998 Fifth Avenue facade
998 Fifth Avenue detail
998 Fifth Avenue detail side-by-side
998 Fifth Avenue building corner detail
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998 Fifth Avenue detail side-by-side
998 Fifth Avenue corner detail

998 Fifth Avenue

Location: Upper East Side, New York, NY

Landmark Status: NYC Individual Landmark

Original Architect: McKim, Mead & White

Date of Construction: 1910-1912

Date of Restoration: 2011-2012

Scope of Work: Copper-Tiled Roof Replacement, Terra Cotta Cornice Reconstruction, Limestone Balcony Restoration, Limestone Repair and Cleaning

Awards: Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award (New York Landmarks Conservancy), Hats Off Award (Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts), Stanford White Historic Preservation Award (Institute of Classical Architecture and Art)

 

 

998 Fifth Avenue is a 12-story, limestone-clad apartment house that was designed in the Renaissance Revival style by the renowned architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White. Located across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the northeast corner of East 81st Street, it was the first apartment house constructed on upper Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Upon its completion in 1912, the building was recognized as a benchmark of restrained elegance in apartment house design and was regarded as the most expensive and exclusive multi-family home in the city.

 

Although the building used the best materials and construction methods available at the time, a hundred years of weather had taken its toll. The copper-tiled hip roof had been removed due to leaks and replaced with roll roofing. The terra cotta cornice was cracking from corrosion of the structural steel outriggers that supported it. The limestone ashlar of the façade was generally sound but the balustrades at the 5th and 9th floor balconies were deteriorated and had been extensively patched over the years.

 

Walter B. Melvin Architects, LLC was engaged by the Board of Directors in 2011 to oversee the exterior restoration of the building. Work included restoration of the copper-tiled hip roof using one tile that had been salvaged from the original roof and the McKim, Mead & White drawings as guides, complete reconstruction of the monumental terra cotta cornice with structural stainless steel, restoration of the limestone balconies, and repair and cleaning of the limestone facade.

 

The hip roof and cornice reconstruction also provided an opportunity to create a concealed system to support hanging scaffold platforms from cables threaded through tubes passing through the cornice, for easier maintenance.

 

The project was completed in December 2012, one hundred years after the original construction of the building.

Category:
Date:

July 22, 2024

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Walter B. Melvin Architects, LLC
118 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011
212.679.9393 TEL  |  646.786.4296 FAX
WBMA@WBMELVIN.COM

© All rights reserved 2021

Jimena Bruguera

Jimena Bruguera

Senior Project Manager Jimena Bruguera has over 20 years of experience across diverse sectors including historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and residential design. She is skilled in evaluating historic buildings and managing projects from small-scale renovations to large exterior and interior restorations. Her experience includes preparing construction documents, obtaining agency approvals, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams of consultants, contractors, and vendors while ensuring that all aspects of projects align with the clients’ vision and the architectural integrity of the buildings. With degrees in architecture and scenic design, she also brings a creative and artistic perspective to her architectural practice. Jimena is a member of various professional organizations, including the Association for Preservation Technology Northeast (APTNE), Adobe in Action, ICOMOS USA, and World Monuments Fund (WMF), where she continues to expand her interests in technology and international cultural heritage.

Education

Universidad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Urbanismo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Master of Architecture

Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Degree in Scenic Design for Theatre and Ballet

David van Erk

David van Erk

Senior Project Manager David van Erk graduated as an architectural engineer in The Netherlands and has been working in the architectural field for the past 20 years. Upon moving to the US in 2006, his focus has been on the repair and restoration of existing buildings. With 12 years of experience at WBMA, David is adept at coordinating with various consulting disciplines to design, specify, bid and administer the construction phases of building envelope projects. One of his first projects with WBMA was the restoration of the cast iron portico at St. Mark’s Church In-the-Bowery, followed by the successful implementation of an accessibility project for the church.

Education

H.T.S. Building Engineering, Haagse Hogeschool, The Hague, NL
Bachelor of Built Environment (Architectural Engineering)

Megan Rispoli-Kim

Megan Rispoli-Kim

Specializing in exterior landmark restoration, Megan Rispoli-Kim has 20 years’ experience in the field, including 13 years at WBMA. As a Senior Project Manager, she performs historic research and existing conditions surveys; develops drawings, details and specifications for bid and construction; prepares FISP (Local Law 11) and building survey reports; and provides construction administration and landmarks consulting services. Select restoration projects include the Smallpox Hospital Ruin, Riverside Church, Central Presbyterian Church, Kane Street Synagogue, Green-Wood Weir Greenhouse, Grolier Club, Schinasi Mansion, and various residential co-ops. She is a graduate of Columbia University and University of Virginia. Megan also serves as the firm’s Marketing Coordinator.

