7 Gracie Square Doors Assessment
7 Gracie Square is a sixteen-story apartment building located on a quiet cul-de-sac overlooking Carl Schurz Park on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The building was constructed between 1928 and 1929 by Arthur W. Crisp, a prominent Canadian muralist. Crisp commissioned the architectural firm George B. Post & Sons to design the building in the Art Deco style; the firm was responsible for numerous notable NYC landmarks, including the New York Stock Exchange and the Vanderbilt Mansion.
A significant and unique element of the design was the set of entrance doors, which are an example of high end Art Deco metalwork. Artisans from the firm of Edgar Brandt produced a masterpiece of technology and dazzling visual effects; they integrated sophisticated decorative finish schemes—including metalizing, platting, and textural treatments—and used an astonishing array of metals. Over time, the decorative metalwork had become deteriorated as a result of age and improper maintenance.
EverGreene was engaged by the cooperative board in 2010 to perform a conditions assessment and materials analysis on the entrance doors. The purpose of the assessment was to understand the original artistic intent, materials usage, and manufacturing methodologies, as well as to identify means, mechanisms, and locations of deterioration. EverGreene based cost estimates and repair recommendations off information from the analysis.
As part of the work, EverGreene employed hand-held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to identify the metals used in the fabrication of the doors. The base metals were determined to include cast iron, sheet brass, cast bronze, and aluminum. Remnants of original finishes were also identified, though these were intermittent and more difficult to characterize. One notable finding was that the cast iron gazelle panel adorning the door head was cadmium plated—a rare metal seldom used in decorative architectural applications of this type.
EverGreene worked closely with a cast iron restoration contractor to develop a comprehensive scope of work and restoration approach that would return the doorway to its original appearance while restoring full operational functionality.
