Something peculiar is happening to the buildings of the 1970s. They’re turning 50, as Docomomo recently reminded us. This milestone birthday for the designs of the decade gives them enough critical distance that their restoration worthiness is being reconsidered. Whether derided or embraced, 70s architecture is now undeniably historic. From the sleek Solow building to the chunky masonry of Lincoln Plaza Towers, SUPERSTRUCTURES has helped restore exemplars of 70s architecture in New York City and beyond.

In the latest seminar in our monthly continuing education series, Anthony Truppi of Keim Mineral Coatings presented “Mineral Silicate Paints and Stains for Masonry Facades.” His talk on February 12th explored the history, chemistry, and applications of mineral silicate finishes for about 100 clients and colleagues in our classroom.

Got steel elements in a facade that have seen better days? Or a sidewalk vault with corroded steel that concerns you? With years of experience with facade and vault restoration, SUPERSTRUCTURES can help by determining how firmly the rust has taken hold.

With apologies to the creators of the "got milk" campaign, we’re borrowing the concept to underscore Superstructures’ essential services for your building envelope and the common problems that can affect it.

The New York Times published another in a series of recent articles inspired by the convergence of two coincidental events: the imminent start of Cycle 9 of New York’s Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP or Local Law 11), and a tragic incident in which a facade failure caused a pedestrian death.

On this day in 1828, Frederick Clarke Withers was born in Somersetshire, UK. Withers immigrated to the US and became a prominent practitioner of Gothic Revival architecture. The Jefferson Market Courthouse—since converted to a branch of the New York Public Library—is one of Withers’ most celebrated designs and the subject of SUPERSTRUCTURES’ extensive restoration.

It’s official: the DOB has adopted an amended rule governing exterior wall inspections and repairs, strengthening the existing Facade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP) but also making it significantly more complex.

Owners of buildings higher than six stories take note: The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) has adopted its Facade Rule 103-04, which governs details of the Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) for Cycle 9A, commencing on February 21, 2020. Read on for Cycle 9 updates, as they represent important new complexity in the program.

In our extensive experience with roof projects, we often encounter the challenge of working on occupied buildings, including schools, hospitals, and other structures with sensitive residents. But at NYU’s Silver Center, we had to accommodate sensitivity of another sort: scientific experiments in progress in the building’s labs. SUPERSTRUCTURES’ project to restore the roof in two sections of the 11th floor called for a design that could be stealthily installed and replacement materials that were odor free.

In the latest seminar in our monthly continuing education series, Harold Henry of Hanover Architectural Products presented “Plaza Pavers, Blocks, and Masonry Units.” His talk on January 15th explored an array of paver assemblies and their applications for plaza decks and roofs for about 90 clients and colleagues in our classroom.