GRACIANO NL 10-04

IN THIS ISSUE

ARTICLES

Brooklyn Academy of Music

Brooklyn-BatteryTunnel

Bronx and ManhattanGrit Chambers

OOR Program

Interns At Graciano

DEPARTMENTS

Golf Tip

ArtiFACTS

A N I N F O R M A T I V E N E W S L E T T E R O NR E S T O R A T I O N A N D P R E S E R V A T I O N

G R A C I A N O • M A S O N R Y A N D C O N C R E T E R E S T O R A T I O N S I N C E 1 9 1 6 • W W W . G R A C I A N O . C O M

Fourth Quarter u 2004

Graciano Assumes Key Role In Bowery Bay Expansion

Most people don’t give much thought to wastewater treatment.As long as sewage and storm water systems continue to operate

as they should, there’s little reason for the general public to be con-cerned with them. At the other end of the pipelines, however, it’s adifferent story.

New York City’s Bowery Bay facility in Astoria, New York – just offthe shore of Manhattan – is the nerve center of the New York CityDepartment of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) wastewater treat-ment operations for Astoria. Constructed in the 1930s, the BoweryBay facility processes millions of gallons of sewage each day, 365 days a year. With the residents in the New York Borough of Queensdepending on the plant to provide dependable wastewater handlingservices, it’s critical that it be kept in good repair and in compliancewith all applicable environmental regulations.

Over the years, from non-stop use and exposure to the elements,many of the masonry surfaces at the plant began to deteriorate andrequire restoration and repointing. In addition, to accommodatechanging environmental regulatory demands, it was becoming nec-essary to rethink the plant’s processing and power supply systems.After carefully examining their options, the New York City DEPbrought together a joint venture formed by three leading firms inthe mechanical and civil engineering arenas to oversee a series ofupgrades, as well as restoration of the existing facilities.

Continued on page 2.

North Elevation, stairs #5

Electric Building, radius stone at window opening being installed.

Graciano Puts Final Touches On Cloisters

As the leaves on the trees in Manhattan’s Fort Tryon

Park begin to change from lushgreens to an explosion of fall color, Graciano Corporation is wrap-ping up its restoration work on The Cloisters, the home of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s medievalart and architecture collection. For the past year, the company has beenreplicating and replacing numerous Mission-style roof tiles, cleaningand repointing the building’s granite façades, and probing of the struc-ture’s stonework to identify hidden structural problems. Graciano hasalso been responsible for resetting sections of the building’s granite

roof surfaces, and has overseen the removaland reconstruction of a 50-year-old stonewalkway in the build-ing’s FuentidueñaChapel area. Workcommenced the firstweek of September,2003, and should wrap up by the end of 2004.

“This project has been a true showcaseof our skills,” com-ments Glenn Foglio,President of GracianoCorporation. “Thefact that it housessome of the finest art in the world hasencouraged our team to deliver nothing short of anexceptional job.”


The Cloisters Museum

Project: The Cloisters Museum

Owner: MetropolitanMuseum of Art

Architect: Walter B. Melvin Associates

Project Architect: Robert Bates, RA

RestorationContractor: Graciano Corporation

Date of Completion: Fall 2004

Tower work completed, scaffold removal in progress.

http://www.graciano.com

The expansion is designed and managed by Hazen and Sawyer, thedesign engineers. The construction management joint venture consistsof the general contracting firms: Frontier-Kemper Constructors, DurrMechanical Construction and Perini Corporation. The project is antici-pated to take two years to complete. Graciano Corporation was namedthe masonry subcontractor on the $150 million project, and will bedirectly involved with the construction of several new structures, as wellas the restoration of exterior and interior surfaces on existing buildings.

Approximately $7.5 million of the total project budget is dedicated to new building construction, and $1.4 million is earmarked for restora-tion initiatives. New structures include housings for two electrical substations and a froth-control building. Additions to existing buildingsinclude a new boiler house facility and a residual handling building. All structures will feature masonry construction.

