Boston Valley Terra Cotta Project Awarded at the 34th Annual Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards

Boston Valley Terra Cotta is honored to be a part of the historic façade restoration at Masonic Hall NYC. This project was selected to receive a Preservation Project Award at the 34th Annual Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards, the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s prestigious recognition for outstanding and technically excellent preservation efforts. The awards are named for Lucy G. Moses, a dedicated New Yorker whose generosity has benefited NYC for decades. The awards are made possible through the ongoing support of the Henry and Lucy Moses Fund.

Masonic Hall NYC, home to the Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons of the state of New York, is also a commercial office building in New York City that anchors a prominent intersection in the Ladies Mile Historic District. Facing 24th Street, its grand Beaux-Arts façade stands, while along 23rd Street, a neo-Renaissance façade features elegant detailing. Both façades, fully articulated in limestone, red brick, and terra cotta, faced similar issues revealed during a city-mandated façade review, known as FISP (Façade Inspection & Safety Program).

Corrosion of steel structural elements and widespread deterioration of masonry elements, especially terra cotta, were noted. The project scope included repairing and replacing the steel structure, repointing, and repairing brick and limestone. The biggest challenge was the terra cotta which was repaired where possible and replaced where necessary. Various elements such as copings, cornices, water tables, balustrades, window surrounds, and a grand Juliet balcony on the north façade were also addressed.

To mitigate moisture intrusion, the project repaired breaches in the building enclosure, focusing primarily on the roof level. Contracted by Kings County Waterproofing Corporation for this work, Boston Valley’s contribution to this project concentrated on fabricating terra cotta masonry for a major water table rebuild below the cornice. The use of architectural terra cotta preserves both the physical and aesthetic integrity of historic buildings with installation of durable replacement units that will last for years to come.

Trustees of the Masonic Hall & Asylum Fund
· Liam O’Halloran
· Michael Siegel
· Denise Wright Scott

Boston Valley Terra Cotta

Freedom Cement

Hoffmann Architects + Engineers
· Robert Fraguada, Associate, AIA
· Juan Kuriyama, AIA
· Richard Off, AIA, APT

JLS Cost Management Systems
· Michael Hickey
· Joseph Sobrera, III

Kings County Waterproofing
· Samuel Carrion
· Geoff Gruszczynksi

To learn more about the award event on April 10, 2024 and the 15 preservation projects that were cited, visit:
http://nylandmarks.org/event/the-34th-annual-lucy-g-moses-preservation-awards/

To view presentation of the award for the Masonic Hall NYC, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/nylandmarks/videos/461569382928834
Video: Gil Gilbert

To learn more about the Masonic Hall NYC project, visit:
https://www.hoffarch.com/news-article/lucy-g-moses-preservation-award-masonic-hall-nyc/