CANY

Your wall is (literally) in good hands with CANY. This wall has pulled away from the ceiling enough that Kate’s hand goes right through it. “While I can’t walk through walls, I can jazz-hands through this one!” ?? #canynyc #architecture #restoration #nyc #womeninconstruction #buildingscience #facade #buildingenvelope #newyork #inspection #registeredarchitect

Are those chunks of sugar crumbling? Today Xsusha Arogunmati, FAIC, APT-RP talks about consolidation. What are the advantages and limitations of consolidation, what kind of life extension can we expect, and what might be misunderstood about consolidation by a novice? XA: Consolidation is when you apply a chemically reactive liquid to the surface of a stone that is experiencing severe surface deterioration—sometimes called “sugaring” where it is crumbling apart—like sugar granules. Depending on the product and the masonry type (i.e. marble or sandstone) the consolidant will cause the surface of the masonry grains to “grow” small spines that then interlock—thereby tying the grains back together. It only penetrates millimeters and is not a way to salvage a stone with severe structural deterioration. Consolidation is something that should not be done without the assistance of an architectural conservator. A conservator can help determine how effective the treatment will be and how it may or not help the situation over the long term. The life span of the treatment is highly site specific. #AskAConservator #CANY #nyc #nycarchitecture #buildingconservation #architecture

CANY congratulates Mark DeMairo of Neue Galerie New York for winning International Association of Museum Facility Administrators Lifetime Achievement Award! Learn more about IAMFA at https://www.iamfa.org/

It’s the American Institute for Conservation & Foundation for Advancement in Conservation's Ask A Conservator Day. Ask A Conservator Day began in remembrance of the 1966 flooding of Florence, where generations worth of design, artistry, and craftsmanship were damaged and to this day are still undergoing conservation efforts. We have CANY’s conservators, Xsusha Arogunmati, Director of Architectural Conservation, and Alafia Akhtar, Senior Architectural Conservator, in the hot seat. ? What inspired you to pursue conservation? XA: I’ve always had an affinity for art, tools and buildings. When I found out that architectural conservation was a career (when I was 26) I jumped into getting my degree. AA: I've always loved art, architecture and working with my hands. I knew that I wanted to be in a field that allowed for a creative outlet. What has been your most challenging project to date and why? XA: A museum undergoing a 91-million-dollar interior and exterior restoration. The interior and exterior are historic and everything had to be documented before, during and after treatment. There was an entire team of conservators specializing in different areas of conservation (paintings, metals, objects etc.) that we had to coordinate with along with the general contractors doing the work. So many moving parts! AA: I worked on a building in Gramercy Park that had a multitude of issues and continuous moving parts. Figuring out the different repair methodologies for each type of material and repair area, which included understanding material science and how each type of type of material interacts adjacent to another, was important in developing a repair strategy. What has been your most memorable project? XA: Probably the same project mentioned above. I got to spend several nights with one or two other conservators and a security guard in the museum. The museum used to be mansion and I liked feeling like I was hanging out with the former residents. Getting in on that Gilded Age action and feeling so much more connected to the history and importance of the building. AA: A current project where we are working on the repair of a school that is comprised of two historic mansions of prominent New York figure at the turn of the century. The project has required testing of materials to better develop repairs as well as the implementation of general preservation knowledge in order to properly perform the required work. ? #AskAConservator #CANY #nyc #nycarchitecture #buildingconservation #architecture

CANY loves the challenges of working with great architects on award-winning projects, and Magnusson Architecture and Planning PC and Casa Celina is only the latest and brightest example of this trend (below). Right now we’re proud to be working with exceptional architects on exceptional projects, and we like to think that the in-depth evaluation that we bring to often-complex facades sets us apart from others in our field. So please feel free to reach out to us, and we’ll bring our focus to bear on your project.

For this WitH Wednesday, we have An in the harness! An Chen (he/him), Project Manager, defied the question of art or engineering by choosing both through architecture. Focusing on the details, he started at CANY in 2017 as a drafter. Working in new construction, predominantly on building enclosures, he takes architects’ broad strokes, examining them from all angles to design detailed systems that deliver aesthetically on time and in budget. A second pair of eyes, drilling into the details to inspect contractors’ work, he’s grateful for his colleagues’ support, especially when projects don’t run in straight lines. He respects the boundaries of his role but loves the creative freedom within them. On a personal level… What industry tool would you be and why? “A measuring tape. The main core of what I do at CANY is to compare something to a standard. This can be a construction site to construction documents, or construction documents to industry standards. Out of all my tools in my large backpack (and there are many!), the measuring tape is the one thing kept on a molle strap in the front, as it is the most important and frequently used tool. In the words of a wise architect, ‘Dimensions, dimensions, dimensions!’” What are your hobbies or interests? “3D print designs, machine learning, martial arts, sewing, gaming.” What’s a fun fact about you? “I became vegetarian because I grew up on a farm full of bunnies and ducklings.” Are you pursuing anything outside of work, such as any kind of certification? “I’m pursuing an Architecture license and trying to build my own AI from scratch.” #withcany #architecture #restoration #nyc

We had a great evening at the Gala, and were happy to contribute to and be part of such a worthy cause. Attending from CANY were Joseph Badolato, Jennifer Murphy, Stephanie Snell and Tim Wynter-Stoner.

It’s always satisfying for us to work with Architects who place a premium on beauty.

Had a great time on Thursday at the Grand Opening of 25 North Lex. This stunning building by Handel Architects for Greystar provides a beautiful gateway to the city of White Plains when alighting from the MetroNorth railway station. CANY provided special inspections for the curtainwall as the building’s frame was wrapped in its new skin.

Yes, we enjoyed working with Avarga Construction Corp. on the FISP Cycle 8 repairs for this stunning building. John G. from CANY helmed this project to its beautiful conclusion.