“As the masonry contractor on the Bowery Bay job, our responsibilitieswill include general masonry restoration and repair, extensive recon-struction of parapets, resetting of coping materials, and replacement ofseveral three-story high windows that were installed when the buildingswere built nearly 70 years ago,” comments Larry Tielsch, Graciano’ssite manager on the job. “The assignment will also include the installa-tion of pre-cast lintels – including complex circular lintels that will border several sets of round louvers – and replacement of damagedstructural glazed facing tiles that line the interior of the buildings.”

The assignment, however, presents a number of unique challenges for the Graciano team. According to Larry, “The existing structuresrequire a great deal of cleaning and repair. Particular attention alsoneeds to be focused on matching bond patterns, as well as colors and

textures. In addition, we areresponsible for all masonrywork on the new buildings, and are charged with coordi-nating the appearance of thenew materials with the existingstructures.”

Bill Vollmer, project leader forFrontier-Kemper, was pleasedwith the selection of Gracianofor the assignment. “Gracianohas an excellent reputation inthe areas of masonry repair andbuilding. Their exceptionalexperience will undoubtedly bean asset on this project.”

The Bowery Bay assignment isone of many projects Gracianohas undertaken in the NewYork metropolitan area over thepast 20 years. “We have had the privilege of completing award winningwork on many of New York’s most beloved structures,” commentedGlenn Foglio, President of Graciano Corp. “This project is a criticalone for the citizens of New York City — all of whom depend on reli-able wastewater services on a daily basis. We are pleased to partner withthe firms comprising the joint venture and look forward to providingexcellent results that are attractive, as well as highly functional.”


G R A C I A N O • G I V I N G A F U T U R E T O T H E P A S T • 2

Graciano Assumes Key Role In Bowery Bay Expansion

Continued from front cover.

Bowery Bay Water Pollution Control Plant

Project: Bowery Bay Water Pollution Control Plant

Owner: New York City Department of Environmental Protection

General Frontier-Kemper Contractors: Constructors,

Durr Mechanical Construction, Perini Corporation

Design Engineers & Architects: Hazen and Sawyer

MASONRY &Restoration Contractor: Graciano Corporation

Anticipated Date of

Completion: Fall 2006

View of Electricalbuilding – northelevation

“This project is a critical one for the citizens of New

York City — all of whom depend on reliable wastewater

services on a daily basis.”

— Glenn Foglio, President Graciano Corporation


After more than two years of painstaking work,the exterior restoration of the Brooklyn

Academy of Music (BAM) is nearing a Novembercompletion. The oldest performing arts center incontinuous operation in America, the 93-year-oldbuilding’s façade features extraordinary decorativedetail in brick, polychrome terra cotta, granite and marble.

Working together with Hardy, Holzmann andPfieffer Associates, a leading planning, architecturaland interior design firm, Building ConservationAssociates (BCA), consultants for the conservationand restoration of historic buildings, culturalresources and works of art, and Robert SilmanAssociates, structural engineers, Graciano super-vised and executed all phases of a comprehensiveplan to restore the façade of the structure back toits original glory. After 10 decades of exposure tothe elements, the Opera House required extensivemasonry and stone rehabilitation, terra cotta repairand replacement, cornice, parapet and balustradereplacement and repairs to the building’s flashingsystems and supporting structures.

“It is a remarkable building with incredibly complex detail,” comments Graciano’s VicePresident of Operations, Dino Rossi. “We have successfully restored it to its original glory and are just as amazed as everyone else at how beautiful it really is.”

The project began at the base of the building’sroofline with reconstruction of four parapets – the largest of which had been removed from thebuilding in the 1950s due to severe brick and terracotta damage. To replicate the look of the originalstructures, Graciano worked closely with BCA toensure that these significant architectural elementswere of the correct size and material composition.According to Ric Viera of BCA, “They realized theimportance the missing and damaged parapets hadto the original design, and truly understood howthese features added height, color, shadows andgeneral interest to the building.”

