I wish I hadn’t slept through Statics. I’m constantly amazed at what comprises adequate structural support for buildings undergoing renovation. The Mohawk Electric building, which is getting a fussy new TriBeCa worthy name and face lift, big time, has been slowly deassembled over the past couple weeks. I had assumed they would strip the floors to the joists, and start the renovation from there. The skeleton was slowly revealed (the windows were the first to go) and was striking, particularly at sunset. All the interior wood had been painted white (to likely maximize interior light levels), so the play of shadow across the wood running in all three dimensions was starkly evident. But then, on the north side of the building, the joists came out, leaving only the major interior columns and beams. I understand post and beam construction, to a point (it’s pretty obvious), and all of it works in compression, so as long as it’s heavy, it probably isn’t going anywhere, but still. In another week or so, it’s going to be a brick shell. A hell of a sight (catch it while you can). And I still wonder about those joists. Buildings from the turn of the century (particularly those for manufacturing) used dimensional lumber you just can’t get anymore. With the proper flooring, the provide a solidity and sound attenuation that’s hard to beat. Nonetheless, make way for the corrugated floor pan and concrete pour. Hell, maybe they should just get Gursky to take a picture of it and glue the print on the facade of a brand new building. And afterward, walk up to 116 Hudson, where you can see the old and new happen side by side — well, old there is a bit of a dodge too. It isn’t even a brick shell, the center having been cleanly ripped out months ago. They don’t make them like they used to, that much is for sure.
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The Atelier Stripped Bare by Her Developers, Even.
I wish I hadn’t slept through Statics. I’m constantly amazed at what comprises adequate structural support for buildings undergoing renovation. The Mohawk Electric building, which is getting a fussy new TriBeCa worthy name and face lift, big time, has been slowly deassembled over the past couple weeks. I had assumed they would strip the floors to the joists, and start the renovation from there. The skeleton was slowly revealed (the windows were the first to go) and was striking, particularly at sunset. All the interior wood had been painted white (to likely maximize interior light levels), so the play of shadow across the wood running in all three dimensions was starkly evident. But then, on the north side of the building, the joists came out, leaving only the major interior columns and beams. I understand post and beam construction, to a point (it’s pretty obvious), and all of it works in compression, so as long as it’s heavy, it probably isn’t going anywhere, but still. In another week or so, it’s going to be a brick shell. A hell of a sight (catch it while you can). And I still wonder about those joists. Buildings from the turn of the century (particularly those for manufacturing) used dimensional lumber you just can’t get anymore. With the proper flooring, the provide a solidity and sound attenuation that’s hard to beat. Nonetheless, make way for the corrugated floor pan and concrete pour. Hell, maybe they should just get Gursky to take a picture of it and glue the print on the facade of a brand new building. And afterward, walk up to 116 Hudson, where you can see the old and new happen side by side — well, old there is a bit of a dodge too. It isn’t even a brick shell, the center having been cleanly ripped out months ago. They don’t make them like they used to, that much is for sure.