Church of the Incarnation
All Work | Church of the Incarnation, New York, NY
Church of the Incarnation
New York, New York
Scope
This Gothic Revival church, with its distinctive corner tower, was designed by Emlen T. Littel and embellished with works by Heins and Lafarge, Tiffany, Morris, St. Gaudens and Burne-Jones. The church building, a New York City individual landmark, was constructed in 1864 using Hudson Valley brownstone for exterior cladding.
The church’s brownstone exterior was severely deteriorated due to the effects of weather and pollution. A leaking roof had caused considerable damage to interior finishes. Faced with mounting expenses, the congregation looked to JHPArchitects PC to prepare a Conditions Survey Report to give an overview of maintenance and deterioration concerns. The report provided a prioritized list of recommended repairs and cost estimates.
The first phase of the restoration included a careful cleaning and repair of the deteriorated brownstone on the front facade and tower, replicating the carved ornamental stonework where necessary. The project included the installation of new roofing, gutters and the repair of wood windows. JHPA also established and provided an ongoing window restoration training program for the church staff.
Our restoration plan provided this church with a phased repair and maintenance schedule. Subsequently, several restoration projects and an ADA access project have been completed to ensure the longevity of this important landmark. Additionally, JHPA staff trained Incarnation vestry members in window restoration, allowing them to save funds by performing window repair work in-house.