Once the parapet repairs were underway, attentionwas directed at the building’s cornice. Five feet wide and 15 feet high, this major architectural feature had suffered years of severe water infiltra-tion that resulted in a cracked terra cotta veneerand deeply corroded steel supports. To repair thecornice, façade sections around the structure wereshored and braced, and the entire terra cotta sur-face, as well as a one-foot thick brick wall behindthe cornice was removed to reveal the steelwork.Rusted structural supports were scrapped, repairedand painted, and glass-fiber reinforced concrete(GFRC) replicas of the original terra cotta sections,manufactured by David Kucera, Inc. were attachedto a newly designed and installed structural steelframing system.


3 • M I L E S T O N E S • F O U R T H Q U A R T E R 2 0 0 4


Work On Brooklyn Academy of Music Comes To An Impressive End

Brooklyn Academy of Music

Project: Brooklyn Academy ofMusic, Brooklyn, NY

Construction Greyhawk NorthManager: America

GeneralContractor: Graciano Corporation

Prime Hardy, Holzman andConsultant: Pfeiffer Associates

LLP

Restoration Building ConservationConsultants: Associates

Date of Completion: August 2004

Door surround. Reconstruction in progress.

View of St. Felix reconstructedbalustrade, cornice, terra cottabonds, lettering and window arch.

Close up of restored door surround,“Baby Header”

View of main elevation,reconstructed cornice,balustrade, terra cottabonds, letters reinstalledand rebuilt windowarches.


Built by the Rockefeller family in the 1930s, The Cloisters is located onfour acres overlooking the Hudson River in northern Manhattan. Thestructure incorporates architectural elements from five medieval Frenchcloisters, as well as stone and other building materials indigenous to theManhattan area. The facility features extensive gardens and containsartifacts dating from the twelfth through the fifteenth centuries. Due toits landmark status, renovation of The Cloisters required strict adher-ence to preservation guidelines.

“This assignment was definitely a challenge,” remarks Dino Rossi,Graciano’s Vice President of Operations. “We quickly discovered aftergetting to the jobsite that a traditional scaffolding installation aroundthe building’s central tower was not going to work. Due to the waythese structures are built, many of the roofs couldn’t bear the weight ofthe scaffolding. To get around this problem – and to ultimately get thejob done – we had to build a steel framework over the roof surfaces andthen run the scaffolding up from there.”

“It was a real feat of engineering,” adds Tom Corbo, Graciano’s VicePresident, General Manager. “We were particularly concerned aboutnot damaging any of the stone or tile work on the façades, and we

couldn’t obstruct any of the traffic in or out of the museum. Once wegot the framework in place and redirected the weight of the scaffoldingaway from the roof structures, we were in business.”

When the restoration was underway, crews from Graciano carefullyremoved existing mission roof tiles to reach the deteriorated substruc-tures beneath them. New concrete roof decks, state-of-the-art roofmembranes, and precisely crafted terra cotta roof tiles from BostonValley Terra Cotta, were then installed. Pointing operations and stonerestoration initiatives followed, along with replacement of some of thebuilding’s windows. Final site clean up is currently underway, and thejob should be completely finished by the end of the 2004 constructionseason.

“The artistry on this job is simply outstanding,” comments Dino. “The match between the new and old materials is so close that youreally can’t tell the difference if you didn’t know precisely where tolook. We’ve received a number of compliments about how well this job turned out, but the real credit goes to the Graciano artisans andcraftsmen who really made the restoration look seamless.”



Graciano Puts Final Touches On Cloisters

Continued from front cover.

Installation of new roof at the tower. View of south side of Longon Chapel roof restoration. Overview of Cloisters roofing project in various stagesof completion.

Craning of tower shoring members over Late Gothic Chapel. Connection of shoring member into Late Gothic Chapel.


A fter almost a year, Graciano Corporation’swork on the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel is near-

ing completion. The longest continuous underwatervehicular tunnel in North America, the facility isventilated by equipment housed in four buildings –two located in lower Manhattan, one near theBrooklyn portal, and one just off Governors Island.When operating at full capacity, these ventilationstations facilitate complete air change within thetunnel every one-and-a-half minutes. Built in 1950,this is the first major overhaul of the tunnel’smasonry and concrete structural components.

