Intermediate School (I.S.) 187

CTA had the opportunity to work on the exterior restoration of the Christa McAuliffe School, Intermediate School (I.S.) 187. This historic school, built in 1921, was designed by C.B.J. Snyder and features a 5-story steel frame and concrete slab construction with a multi-wythe masonry facade adorned with glazed terra cotta ornamentation. The building contains 40 classrooms, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, and an auditorium.

Our project at I.S. 187 involved a comprehensive exterior restoration. We replaced the roof and completely rebuilt the parapet, including the terra cotta copings. To maintain the historical integrity of the building, we carefully restored the original glazed terra cotta window surrounds, medallions, and grotesques. We also advocated for the use of terra cotta over cast stone and ensured that all terra cotta ornamentation was custom manufactured to match the existing period work.

In addition to the restoration of the terra cotta, we also replaced damaged face-brick, repointed the masonry, and installed new window perimeter sealant and refinished window guards. Inside the building, we performed plaster and coatings work on the walls and ceiling.

We are proud to have contributed to the preservation of this historic landmark and ensured that it can continue to serve its community for many years to come.