Empire State's new '20s-era murals, wind anemometer
The Empire State Building’s lobby this week debuted a set of new ceiling murals, a major step forward in the building’s $550 million restoration that seeks to return much of the skyscraper’s original art deco grandeur.
The murals, made entirely of gold- and aluminum-leaf — as well as a 100 gallons of glazes — are entirely new, but modeled on what remained of the original murals conceived in the 1920s, architects said during Wednesday morning’s preview for the media.
The original murals went up in 1931, but a mere 32 years later were painted over and punctured with holes for rods to anchor a new drop-ceiling. This new muraled ceiling covers the original, punctured ones, but leaves them otherwise untouched. “It’s still there for future generations to study, or if new technology becomes available,” said Jeff Greene of EverGreene Architectural Arts. Inc.
The intent of the current renovation is to re-create the vision of the original architects —Shreve, Lamb and Harmon — but with modern enhancements. “What would they do today if they had the opportunity to redesign” said Frank Prial of Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners.
The lobby’s renovation also brought in new marble as well as a pair of chandeliers that were called for in the buildings original plans but never installed. The new chandeliers were made by Rambusch Studios, the same firm that created the original ceiling mural.
The renovation also brings a special addition above the information desk. A new anemometer offers real-time wind readings as measured from the northwest corner of the 87th floor.
The building’s original anemometer was later replaced by a clock. Plans call for the readings from the new gadget — which was only turned on this Wednesday — to also display on the official website for the Empire State Building.
See the anemometer in action as it resets with the wind direction:
The entire renovation project is about half-way finished, with the lobby marking the first major completed task, said project manager Ray Quartararo of Jones Lang LaSalle.
The renovation of the observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floor should be complete by the end of 2009 or early 2010, he said. Exterior stonework is being restored, the tourist ticketing area is being upgraded and a major sustainability effort to turn the building green is just beginning, including the replacement of 6,502 windows.
