Our work on this historic 35-story office building began in 2013, initially focused on fenestration replacement design. Built in 1931, the McGraw-Hill Building was designed by Raymond Hood in a blend of the Art Moderne, Art Deco and International Styles. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered by architectural historians to be an iconic skyscraper design. Our fenestration design involved the fabrication of an historically accurate single hung insulated window to replace the failed and corroded original Campbell steel double hung windows. After testing of the aluminum and insulating glass mock-up units, 3,165 new historically accurate high-performance replacement windows were manufactured.

Restoration of the existing deteriorated terra cotta façade bands, steel column covers and mullion covers commenced in preparation for the installation of the new windows. During our restoration work, additional deteriorated building elements were discovered resulting from prior failed restoration attempts. Remedial restoration included structural steel framing repairs, parapet reconstruction, new parapet steel railings, masonry repairs and cement plaster soffit replacement. Our work also included a storefront Master Plan securing Raymond Hood’s original design for years to come. Restoration of the paint-covered “McGraw Hill” sign included chemical stripping and installation of repaired and new terra cotta to complete our preservation of this great New York City and National landmark.

Our firm received the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy in 2020 for the restoration of the McGraw-Hill Building.