Education

Columbia University, New York, NY
Master of Science in Historic Preservation

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Bachelor of Architectural History

Benjamin Fallows, RA, ARB

Benjamin Fallows

Benjamin Fallows has 18 years of architectural experience working on a variety of design, planning, construction, and preservation projects. For 9 years, he has been at WBMA specializing in the repair and restoration of exterior envelopes in NYC. As a Senior Project Manager, he is responsible for overseeing projects including surveying building conditions, preparing construction documents, assisting in contractor selection, performing scaffold drops and site inspections, and preparing field reports and punch lists. Selected projects include 927 Fifth Avenue, 998 Fifth Avenue, 230 Central Park West, and 4 East 66th Street. He is a graduate of Newcastle University and London Metropolitan University and has presented a paper on re-imagining multi-story parking structures to the APT International Conference.

Education

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, London, UK
Repair of Old Buildings Course

London Metropolitan University, London, UK
Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice - RIBA Part 3
Professional Diploma in Architecture (Masters) - RIBA Part 2

Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Bachelor of Art (Hons) in Architecture - RIBA Part 1

Professional Registration

Registered Architect, State of New York

Registered Architect, Architects Registration Board (UK)

Chartered/Conservation Architect, Royal Institute of British Architects

Barbara Endes

Barbara Endes

During her 20-year tenure at WBMA, Barbara Endes has managed all phases of preservation, restoration, and renovation projects. As a Senior Project Manager, she performs and manages extensive field survey work and investigations; coordinates and prepares drawings, details, specifications, technical reports, FISP reports, and financial reports; and assists owners in contractor selection and supervision. During construction, she runs project meetings and performs and supervises site inspections to monitor the progress of work. Award-winning projects that she has worked on include The Frick Collection, Liberty Tower, and The Plaza Hotel. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Barbara is also an accomplished musician.

Education

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Master of Architecture

Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee, WI
A.A.S., Environmental and Pollution Control Technology

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Bachelor of Arts in Art History

María Gabriela Brito

María Gabriela Brito

Senior Project Manager Gabriela Brito is an architect and historic preservation professional from Argentina with more than 16 years of experience. She joined WBMA in 2015 for a post-academic training program as part of her Fulbright scholarship. She resumed her work at the firm in 2021, after a period of independent professional practice and teaching activity. She has been involved in important restoration projects at The Met Cloisters; Casa Italiana, Columbia University; 1 Union Square West, the Lincoln Building; and Bath House No. 7, Brooklyn. Her varied experience includes historical research, field surveys and inspections, and the preparation of conditions and restoration drawings. Gabriela is a graduate of Cornell University and National University of Córdoba (Argentina) and a member of APT Latin American and Caribbean Chapter (LACC-APTi).

Education

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Master of Arts in Historic Preservation Planning

Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
Architecture Degree with Honors

Karen Brinkman, RA

Karen Brinkman

Senior Project Manager Karen Brinkman, RA, has over three decades of experience as an architect and historic preservation professional working on a variety of design, landscape, interiors, and preservation projects. At WBMA, the focus of her work has been on helping historic apartment buildings analyze the impact of renovations, both interior and exterior, on the integrity of buildings’ architectural and structural systems. Karen is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Society for Commercial Archeology; served on the zoning board of Montclair, NJ; and is a former adjunct teacher of CAD classes at Parsons School of Design.

Education

Columbia University, New York, NY
Master of Science in Historic Preservation

University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL
Bachelor of Architecture

Professional Registration

Registered Architect in States of New York, New Jersey and Wisconsin

Robert C. Bates, RA, AIA

Robert C. Bates

With more than 35 years of professional experience at WBMA, Principal Robert C. Bates has overseen restoration projects at many of New York City’s premier institutions, including The Met Cloisters, Donald Judd Home and Studio, Green-Wood Cemetery and Riverside Church, as well as McKim Mead and White’s 998 Fifth Avenue and William Tuthill’s Schinasi Mansion at 351 Riverside Drive. A graduate of Lehigh University, Robert is a Registered Architect in the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, as well as a member of the American Institute of Architects. He has a strong understanding of traditional building materials and has developed many new restoration techniques over the years. Robert has published articles on waterproofing of historic masonry walls, restoration of cast iron, and roofing replacement.

