1170 Broadway
Project Statistics
Project Name: 1170 Broadway Façade Restoration,
Location: New York, NY
Client: Gardiner & Theobald Inc
Completion Date: 2024
Service Type: Façade Restoration, Structural Repairs, Preservation & Conservation Services, FISP
Industry/Building Type/Height/Units: Commercial hotel with restaurant/Contributing Member to a Historic District/ Limestone and Marble/ 12 stories
Overview
CANY led the exterior restoration of 1170 Broadway, a 12-story Beaux-Arts building on a prominent corner in Manhattan’s NoMad neighborhood. The project encompassed two buildings: the historic limestone structure, originally the Johnston Building, built in 1903, and a smaller adjacent four-story marble-clad building. Both are contributing members to the Madison North Historic District.
Now home to a luxury hotel, the property remained fully operational throughout the project. While the front façade had been regularly maintained, hands-on inspections uncovered severe hidden deterioration at the side and rear elevations, including corroded structural steel and compromised masonry. The restoration required a coordinated program of structural repairs, materials testing and conservation treatments, delivered under the constraints of FISP compliance and active hotel operations with extremely high-profile guests.
CANY's Involvement
Services provided
CANY was engaged in 2021 to develop a FISP repair program following a prior engineer’s report. However, a hands-on rope access quickly uncovered more advanced deterioration than originally documented, particularly on elevations not visible from the street. CANY provided full exterior consulting services from assessment to close-out, including:
FISP filings (upgraded from SWARMP to SAFE)
Construction documents and specifications
Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) coordination
MTA-New York City Transit Authority Permitting and Coordination
Contractor bidding support
Structural probing and analysis
Full-time site monitoring during construction
Annual parapet inspection and report
Scope of work
Front facades
Rear and side facades
Marble building
The project was split between the front elevation, which required fast-tracked work to minimize disruption to hotel operations, a longer, more complex repair effort at the rear and side façades, and conservation and preservation expertise at the smaller adjacent marble building the façade of which had suffered from failed previous repairs and open mortar joints. Key work included:
Main Building
Rebuilding displaced brick corners and bowing masonry at the rear
Reinforcing and selectively replacing rusted structural steel
Stripping and repainting of pressed-metal cornice using historic paint analysis and techniques to blend new finishes with aged material
Removing mid-century painted signage due to lead-based paint flaking, following archival documentation
Repairing a critical limestone crack over subway entrance (requiring MTA permitting and coordination)
Adjacent Marble-Clad Building
Repointing with compatible lime-based mortar
Replacing a deteriorated marble panel with matching marble sourced from original Vermont quarry
Removal of failed previous repairs and replacement with new repairs containing
Discrete anchors to stabilize vulnerable elements
Localized patching and dutchman repairs to preserve original marble
Our approach and solutions provided
Main challenges
Sever but hidden deterioration, especially corroded structural steel behind masonry that had corroded to the point of steel perforation
Two distinct buildings requiring tailored but coordinated repair strategies
Contributing historic district buildings, mandating in-kind materials, preservation-sensitive methods and minimal intervention
Ongoing hotel operations, including VIP guests, required discreet phasing and noise management
Delays due to MTA NYCTA permitting for work above subway infrastructure
CANY's solution
Targeted investigation and documentation: Rope-access inspections and structural probes informed a refined, efficient repair scope
Material authenticity: Replacement marble sourced from the original Vermont quarry; decorative metalwork and paint finishes restored using historic methods
Custom detailing: In-house engineers designed steel reinforcement solutions and anchoring systems that maintained visual authenticity
Phased execution: Close coordination with hotel management ensured quiet zones, minimized guest disruption, and maintained a clean site presence
Public coordination: Navigated MTA-NYCTA permitting process to safely complete crack repairs above a subway entrance
Project Achievements
Key outcomes
Stabilized, repaired and restored structurally compromised façades
Preserved historic materials and detailing, including limestone, terracotta, marble and metalwork
Maintained full hotel operations and guest experience
Achieved FISP compliance with long-term improvements to durability and safe
Supported the ongoing prominence of a landmark hospitality property in a rapidly evolving neighborhood
Building History
1170 Broadway was constructed in 1903 as the Johnston Building, designed by architect Robert Maynicke and commissioned by Caroline H. Johnston. The 12-story Beaux-Arts building features ornate limestone and terra cotta detailing and occupies a dramatic corner in what was once known as the Tin Pan Alley district, an area famous for its early 20th-century music publishers.
In 2012, the building was renovated and transformed into the NoMad Hotel, with interiors by Jacques Garcia that preserved many historic elements while updating the space for modern luxury.
Over the decades, the surrounding neighborhood has evolved from a theater and flower district to one of Manhattan’s most dynamic hospitality and design hubs. CANY are proud of the part they have played to ensure 1170 Broadway remains a defining presence in the area’s architectural and cultural identity.
Conclusion
CANY’s work at 1170 Broadway addressed complex restoration needs across two architecturally significant structures. From sourcing stone from Vermont to replacing perforated structural steel, the project combined structural rigor with conservation expertise, delivering a thoughtful, minimally disruptive restoration that protects both the building’s performance and its historic identity
