The insertion of a sub-cellar beneath the City Council side of the structure required preserving the existing structure and historic fabric above the new sub-cellar while maintaining occupancy at various stages.
Photo credit: Kristina Hoeppner / CC BY-SA 2.0.
- Photo credit: Kristina Hoeppner / CC BY-SA 2.0.
New York’s City Hall, one of the United States’ oldest government buildings, has been in continuous use since its completion in 1812. The building houses the offices of the Mayor, the City Council Chamber, the office of the City Council, and the offices of the Public Design Commission. City Hall had undergone numerous renovations and modifications over the years without an integrated approach.
Silman was a member of the design team that was commissioned to develop preservation design principles to guide efforts to restore its significant historic fabric and spaces, insert new mechanical and electrical systems, and sensitively integrate improvements in a way that was appropriate to the historic context of the building. The effort unified a series of individual projects into a comprehensive program that included infrastructure, renovation, life safety, and sustainability upgrades. The major scope of work included the insertion of a sub-cellar.
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The insertion of a sub-cellar beneath the City Council side of the structure required preserving the existing structure and historic fabric above the new sub-cellar while maintaining occupancy at various stages.
