Silman has also been working on the assessment and repair strategy for the exterior envelope, including the stone base and balustrade around the north waiting room, the brick cladding at the tower, and the terra cotta detailing at the 12th floor Juliet balconies and roofline cornice.
Silman is providing structural engineering services for this historic renovation project, part of the Ford Motor Company’s new transportation innovation development. Originally constructed in 1912 and designed by Warren & Wetmore and Reed & Stem, the firm also credited with designing New York’s Grand Central Terminal, the building consists of a train station and 18-story office tower.
Renovation scope includes four distinct work areas, including the office tower, main waiting room with Guastavino tile vaults, concourse and site structures, and un-excavated below-grade areas. The office tower will be adaptively reused as a boutique hotel.
Work to-date has included on-site review of existing conditions via swing stages and Fraco mast climbers, identification and completion of a probe campaign, analysis of on-site findings and material testing, and the development of repair packages.