The Century Association
All Work | The Century Association
The Century Association
New York, New York
Scope
Designed by the notable architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White, this NYC landmarked building was constructed in 1891 to house the prestigious Century Association, an organization of artists, authors, and amateurs of letters and fine arts. The exterior of the Italian Renaissance-style building, a masterful composition of stone, brick, terra-cotta, and wrought iron, had become obscured by a century of soot, grime and deterioration.
Working under a tight schedule during the club’s summer closing, JHPA began the project with an existing conditions survey of the exterior facade. We then conducted extensive tests of various masonry cleaning procedures. A detailed paint analysis determined the original color of the wrought iron balustrades and grills, enabling the return to the building’s intended appearance. The work also included the repointing of masonry joints and the replacement of deteriorated terra-cotta ornamentation. JHPA’s restoration of the Century Association facade revealed subtle details of the design’s refined treatment of color and material. For the outstanding quality of the work, the project received the Arthur Ross Award from Classical America.
Following upon the earlier work, JHPArchitects PC more recently restored the dining room level balcony and principal façade stone and terra cotta parapet.