January 25, 2005

Cass Gilbert building to reopen next to Ground Zero

The 1907 Cass Gilbert-designed building adjacent to Ground Zero will reopen as an apartment complex in spring after a $145-million renovation, according to the Downtown Express. Heavily damaged on Sept. 11, the facade of the building is being repaired with hand-carved granite and thousands of terra-cotta pieces.

The lobby will be the only interior reminder of the building’s 100-year history. When the contractors removed a layer of sheetrock from a mid-century renovation, they discovered a long-lost lobby design. Beneath the walls were decorative vaults, terra cotta pilasters, arches and sculptures, features considered out of fashion when the building was renovated half a century ago.

January 25, 2005 02:36 PM in Architecture

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