Michaelian Office Building

The Michaelian Office Building is one of the principal civic structures in Westchester County, New York. Its Art Deco Lobby features a wide variety of decorative metals in the form of doors, windows, light fixtures, grilles, decorative plaques, etc. These elements are treated with a variety of finishes, making the space exuberant and rich.

Our senior conservators performed a substantial finishes investigation of all decorative metal surfaces of this significant building in 2001 to determine original patination and coating schemes. Work included microscopic study of surface coatings and finish analysis to understand the sequence of finishes present and the likely original appearance. Existing conditions were thoroughly documented. Digital mock-ups were prepared to illustrate the complex historic multi-colored patination and coating scheme prior to implementation. In-situ mock-ups were prepared to demonstrate treatment techniques and results. Finally, drawings and specifications for treatment were prepared based on this multi-phase investigation. Our conservators provided oversight during implementation.