top of page
All Articles



PRESERVING THE PAST, SHAPING THE FUTURE: NYC’S CASTIRON ICON REBORN
At the corner of Broadway and 11th Street, the Cast Iron Building stands as a remarkable survivor of a pivotal era in New York City’s architectural and commercial history. Designed by John Kellum and completed in 1868, the seven-story building was originally home to a prominent dry goods retailer in the Ladies’ Mile shopping district. Its ornate cast-iron façade reflected the innovation of the era, offering strength, durability, fire resistance, and intricate architectural de
2 days ago6 min read


Guastavino spiraling staircases: Construction history, documentation, and structural analysis through the case of St. John the Divine
This article was originally published as follows and is republished here under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license: Michiels, T., Gasha, A., Sibille, L. and Olivieri, C., 2026. Guastavino spiraling staircases: Construction history, documentation, and structural analysis through the case of St. John the Divine. International Journal of Engineering Science, 228, p.104641. A B S T R A C T This paper presents the first comprehensive study of Guastavino spiraling stai
Oct 124 min read


Terra Cotta – Unique Properties - Endless Possibilities
The Marriage of Earth and Water and Fire Boston Valley Terra Cotta explores the past, present and future potential of a highly versatile, sustainable, durable and beautiful material. Terra cotta, Italian for ‘baked earth,’ deriving from the Latin Terra Cocta, is a natural clay-based material dating back to ancient civilizations. On the morning of March 5, 2026, a three-person team from Boston Valley Terra Cotta, a global manufacturer of custom architectural façade solutions f
Jun 17 min read


Preserving Gilded Age Grandeur
The Restoration of the Convent of the Sacred Heart’s Landmark Houses The Convent of the Sacred Heart School, located on Upper East Side of New York City is comprised the former Otto Kahn House (1 East 91st Street) and neighboring James A. Burden House (7 East 91st Street) . Photo: Convent of the Sacred Heart The Otto Kahn House is a five story, Neo-Italian Style building constructed between 1914-1918 in St. Quentin limestone , sourced from St. Quentin, France. Similarly, i
Dec 9, 20258 min read


Honoring 60 Years of the NYC Landmarks Law
On April 19, 1965, New York City made history when Mayor Robert F. Wagner signed the Landmarks Law—legislation born from the loss of the original Pennsylvania Station and a growing public call to protect the city’s architectural and cultural identity. Sixty years later, that law has grown into one of the most robust municipal preservation programs in the country. New York Mayor Wagner signing the Landmarks Law on April 19,1965. — Photo: The New York Preservation Archive Proje
May 30, 20252 min read


Preserving the Past, Reinventing the Roof
An award-winning restoration uncovers a hidden 20th-century roofing system—and a modern solution forged through collaboration. The headquarters of the National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York, located in Manhattan, is a five-story building of brick, limestone, and cast stone, designed in the Colonial Revival style by architect Richard Henry Dana, Jr. — Photo: Li/Saltzman Architects Honored with four awards: • 2025 Lucy G. Moses Award from the New York Landm
May 30, 20259 min read
Gladding McBean Showcases Innovation in Terra Cotta Fabrication
On February 26, 2025, Skyline Restoration welcomed Gladding McBean representatives to their Long Island City campus for a presentation to local restoration professionals. Celebrating 150 years in business, the legacy terra cotta fabricator shared how they’ve integrated new technologies into their traditional processes to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Jessica Ouwerkerk detailed Gladding’s fabrication workflow—from facade evaluation and site surveys to mold making an
May 30, 20251 min read
bottom of page