NYCT Enhanced Station Initiative
Location
New York City, NY
Services
Materials
Glass
Metal
Plaster
Stone
Awards
Package 4: 2019 Bronze Award, Preservation Architecture Category, American Institute of Architects, Tri-State
JBC provided design and construction supervision services in the renovation and modernization of ten subway stations in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx as part of the New York City Transit Authority’s one-billion-dollar Enhanced Station Initiative. This exciting program re-envisioned station design and construction, using the design-build model to complete all design and construction work in under one year. JBC took the lead on wall finishes, replicating and restoring over 100 different types of ceramic wall tile, mosaic, brick, terra cotta, and structural glazed facing tile from all periods of New York City subway construction, 1904 to present. We put our architectural ceramics expertise to good use developing a custom frost-resistant tile for station entrances that is slated to become the new standard for New York City’s 275 underground stations. These projects were especially challenging due to the aggressive schedule, number of stations being worked on simultaneously, and variety of wall finishes found at each.
The stations included:
ESI Package 1: Prospect Avenue, 53rd Street, Bay Ridge Avenue in Brooklyn (BMT 6th Ave. Line)
ESI Package 4: 23rd Street, 28th Street, 57th Street, 34th Street - 8th Avenue, and 34th Street - Penn Station in Manhattan (6th, 7th, 8th, and Lexington Ave. Lines)
ESI Package 8: 145th Street, 167th Street, and 174-175th Street in Manhattan and the Bronx (Lenox Ave. and Concourse Lines).
28th Street and 145th Street Stations are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and several of the other stations are located within historic districts.
Project Scope
Conditions assessments and drawings identifying deterioration and defects in existing finishes.
Construction drawings and repair specifications.
Materials sourcing and development for new and existing ceramic wall tile, mosaic, brick, terra cotta, structural glazed facing tile, and architectural cast iron.
Construction supervision and quality assurance.
145th Street before rehabilitation.
145th Street after rehabilitation (Image Credit: Ola Wilk).
A conservator checks replica mosaic layout against original tiles.
145th Street after rehabilitation (Image Credit: Ola Wilk).
Severely salt-damaged terracotta cartouche at 145th Street.
A replica cartouche before firing.
53rd Street before rehabilitation.
53rd Street after rehabilitation (Image Credit: Ola Wilk).
Prospect Avenue before rehabilitation.
Prospect Avenue after rehabilitation.
23rd Street before rehabilitation.
23rd Street after rehabilitation.
Bay Ridge Avenue before rehabilitation.
Bay Ridge Avenue after rehabilitation.
Large sections of wall at 174-175th Street had to be reconstructed due to severe deterioration.
174-175th Street after rehabilitation.
167th Street before rehabilitation.
167th Street after rehabilitation.
A conservator surveys wall finishes on the 28th Street platform.
28th Street after rehabilitation.
Matching modern tile glazes at 34th Street.
Checking frost-resistant tile production samples against control.
Frost-resistant tile comes out of the kiln.
23rd Street entrance clad in JBC-developed blue frost-resistant tile.