Moynihan Train Hall
New York, New York
The James A. Farley Post Office building is one of Manhattan’s iconic structures. It was completed in 1913 by the office of McKim, Mead & White, and is known for both its grand beaux-art architecture and perhaps most popularly, the engraving of a phrase by Greek scholar Herodotus: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”.
In 2017, Femenella & Associates undertook a massive restoration project to help convert this classic building into one that can thrive in this 21st-century – a world-class transportation concourse known as Moynihan Train Hall (a Penn Station redevelopment). This project involved the restoration of over 500 historic wood windows and one penthouse level door. The windows are all unique, as they were made at a time before windows could be mass-produced and include double-hung and casement window assemblies.
The restoration process required detailed scrutiny of the windows. Once stripped of paint, Femenella worked with the project architects to determine the level to which frames, sash, and hardware could be salvaged. Wood elements were replaced with African sourced Spanish Cedar wood. Brass pulleys, lifts, and pole sockets underwent an extensive polishing process and if damaged or missing were custom cast to match. Additionally, all double hung windows operate with the original weight, chain, and pulley balance system. This required the windows to be precisely weighed and lead weights to be custom ordered, ensuring the windows stay perfectly balanced.
This exciting project is scheduled to be complete at the end of 2020.