Former Tiffany & Co. Building

The Tiffany and Company Building is a historic commercial building at 401 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York. It was built for Tiffany and Company, whose headquarters it served until 1950. Designed by Stanford White of McKim, Mead, and White, its design is inspired by the Palazzo Grimani di San Luca in Venice, Italy. The building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1978 for its association with Tiffany, one of the world's leading jewelry firms.

Location

New York, New York

Architect & Date

McKim, Mead & White, 1900

Client

Beyer Blinder Belle Architects

Services Provided

ICR developed a conservation program for the exterior marble which included contractor training for implementation.

Exterior marble conservation and repair design and quality control:
• Conditions survey
• Design & execution of laboratory & in-situ testing programs
• Implementation of cleaning & repair mock-ups
• Consolidation testing on marble
• Mortar analysis
• Development of non-destructive cleaning methods
• Development of conservation repair methods & materials
• Contractor training in conservation repairs techniques
• Quality control of conservation scope of work

ICR was given the task of developing a conservation program for the exterior marble of the former Tiffany & Co. building.  The building is an eight-story marble building with highly ornate cornices, Corinthian columns, and classical elements.  ICR was involved in the entire restoration process—from the design of the scope of work to its implementation. ICR designed and implemented a testing program to develop the methods and materials for the building’s conservation.  Laboratory testing included mortar analysis and consolidation testing on the marble.  The efficacy of the consolidants was evaluated by measuring alterations in water vapor transmission rates, color, and indirect tensile strength.  In-situ tests included non-destructive cleaning tests, in-situ consolidation testing, and repair mock-ups.  These mock-ups allowed ICR to help develop well defined cost estimating for all phases of the marble conservation and repair.  ICR/ICC also trained the contractor in conservation repairs and techniques and provided quality control of the conservation scope of work.