the 1950s is on its third set. The thin frames may seem light and airy, but they are more prone to warp than those with wider frames. The older doors have more of a vertical emphasis, an
Art Deco trait, than the proposed new ones.
Knock the building down