SHIRLEY A. CHISHOLM STATE OFFICE BUILDING

The Shirley A. Chisholm State Office Building, originally built as a YMCA in 1915, is a 13-story office building in Downtown Brooklyn. Our comprehensive exterior restoration project aimed to breathe new life into this historic structure, preserving its architectural legacy while enhancing its functionality for the present and future.

A prominent aspect of the restoration was the installation of a new terra cotta cornice on all three street facades of the building. This cornice was carefully replicated using historic photographs, ensuring a faithful representation of the original. Additionally, the main cast stone entrance, removed in a previous intervention, was restored, becoming a prominent focal point of the building once again.

The scope of our restoration encompassed essential structural components. We focused on replacing the main and bulkhead roofs, ensuring the building's integrity and protection from the elements. Extensive exterior façade repairs and the restoration of street façade terra cotta bands and medallions, previously replaced with stucco, further revitalized the building's appearance, restoring its historic character.

Our restoration efforts extended to the building's interior as well. Ornamental door replacements, along with the replacement of all windows, contributed to a revitalized and cohesive appearance. We also addressed various interior elements, including the replacement of floor, ceiling, and wall finishes at the main vestibule.

The building, boasting a steel super-structure and concrete floors, features fully bonded masonry walls, approximately 12" thick, creating a robust and monolithic wall assembly. While the exterior walls are not bearing walls, they are integral to the building's structural integrity, supporting their own weight and connecting with the steel super-structure at each floor level.