“We have been very successful in keeping the tunnel operating at full capacity while our rest-oration initiatives have been underway,” remarksDino Rossi, Graciano’s Vice President of Operations,New York Division. “Thousands of cars and commuters depend on the tunnel for daily accessand exit from Manhattan, and we had to completeour tasks without getting in the way. Fortunately,that is a skill we have perfected on numerous other jobs, and it was second nature for us on this assignment.”

Since October of 2003, Graciano has been carry-ing out a full-scale rehabilitation on the façade of the Governors Island building. Specifically, thecompany has been restoring the building’s graniteand terra cotta features, removing an existingacrylic stucco cladding system, and waterproofingthe facility’s brick subsurface to accommodate anew granite curtain-wall cladding system that is tobe installed by another contractor. Graciano hasalso been responsible for repairs to the building’sgranite seawall, as well as repairs to expansionjoints contained in the monoliths that comprisethe foundation of the man-made island. The proj-ect is in the final stages of completion and shouldbe wrapped up within the next several weeks.

“Getting out to the site has been one of our pri-mary challenges,” comments Richard Fitzpatrick,the General Foreman on the project. “This job isliterally in the middle of New York Harbor, and can only be reached by walking through the tunneland climbing eight stories to reach the structureswe are working on, or by taking a water taxi. Tools,equipment and materials have had to be carried onto the island, and all heavy equipment is transportedto the site by barge. Since we perfected getting outthere and getting back, the job has moved along likeclockwork.”

One of the more difficult segments of this job was the repair of the monoliths. Over time, thematerial in the expansion joints had deterioratedand water had begun to infiltrate these enormousreinforced concrete structures. To repair thejoints, the monoliths had to be excavated and the deteriorated material needed to be removed.After the joint surfaces were thoroughly cleaned,inspected and repaired, they were filled with ahydrophilic foam product that expanded to sealthe joint and curtail the water infiltration.

“The monoliths had to be fixed,” says Dino.“Doing so was the only way to keep the island stable. Once they were complete, we directed our attention at cleaning and pointing the seawall.Once again, we needed to tailor our operations to our surroundings, as we had to schedule ouractivities to accommodate the rising and loweringof the tides.”

Tom Corbo, Graciano’s Vice President, GeneralManager of New York Division, sees the company’swork as a true value for New York City. “This is amaritime environment out here, and the elementscan be tough on the structures. The work we’vedone on the monoliths, the walls and the ventilationbuilding itself improves both the structural integrityand the overall appearance of the entire island. Itwill last for years to come.”

Glenn Foglio, President of Graciano Corporation,agrees with Tom. “The structures on GovernorsIsland were built to stand the tests of time. Throughthe efforts of our craftsmen, we are ensuring thatgenerations of New Yorkers will be able to benefitfrom the tunnels for decades to come.”



Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel

Project: Governors Island Vent Building Façade Rehabilitation and Emergency Egress System

Owner: Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority

General Contractor: Kiewit Constructors

MasonryContractor: Graciano Corporation

Architect: DiGeronimo, P.A.

Date of Completion: November 2004

Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel Project Nears Completion

“The work we’ve done on the

monoliths, the walls and the

ventilation building itself

improves both the structural

integrity and the overall

appearance of the entire island.

It will last for years to come.”

— Tom Corbo, Vice President, General Manager, New York DivisionGraciano Corporation


Sometimes, life can take you on a few unexpected journeys to someunfortunate destinations. And oftentimes, the outcomes are not

pleasant and life can look bleak. The only choice is to reach for thefuture and strive for a new start.

And that’s exactly what Stanley Smallwood and Antoine Thomas, two valued employees at Graciano Corporation, have done.

Stanley, a union pointer, caulker, and cleaner employed by Graciano,found himself going down a road that eventually led to incarceration in a Pennsylvania State Correctional Facility. “My life wasn’t going the way I wanted it to,” he commented. “Once I ended up in prison, I decided that it was time to make some serious changes so I could get out and never find myself there again.”

Fortunately, Stanley was accepted into the Operation Outward Reach (OOR) program at SCI Somerset. Formed in 1972 at the State Regional Correctional Facility at Greensburg, the programprovides community-based training programs for inmates of the state correctional system. Specifically, the programs provide traineeswith carpentry and masonry skills, work skills and life skills.

