Battery Maritime Building

The Beaux-Arts style Battery Maritime Building first opened in 1909 and serviced ferry rides up and down the East River and throughout New York Harbor. New York City’s subway system continues to run underneath the three-story building’s steel structure, which is supported by a substructure of wood piles that reach the bedrock.

Structural engineering services were provided for the reinforcement of the existing building and the construction of a glass-clad vertical expansion. To remove a large number of existing columns, engineers converted a grid of standard beams and columns into much longer span steel trusses by creating full moment connections at every existing connection.

A previous project, completed with a preservation architect, involved a complete investigation and analysis of the structure followed by an exterior restoration. Work included the removal of exterior cast iron, sheet steel, stucco, other cast materials, and all decorative materials, which were then restored or replaced to match the original appearance. Scope also included restoring the Guastavino tile vaulting in the north double-height loggia.

Project Highlights: 

• The Battery Maritime Building has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.
• The renovated interior now contains a boutique hotel with a rooftop restaurant, a new multi-use food venue, live performance space, and areas for art installations and exhibits. The ground level still has active ferry slips.
• The 9,000 sf Great Hall, once a place for waiting ferry passengers, is now an event space. A replica of the original 130’x16’ glass laylight illuminates the hall; a grand ceremonial staircase leading up to the hall was also reconstructed.