Media Advisories
Wash Sq Arch
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
No. 50
FACELIFT FOR A FOUNDING FATHER:
PARKS & RECREATION KICKS OFF WASHINGTON SQ. ARCH RESTORATION
DATE: Wednesday, April 30th, 2003
TIME: 2:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Washington Square Park, North End
Manhattan
EVENT & PHOTO-OP: Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe joins Sam White (grandson of the Arch's architect Standford White), Alexander Stirling Calder Rower (great-grandson of the sculptor of the Arch’s Washington-as-Statesman sculpture), Lynne Brown of New York University, and others to break ground on masonry and sculptural restoration of Washington Square Arch.
Conditions permitting, media will be offered a rare tour of the 108-year-old Arch’s spiral Guastavino tile staircase, concealed raw brick attic space, and roof.
DETAILS: Now that the temperatures have warmed up and the snow has melted, Parks & Recreation is beginning the exterior restoration of the Washington Square Arch. The project will restore the Washington Square Arch to its original condition and includes securing loose pieces, recarving select sculptural and decorative features, filling fissures with an appropriate mortar compound, and repairing the statues of Washington. Forty-five of the ninety-five rosettes on the coffered soffit of the Arch have sustained losses, and will be repaired or replaced.
Work done over the winter included the electrical modifications, remedial site work, and site mobilization.
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CONTACT: Megan Sheekey/Eric Adolfsen (212) 360-1311
Related Press Release:
WASHINGTON SQUARE ARCH RESTORATION BEGINS