In the OOR program, Stanley added ceramic tile installation, concretefinishing, drywall installation and finishing and roofing to his skill set.“Being in prison was mentally difficult,” observed Stanley. “However, I knew that learning these skills would make me more marketable when I got out. Fortunately, I was able to go back to Graciano after I was released, and have found myself in a much better place.”

According t o Glenn Foglio, President ofGraciano Corp., both he and the company werepleased to have Stanley back. “I’ve known Stanleysince we were in high school, and was saddened to see the direction his life took. To his credit, he worked hard while he was incarcerated, and

learned a whole new set of skills that helped make him a more valuableasset here at Graciano. When he was released from SCI Somerset, Iinterviewed Stanley and saw a dramatic improvement in his attitudeand his work ethic, and felt comfortable offering him another chancewith us. Everyone here at the company is proud of his recovery, andwe’re pleased he’s back to a productive and happy life.”

Antoine Thomas, another Graciano employee, also completed theOOR course when he was an inmate at SCI Somerset. “Antoine was a friend of Stanley’s, and he spoke highly of him,” commented Glenn.When he had completed his commitment to the correctional system, I interviewed him and hired him as a groundsman. He has excelled inhis position, and we look forward to helping him getinto the apprentice program with the bricklayer’sunion this fall.

Stanley and Antoine are currently working on-site onthe restoration of Two Mellon Center in downtownPittsburgh. “We’re proud to have Stanley andAntwoine in the Graciano family,” summed upGlenn. “Everyone can use a second chance at one time or another in their lives.”



Bronx and Manhattan Grit Chambers

Project: Wards Island Water Pollution Control Plant, Bronx and Manhattan Grit Chambers

Owner: New York City Department of Environmental Protection

Engineers: Hazen and Sawyer

Architect: Malcolm Pirnie

Masonry & Restoration GracianoContractor: Corporation

Date of Completion: Fall 2005

A fter nearly a year of ongoing work, Graciano Corporation

has passed the midway point onthe rehabilitation of two buildings,one on the Bronx side and one onthe Manhattan side of WardsIsland. The wastewater treatmentplants are the first stage sewagetreatment facility for Manhattanand the Bronx. Designed byMcKim, Mead and White in the1930s, the Wards IslandWastewater Treatment Facilitieshave long been part of the NewYork City skyline. The interiorwas designed to house grit chambers – large holdingtanks that allow solids and densematerials to settle out of incomingwastewater. The structure’s exte-rior features an ornate façadeintegrating stone carvings,

decorative brickwork, and castaluminum metalwork that effec-tively hide the inner workings of the buildings.

“This project has been challeng-ing, in that the facility needs tocontinue operating at full capacityduring the renovation proce-dures,” comments Dino Rossi,Graciano Corporation’s VicePresident of Operations, NewYork Division. “We have plannedour activities around the scheduleof the plant to make sure thatwastewater operations are notdisrupted and that every necessarytask associated with the renova-tions is completely addressed.”

Restoration of the Wards Islandbuildings has involved brickrestoration, removal, restoration

Wards Island Wastewater Treatment Facilities Pass Midway Point

OOR Program Brings About New Beginnings

Stanley Smallwood

Antoine Thomas


College is the time when students gather skills that

ultimately form the basis of theircareers. And while classroomwork and discussion of theoriesare important components in theeducational process, real-worldexperience is a critical factor that’snecessary for making an effectivetransition into the workforce.

For the past two years, GracianoCorp. has been offering a selectgroup of student interns opportu-nities to become more familiarwith the inner-workings of therestoration and construction business. During this time, twostudents – Nick Kuntz and DanMcIntyre, Jr. – have gathered thereal-world skills that are roundingout their educational careers.

“Our internship program givesstudents great opportunities towork side-by-side with profes-sionals,” remarks Glenn Foglio,

President of Graciano Corp.“They learn the business from theinside out, and then apply theirexperiential and academic knowl-edge to specific assignments.”

