Broad Exchange Building, 25 Broad Street

Broad Exchange Building, 25 Broad Street

Location New York, NY

Category Mixed Use

Focus Area FacadesHistoric Restoration

Facade and Window Restoration

When it was completed in 1902, the Broad Exchange Building was the largest office building in America, with the highest estimated real estate value in Manhattan. Designed by the architectural firm Clinton & Russell, the Financial District landmark is a tripartite composition, with a three-story granite base, a fourteen-story shaft of brick with terra cotta trim, and a three-story capital of terra cotta, with a copper cornice. At the heart of the Manhattan Financial District, 25 Broad is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a New York City Landmark. In 1997, office space was converted into condominiums, with the residential portion of the building thereafter referred to as “the Exchange at 25 Broad.”

Hoffmann Architects + Engineers’ involvement with the Broad Exchange Building began with a facade investigation pursuant to New York City Local Law 11 of 1998 (Facade Inspection Safety Program). Our design professionals prepared and filed a report with the Department of Buildings and developed a scope of work for emergency stabilization.

Over the years, some of the building’s characteristic architectural features had either deteriorated or been removed deliberately, altering the appearance of the facade and roofline. Previous efforts to address deterioration at 25 Broad used materials that were incompatible with the existing structure and, often, did not match the aesthetic qualities of the original building. An initial investigation revealed severe deterioration of the existing terra cotta. Using photographic documentation found in archives, Hoffmann Architects + Engineers designed replicas of lost elements, restoring the decorative features and profile of the building as it first appeared in 1902. The restoration design remediated faulty repairs and corrected poor workmanship and incorrect material selection, resolving building enclosure distress while meeting stringent guidelines for the treatment of historic properties.

View Slideshow of the Broad Exchange Building, 25 Broad Street case study

A new decorative parapet enhances the facade profile at the Broad Exchange Building

Close-up view of the new decorative parapet

Elaborate terra cotta ornamentation characterizes the historic facade

The Broad Exchange Building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a New York Landmark

Engraved pediment at 25 Broad Street, the Broad Exchange Building

Restoration work in progress at ornamental terra cotta and masonry facade, Broad Exchange Building

Damage to terra cotta lion head facade element

Damage to terra cotta lion head facade element

Terra cotta spall not only impacts appearance of the ornamentation, but also admits moisture into the facade

Terra cotta spall admits moisture into the facade

Restored lion head element restores original appearance and integrity

Repair restores original appearance and integrity

The comprehensive facade restoration included repair of damaged granite, terra cotta, limestone, and brick; masonry reconstruction; copper cornice repairs; parapet reconstruction; lintel rebuilding; restoration of reinforcing steel elements; mortar joint repointing; sealant system replacement; wood window restoration; cast iron spandrel panel and pier restoration; and facade cleaning. Facade repairs were designed not only to address the water-tightness and stability of the building, but also to restore the aesthetic of the original design.

Sensitive restoration of the historic structure was critical to preserving the rich architectural tapestry of one of the most prominent financial centers of the world. Given this challenge, the project team was committed to achieving restoration that not only protected against the effects of deterioration and stress, but which also resurrected original design elements that had been lost over time.

Sensitive restoration of the historic structure was critical to preserving the rich architectural tapestry of one of the most prominent financial centers of the world.