James B. Duke House

Restoration 2012-current

Architect/Engineer: Superstructures; Principal in charge: Vikrant Sampat / Mark Ingalls; Project Architect: Georg Windeck

The historic James B. Duke mansion that currently houses the Institute of Fine Arts of New York University is one of the important landmark buildings along the legendary 5th Avenue “Millionaire’s Row” on Manhattans Upper East Side.  It was completed in the style of a French hotel particuliere in 1912 by Horace Trumbauer and renovated in the interior for academic use in 1958 by Robert Venturi. The restoration of the limestone façade, the slate and copper roof, as well as the masonry barrel vaults of the basement called for a sensitive approach to the historic fabric of the building. The goal was to preserve as much of the existing material of the Duke House as possible and retain its charming patina, while addressing hazardous stone deterioration in the façade and waterproofing deficiencies throughout the building.

A combination of different repair types was used for the restoration of the limestone façade: Epoxy injection for cracks, patching mortar for small spalls, profiled “Dutchman” insets for large spalls, as well as full stone ashlar replacements for ornamental pieces of the pediment.

 

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.