During his tenure with the company, Nick worked withGraciano’s Safety Manager, RickJovan. “Under Rick’s guidance,Nick developed a tracking systemthat lets company managementcontinually monitor compliancewith safety requirements,”observes Glenn. “Thanks toNick’s hard and thorough work,we no longer have to wait forreports to determine where westand with our safety programs.”

Dan served two tours of dutywith the Graciano internshipprogram. He began by workingdirectly with Glenn on develop-ing control systems that monitorthe sales performance of staffmembers. He also developed a

computerized application thatsystemized the development ofproject post audits. During hissecond stay with the company,he was actively involved in supporting the activities of thesales estimators. According toGlenn, “Dan was instrumental in helping us set up theCustomer RelationshipManagement System (CRM), and has picked up a number of important estimating skills. We are exceptionally pleased with his performance.”

The internshipprogram is open tofull and part-timecollege students.“Currently, wehave Ben Penigar,one of our fieldmechanics,involved with the program,”

comments Glenn. “He has beentaking engineering courses atnight for several years, andapproached us about entering theprogram and gaining some expe-rience in the areas he has beenstudying. We were pleased toprovide him with the opportunityto develop his career interests.”

For more information on theGraciano Corp. internship program, contact Glenn Foglio at 412-963-8400.

and replacement of spandrel covers and other carved stone features, and removal, cataloging,repair and replacement of thestructure’s ornamental aluminumtrim elements. Within the build-ing itself, concrete grit troughs are being patched and upgradedwith concrete overlays. Work atthe site began in August, 2003,and is scheduled for completionduring the summer of 2005.

According to Dino, the compa-ny’s efforts have been extremelysuccessful in restoring the build-ings to their original appearance.“These structures were extremelyattractive and well-built to beginwith. There was real attention todetail and excellent materialswere used. Over time, wear and

tear, combined with the effects ofthe elements, have taken their tollon the brick and stonework. Andthe corrosive nature of sewagehas caused the troughs within thegrit chambers to deteriorate. Weare mobilizing the concreterepairs, and will now begin con-centrating on the façade restora-tions. We are also currentlyworking with the New York DEP– the owner of the facility – onbuilding a series of new masonryand terra cotta walls within thebuildings. A year from now, theexteriors of these structures willlook much the way they did whenthey were built, and the interiorswill be significantly upgraded.”



Interns Learn Real-World Skills At Graciano

“These structures were extremely attractive and well-built to

begin with… Over time, wear and tear, combined with the effects

of the elements, have taken their toll on the brick and stonework.

— Dino Rossi, Vice President of Operations, New York Division Graciano Corporation

ManhattanGrit Chamber


ArtiFACTS

Work On Brooklyn Academy of Music Comes To An Impressive End

Continued from page 3.

The rotation of the torso is the center of the swing, as well as theprimary source of power. The path of the rotation must be exacted

for a repeating swing. When the torso spins on the through-swing, itbecomes the center of the swing’s radius. So when you address the ball,imagine the path of the unwinding torso at an exact distance from theball at impact. This is paramount.

The torso and shoulders unwind so precisely that they can “nip” theball off a hardwood floor. That is, without rotating downward into the floor “fat.” Or, without a rotation that rises too quickly, “thin.”

This exact torso through-path enable the arms to make minuteadjustments as they come through after the torso’s lead.

The only way to achieve a repeating nip of the ball with your torso and lagging arms is to make sure that your weight is evenly balancedon the balls of both feet (50% and 50%). So try imagining that you are standing on a sheet of ice. This will keep you level and balanced at impact, so your torso – and then, your arms and hands – can exactflush impact.

