West Gallery Ceiling
The Frick Collection is a premier museum and research center in New York City, known for its collection of renowned Old Master paintings, exquisite examples European sculpture, and decorative arts. The building was originally designed in 1914 by Thomas Hastings of the prestigious Beaux Arts firm Carrère and Hastings, and first served as the residence of Henry Clay Frick, an American industrialist and dedicated arts patron. Upon his death, Frick donated his extensive collection to create a public art museum, which opened in 1935, where it continues to operate to this day. The structure gained recognition as a New York Landmark in 1973 and achieved National Historic Landmark status in 2008.
After a comprehensive renovation and expansion project, The Frick Collection reopened in 2025. EverGreene participated in multiple phases of this significant renovation since 2020, including the crucial rehabilitation of the West Gallery skylight and ceiling. EverGreene’s expertise was specifically engaged for the stabilization, conservation, and restoration of the ornate coffered ceiling and laylight framing in the West Gallery.
The West Gallery ceiling project proceeded in several carefully executed phases. Initially, pre-construction plaster stabilization was undertaken, which encompassed creating record molds, applying temporary facing to secure loose plaster, and comprehensively documenting existing conditions and intervention work. The second phase involved an extensive plaster conditions assessment paired with a detailed historic finishes investigation. Through onsite examination and cross-sectional microscopy, the team made an exciting discovery—the majority of the visible finishes were original and historic to the West Gallery’s 1914 construction. This significant finding enabled the EverGreene team to proceed to the final phase: developing appropriate mockups, implementing necessary plaster repairs, and applying decorative paint treatments to faithfully restore the ceiling to its original 1914 splendor.
