Seaboard Weatherproofing & Restoration revives 12,000 s/f Public Theater

Seaboard Weatherproofing & Restoration recently completed restorations on The Public Theater, a 12,000 s/f Manhattan landmark. "The Seaboard team carefully planned the logistics of this project in a way that allowed us to adapt to daily changes in the condition of the job site," said Jim Gradt, Seaboard senior project manager. "Throughout the project, as with all our projects, Seaboard balanced the vision of the architect and conservator with the logistical challenges involved in restoring this type of historical landmark." Seaboard craftsmen employed several different methods for restoring the brick and brownstone façade. Damaged sections of the brownstone façade on the building's Lafayette Ave. side required a combination of repair and replacement, along with masonry repointing. Seaboard brought in a team of brownstone craftsmen from Brooklyn, who carved the challenging stone work in place. Large stones that could not be repaired were cut into small blocks and repurposed for Dutchman repairs elsewhere on the façade. Extremely damaged brownstone blocks were replaced with matched precast concrete replications that were fabricated to match the original façade. The final stage of the two-year project consisted of comprehensive weatherproofing to help protect the façade for years to come. Project members included Building Conservation Associates, Polshek Partnership Architects (now Ennead Architects LLP), engineers Robert Silman Associates and construction manager Westerman Construction Co. Inc.