Education

Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
Bachelor of Art in Architecture

Professional Registration

Registered Architect in the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut

Martin Lee Griggs, RA

Martin Griggs

Principal Martin Lee Griggs has worked in the architecture and construction industry for over 30 years, including 27 years at WBMA specializing in the assessment and repair of exterior envelopes. He has overseen several award-winning restoration projects including St. Paul’s Chapel – Columbia University, 451 Broome Street, Liberty Tower and Alwyn Court, as well as restoration projects at Louis Sullivan’s Bayard-Condict Building, the Cosmopolitan Club, several New York City parks and residential cooperatives. Martin is well versed in the myriad building materials that have been used in the northeast and has extensive experience assessing and restoring a variety of masonry and roofing systems. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and is a Registered Architect in New York State.

Education

University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor of Architecture

Professional Registration

Registered Architect in the State of New York

Sergio De Orbeta, RA, AIA, NCARB

Sergio De Orbeta

With almost 20 years of experience in the field, Principal Sergio De Orbeta has been instrumental in the successful restoration, repair, and continued maintenance of numerous historic structures in New York City and beyond. 15 of those years have been at WBMA, where he has taken a detailed and methodical approach to his projects. Some of his noteworthy projects include Casa Italiana, Columbia University; The Osborne; and 100 Hudson Street. Previous award-winning projects include 131 Duane Steet – the Hope Building, 451 Broome Street, Donald Judd Home & Studio, and Marymount School of New York.  He is a Registered Architect in the States of New York and New Jersey. Originally from Puerto Rico, Sergio received his Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania and Bachelor of Architecture with a Minor in Architectural History from Carnegie Mellon University.

Education

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Master of Science in Historic Preservation

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor of Architecture
Minor in Architectural History

Professional Registration

Registered Architect in the States of New York and New Jersey

Bruce Barton, RA, AIA

Martin Lee Griggs

With 35 years of experience in the practice of architecture, 25 of which have been at WBMA, Associate Bruce Barton has nurtured a focus on the restoration and repair of exterior masonry structures in New York City. A graduate of Penn State University and Cornell University, he is a Registered Architect in New York State, a member of the AIA, and a member and past Chair of the Bergen County, NJ Historic Preservation Advisory Board. Adept at managing projects from inception to completion, select work includes the award-winning restoration of Central Presbyterian Church, the Marymount School of New York, and the New York Society for Ethical Culture.

Education

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Master of Arts Candidate in Historic Preservation Planning

Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Bachelor of Science in Architecture

Professional Registration

Registered Architect in New York State

Dorian Yurchuk, RA, LEED AP BD+C

Martin Lee Griggs

For over two decades Associate Dorian Yurchuk has beheld New York City with the satisfaction of knowing that he and his colleagues are caretakers of this city’s body and soul. He tackles a wide range of project sizes and building components, from subterranean vaults to penthouses and finials. Projects are informed by researching buildings’ histories and period construction practices. In addition to specifying and administering projects, he also provides historic building envelope consulting services to other architectural firms. Dorian is a graduate of The Cooper Union and McGill University. He enjoys making art in various media and is an avid outdoorsman during all seasons.

Education

McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
Master of Architecture

The Cooper Union, New York, NY
Bachelor of Architecture

Professional Registration

Registered Architect in the State of New York

Christopher Girr

Christopher Girr

During his 28-year tenure at WBMA, Associate Christopher Girr has worked on a wide variety of restoration and repair projects, specializing in idiosyncratic buildings and problems. He is responsible for overseeing and executing the assessment, development, and administration of alteration and historic preservation on a variety of projects throughout New York City, working closely with contractors to develop unique solutions to particular problems. His award-wining projects include McKim, Mead and White’s 998 Fifth Avenue; Renwick, Aspinwall and Russell’s 171 MacDougal Street; and 475 Tenth Avenue. Christopher is a graduate of Lehigh and Columbia Universities. He is also a skilled woodworker and furniture maker.

Education

Columbia University, New York, NY
Master of Science in Historic Preservation

Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture
Minor in Architectural History

Janet Shelley Perusini, ASSOC. AIA

Janet Shelley Perusini

Since joining the firm in 1997, Associate Janet Shelley Perusini has worked on a full range of project types, from the restoration of civic and institutional buildings to high-end residential properties, both single-family and cooperative/condominium. She has offered continuous consulting services for several long-standing clients, where she has provided problem resolution for hundreds of leak investigations, building conditions surveys, FISP inspections, and exterior envelope repair programs that included masonry reconstruction, roofing replacement, and window restoration. Notable projects include Columbia University Low Library, Parc Vendome Condominium, The Jewish Museum, 1040 Park Avenue and 19 East 70th Street. With more than 25 years of experience in the fields of architecture and historic preservation, she excels in her technical work as much as in building strong relationships with clients and colleagues. Janet received her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from New York Institute of Technology and is an Associate member of the AIA.

Education

New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY
Bachelor of Science in Architecture

RESTORE Program for Restoration, New York, NY
Certificate