21-story 65 Broadway to undergo major capital improvement program

The historically significant property at 65 Broadway, built in 1917 as the world headquarters of American Express, is undergoing renovations of its lobby, common areas and façade as part of a major capital improvement program. The façade restorations and interior renovations have been designed by architect Lester Evan Tour. The Landmark Preservation Commission-approved restorations to the façade include the installation of a new masonry stairway and separate entrance for the retail portion of the building. In addition, the work entails the restoration of granite stairs at the building's entrance and the replacement of several bronze entry doors. The interiors are being restored to reflect the original grandeur of the lobby. To accomplish this, the architect is removing a 40 year old stone wall at the entrance to open up the space, and then adding a two-story, faceted glass wall. The work constitutes the second phase of the building-wide improvements for the 21-story, 351,000 s/f office tower. Mechanical upgrades that have been recently implemented include a brand new state-of-the-art chiller system with a built-in, environmentally-friendly co-generation facility and a complete replacement of the elevator motors and cabs. The owner of the property is 65 Broadway Del LLC; management is provided by AM Property Holdings Corp.