Broad Exchange Building 25 Broad Street Facade and Window Restoration New York, New York

When it was completed in 1902, the Broad Exchange Building was the largest office building in America, with the highest estimated real estate value in Manhattan. De- signed by the architectural firm Clinton & Russell, the Financial District landmark is a tripartite composition, with a three-story granite base, a fourteen-story shaft of brick with terra cotta trim, and a three-story capital of terra cotta, with a copper cornice. At the heart of the Manhattan Financial District, 25 Broad is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been desig- nated a New York City Landmark. In 1997, office space was converted into condominiums, with the residential portion of the building thereafter referred to as “the Ex- change at 25 Broad.”

Hoffmann Architects’ involvement with the Broad Ex- change Building began with a facade investigation pursu- ant to New York City Local Law 11 of 1998. Our archi- tects prepared and filed a report with the Department of Buildings and developed a scope of work for emer- gency stabilization.

Over the years, some of the building’s characteristic architectural features had either deteriorated or been removed deliberately, altering the appearance of the fa- cade and roofline. Previous efforts to address deteriora- tion at 25 Broad used materials that were incompatible with the existing structure and, often, did not match the aesthetic qualities of the original building. An initial investigation revealed severe dete- rioration of the existing terra cotta. Using photographic documentation found in archives, Hoffmann Architects designed replicas of lost elements, restoring the decorative features and profile of the building as it first appeared in 1902. The restoration design remediated faulty repairs and corrected poor workmanship and incorrect material selection, resolving building envelope distress while meet- ing stringent guidelines for the treatment of historic properties.

The comprehensive facade restoration included repair of damaged granite, terra cotta, limestone, and brick; masonry reconstruction; copper cornice repairs; parapet reconstruction; lintel rebuilding; restoration of reinforcing steel elements; mortar joint repointing; sealant system replacement; wood window restoration; cast iron spandrel panel and pier restoration; and facade cleaning. Facade re- pairs were designed not only to address the water-tightness and stability of the building, but also to restore the aesthetic of the original design.

Sensitive restoration of the historic structure was critical to preserving the rich architectural tapestry of one of the most prominent financial centers of the world. Given this challenge, the project team was committed to achieving restoration that not only protected against the effects of deterioration and stress, but which also resurrected original design elements that had been lost over time.

Hoffmann Architects Specialists in the Rehabilitation of Building Exteriors