11 Madison Avenue
Project Statistics
Project Name: Façade Repair & FISP Compliance at 11 Madison Avenue
Location: New York, NY
Client: EL Green Realty
Completion Date: 2023
Service Type: Façade Repair, FISP Compliance
Industry/Building Type/Height/Units: Commercial Office Building; Steel Framed with Limestone Cladding; 30 stories
Overview
11 Madison Avenue, a monumental limestone-clad building occupying a full city block, was originally designed in 1928 by architects Harvey Wiley Corbett and Dan Everett Wade to rise 100 stories. Conceived at the height of the pre-Depression building boom, it was to be the tallest skyscraper in New York. The economic crash forced a re-thinking of these ambitions, and construction was phased over two decades, ultimately resulting in a 30-story building for Metropolitan Life. Despite the reduced scale, 11 Madison Avenue remains a striking testament to the strength and optimism of Art Deco design.
CANY was engaged in 2019 to identify and mitigate unsafe façade conditions under NYC’s Façade Inspection and Safety Program (FISP), and to develop a comprehensive repair strategy.
CANY's Involvement
Services provided
The huge scale of the project, architectural detailing, and construction history required over 100 rope drops by the teams to make their assessment, before embarking on a complex program to repair and restore the building’s architectural integrity using a mix of suspended and pipe scaffolds to minimize tenant disruption.
Services Provided
Façade Inspections, spall removals and initial repair assessments
FISP related repairs including limestone façade repairs and selective stone replacement
Construction Administration
Scope of work
Over 100 Industrial Rope Access drops during the initial investigation phase
Over 200 suspended scaffold drops throughout the two phases of the project
Removal of failed patches and corroded steel kerf anchors embedded within the stone
Dutchman repairs and stone replacement using Alabama limestone matching original
Design support and engineering review for large scale carved window lintel replacements
Ongoing façade support during subsequent repair phases
Our approach and solutions provided
Main challenges
Enormous façade area; full city block and large limestone blocks
Continuous ongoing deterioration from previous patch repairs, stone deterioration and spalling from embedded kerf anchors
Logistical complexity of exterior due to restricted access because of high-profile tenants
CANY's solution
Avoided replication of previous patching to address underlying issues, and used Dutchman repairs for long-term durability and aesthetic integrity
Removed corroded anchors and stabilized limestone with pins
Source-matched original Alabama limestone for visual continuity
Collaborated with engineers to redesign vulnerable carved lintel stones into sectional components, preserving support while reducing the failure risk
Utilized suspended scaffold with C-hooks for faster repositioning and minimal tenant disruption
Developed phased repair plan to balance scope, budget, and schedule while accounting for the ongoing progression of material failure.
Project Achievements
Key outcomes
Significant improvement in building safety and FISP compliance
Long-term repair approach adopted using Dutchman technique in place of previously ineffective patch repairs
Close material match achieved with original Alabama limestone, preserving original character
Full restoration completed without entering tenant spaces, reducing disruption to high-profile tenants
Engineered solutions addressed structural vulnerabilities in heavy lintel stones without compromising aesthetics or function
Building History
Originally conceived as a 100-story Art Deco skyscraper, 11 Madison Avenue suffered the consequences of the economic devastation of the Great Depression and was truncated at only 30 stories. Despite this dramatic reduction in scale, the building maintains its unique stature as a solid and aspirational monument to the architectural ambitions of the 1920s. The perfectly symmetrical limestone monolith occupies an entire city block, its carved stonework creating a beautiful and imposing presence.
Built for Metropolitan Life, 11 Madison Avenue was designed by the architectural partnership of Harvey Wiley Corbett and Dan Everett Wade in 1928. Construction began in 1929, just as the stock market crash ushered in the Great Depression. Due to the severe economic challenges of the era, the building was constructed in three distinct phases over two decades. This was an innovative approach that allowed Metropolitan Life to spread construction costs while maintaining a functional building that could generate revenue from the completed sections.
The first phase (1929-1932) focused on the southern portion facing Park Avenue and was immediately occupied upon completion. The second phase completed the middle section in 1946, while the third and final phase concentrated on the northern section, reaching completion in 1950.
The architectural team brought complementary expertise to the project. Dan Everett Wade served as Metropolitan Life’s in-house architect, while Harvey Wiley Corbett was a prominent figure in the development of the Art Deco skyscraper style. He had previously been selected to work on the Rockefeller Center but left that project to design 11 Madison Avenue. The building showcases the era’s zoning requirements through sophisticated setbacks that create sculptural ribbons and columns rising from an extraordinarily solid base – a foundation that was originally engineered to support 70 additional stories.
Perhaps more striking in its present form than it might have been at its full height, the building represents both the soaring ambitions of the 1920s building boom, and the pragmatic adaptions necessitated by economic reality. Today 11 Madison Avenue serves as the headquarters for Sony Music Entertainment and houses the internationally acclaimed Eleven Madison Park restaurant.
Conclusion
CANY’s involvement transformed a routine FISP cycle into a carefully considered conservation-minded repair program. The success of the project was grounded in our understanding and appreciation of the building’s history, structure, and materials, as well as close coordination with client, contractors and engineers. The project not only met FISP requirements but upheld the legacy of a New York architectural treasure.
