According to Catherine Paplin, who managed the project in Gainfort's office, the goal of the project was two-fold. “On the one hand, there was the desire to restore the courtyard to its original spirit, and to whatever extent possible, its original materials and look,†said Paplin. “On the other hand, there was simply the desire to make the courtyard beautiful, with a quality of design, workmanship and materials that befit this landmark. The previous gray traffic-bearing waterproof membrane, while reasonably inconspicuous and inoffensive, certainly did not do justice to this space or to the quality and history of the building.â€
The architects chose to renovate the courtyard using Glacier Blue[tm] Devonian stone from Devonian Stone of New York, Inc. in Windsor, NY, because of its quality and high level of structural integrity. “We explored different suppliers in New York and Pennsylvania, but they displayed little interest,†said Paplin. “They didn't have the attitude that they were ready to provide a superior product or attentive, intelligent service. [Robert Bellospirito from Devonian Stone] responded differently; quite the opposite actually. He was very enthusiastic right from the beginning, and he emphasized the quality of the stone and the consistency of color. Then he sent us some samples, which we loved. He completely fulfilled all our expectations.â€