GRACIANO CORPORATE OFFICE: 209 SIGMA DRIVE, PITTSBURGH PA 15238-2826 • 412-963-8400 • 800-523-5076 • FAX 412-963-6284

NEW YORK OFFICE: P.O. BOX 3454 CHURCH ST., NEW YORK, NY 10008-3454 • 973-857-0507 X290 • NEW JERSEY OFFICE: 500 BORRIE AVENUE, BRIELLE, NJ 08730 • 732-292-0100

Graciano – A Reputation For Quality Since 1916, Graciano Corporation has specialized in historic preservation and concrete and masonry restoration, beautifi-cation and structural repair. We’ve beenentrusted to restore some of the nation’s most prestigious structures. We’ve earned the highest reputation in our fieldbecause we offer:

u Unsurpassed Expertise u Competitive Pricingu Dependabilityu Project Problem Solvingu Management Responsivenessu No Project Delaysu Beautiful Resultsu Project Documentation

Graciano services include:u Free Specification Design and

Review Servicesu (Local Law 10) Building Inspectionsu Free Surveysu Concrete Restorationu Terra-Cotta Replacement

and Repairu Stone and Brick Restorationu Tuck Pointingu Masonry Cleaningu Abrasive Cleaningu Waterproofingu Caulkingu Urethane/Epoxy Injectionu Deck Coatingsu Shotcrete and Guniteu Water-Control Groutingu New Construction

On these types of structures: u Historic Buildings u National Monumentsu Parking Structures u Reservoirs/Damsu Schools/Collegesu Churchesu Condominiumsu Commercial Buildingsu Bridgesu Decks and Plazasu Industrial Processing Plantsu Stadiumsu Correctional Facilities

Graciano Corporation operates throughoutthe United States and is bonded, licensedand insured in all states of operation. We are affiliated with the BOMA, IMI,AFL-CIO Building Trades International,ACA, UMWA, PMI, SWI. We maintaina comprehensive safety program in compli-ance with OSHA and MSHA standardsand are licensed to apply numerous state-of-the-art finishes, grouts and sealants.

Graciano welcomes the opportunity to bidon your upcoming restoration/preserva-tion project. Call 800-523-5076 formore information, or visit our web site atwww.graciano.com.


Golf TipGolf Tip

PLEASE PLACE GRACIANO ON YOUR LIST OF BIDDERS TODAY! 800-523-5076

ã Rockefeller Center, an art deco marvel consistingof 19 commercial buildings, covers 11 acres inmidtown Manhattan from 49th to 52nd Streets andFifth to Seventh Avenues. It is named after themulti-millionaire, John D. Rockefeller, who leasedthe space from Columbia University in 1928.

ã Mt. Rushmore features the faces of four exaltedAmerican presidents: George Washington,Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, andAbraham Lincoln. One of the world’s greateststone carvings, these 60-foot high faces, 500 feetup the mountain, were begun in 1927 and took 14years – and a budget of $1 million – to complete.

Significant rehabilitation of themasonry, terra cotta, stone andmetal trim features on the build-ing’s façades was also necessary.Graciano turned to Boston ValleyTerra Cotta to create new bricksto match the building’s originalrough-finished, hand-made mate-rials. They also relied on thecompany to reproduce damagedand missing terra cotta elements.Restoration of some highlydetailed ornamentation, such ascherubs and musical instruments,required the skills of Graciano’sGino Marchese, superintendent at the site, as well as other crafts-men. Once the new materialswere received, they were inter-spersed with dismantled bricks

to create a complicated seven-course brick bond that replicatedthe building’s original appearance.While the brickwork was beinginstalled, terra cotta and stoneelements were reinserted intotheir original positions. At the end of the masonry unit reinstal-lation phase, all shoring materialswere removed and the entirebuilding was carefully repointed.

With the masonry rehabilitationcomplete, all of the building’sbrickwork was carefully cleaned.According to Viera, “Several dif-ferent chemicals and dilution rateshad to be used to compensate forextreme variances in conditionsand soiling patterns. Graciano’s

team didn’t simply clean the brickto look new. They cleaned it tomeet our specifications – whichtook into account the condition of the brick and surroundingmaterials. The result was brickthat looked clean, but not brandnew. The building now has a harmonious, warm appearance,and nothing looks over- or under-cleaned.”

“The building is a great exampleof Beau Arts architecture,”observes Dino. “Now that it hasbeen restored, and all the detailhas been replaced and reinstalled,it can really be used and enjoyedthe way it was intended to be.”

ArtiFACTS

From David Graciano


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GRACIANO NL 10-04