Manhattan renovation relies on customized stonework
The building has two entrances, one on 58th Street and the other on 59th Street, creating its own little niche between two prestigious New York City thoroughfares, Park and Lexington Avenues.
Originally designed in 1968 by architect William Lescaze & Associates, the building was ready for some modernization in October 1999, when the first steps were taken to begin the renovation. The late-1960s building needed a fresh new look, bringing it up to speed with the times. “The building was simply outdated,†explained restoration architect Bill Leggio of William Leggio Architects in New York, NY. “The lobby was the same as it was when it was designed in 1968 and needed to be brought into the 21st century. The new design provides a long feature wall that connected the two outdoor plazas that were used as a through lobby from street to street.â€