In the Factory: The Fitzroy Green Glaze Facade

All four forming methods come together in this Art Deco Revival.

Located at 514 West 24th street, The Fitzroy finds its home on the Lower West Side of Manhattan. New York City’s West Chelsea neighborhood boasts many iconic buildings and historic landmarks, such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Highline, and the Hotel Chelsea.

Rendering Courtesy of Roman and Williams.

The Building Designer, Roman and Williams, kept the rich history of the area in mind when addressing the building’s design and visual aesthetic. The ten-story condo evokes the sleek luxury of the 20th century with a terra cotta facade, green custom glazed and manufactured by Boston Valley Terra Cotta. The use of Terra Cotta Masonry in tandem with the copper-clad and oak windows make The Fitzroy a unique and sensational Art Deco revival.

To produce the architectural terra cotta facade, all four forming methods were used: Extrusion, RAM Press, Hand Press, and Slip Casting, to efficiently produce the variety of terra cotta masonry units.  All forming methods are not often used in one project, the Fitzroy is a great demonstration of Boston Valley’s full architectural ceramic production capabilities. The process of manufacturing the terra cotta units is shown through the following images.

Authors’ Note: This post initially identified the Architect of The Fitzroy to be Roman and Williams. That was incorrect; the Architect is IBI Group.

A hand-pressed unglazed terra cotta unit awaits glaze application and firing.

Glazed terra cotta pieces shown side by side for comparison.

After glaze application and firing, the separate pieces are assembled in a dry fit for inspection and approval. Extruded units can be seen in the back.

Visual mockup awaits approval from the client.