DXA Studio has revealed plans to renovate the façade of a landmarked warehouse building in Union Square, Manhattan. Located at 827-831 Broadway, the property is the former home of artist Willem de Kooning and is recognized for its ornate cast-iron and marble façade.
The design studio previously won approvals from the Landmark Preservation Commission to construct a prismatic four-story glass addition and will return to present the new proposals on Tuesday, December 15. The goal of the renovation is to restore the existing building to the conditions intended by the original architect Griffith Thomas.
Proposed alterations include the replacement of the existing metal balustrade with glass railings, the replacement of existing windows with one-over-one openings, the removal of second floor awnings, and a thorough cleaning of the existing marble façade. The proposals also call for modest plaque signage at the ground floor, pin-mounted letter signage, a new cast-iron cornice between the first and second levels, and up-lighting on the structure’s existing columns with fixtures to match the existing materials.
Elevation diagrams illustrates existing conditions (left) and proposed renovations (right) of 827-831 Broadway – DXA Studio
Revised daytime rendering of 827-831-Broadway circa 2018 – DXA Studio
It took multiple revisions to secure approval for the roof-level expansion. The project team drew ire from the LPC which felt the original massing of the addition, its street level visibility, and the reflectivity of the glass façade in relation to the historic building were out of context and impermissible. The proposals were eventually approved in May 2018.
It remains to be seen if the proposed exterior restoration will fall under such scrutiny as well.
Revised evening rendering of 827-831-Broadway circa 2018 – DXA Studio
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Wait, so that 4 story glass thing on top of this beautiful building is still a go?
good going landmarks!
fret over ‘modest plaque signage’ but allow a 50 foot tall fun-house on the roof;
hilarious!
Apparently the LPC has blocked this project three times so far. All of them contain a very out of context and very weird looking glass expansion on the top. Please, just renovate this and move on. This is one of the most beautiful low rise buildings in New York City!
827-832 Broadway is an L-shaped building, the other part being 47 East 12th Street. Appears that the rectilinear structure depicted above is on top of the East 12th Street portion of the building. Not an improvement in context or design. I understand the owner wanting a building enlargement, but there appears to be substantial ‘courtyard’ or rear space connecting the L, so why not fill it in, add nothing to the roof except a planted terrace.
What a beauty
I understand the criticism, but frankly NYC needs extra tax revenue from this large expansion, as DeBlasio and Cuomo have destroyed the economy and tax base
God forbid change happen in this sclerotic city full of elderly frumps and the predatory activist groups that feed off them.
The entire building (not only the front part) should have been landmarked!! The idea of building a 10 story hideous tower at the back, blocking the view of most residents of the neighborhood is ludicrous. I hope the LPC blocks it. The only purpose of this “renovation” is greed, greed, greed. So spare us the ridiculous claim that it will be a “tribute to de Kooning”? It’s insult to his memory. It’s totally out of place in our neighborhood and in a time of pandemic building a 10 story tower for “office space” when there are thousands of empty office space is frankly laughable.