250 East 49th St
Project Statistics
Project Name: 250 East 49 Street Stucco Restoration After Hurricane Isaias
Location: New York City, NY
Client: Residential Condominium Owners and Building Management
Completion Date: August 2024(four-year project after August 2020 hurricane)
Service Type: Façade Restoration, Building Envelope Consulting, Damage Assessment
Industry/Building Type/Height: Residential, 24-story Condominium Building Preservation)
Overview
This project involved the full removal and replacement of a failed stucco cladding system that was catastrophically damaged during Hurricane Isaias in 2020.
CANY assessed the hurricane damage, uncovered construction defects, and designed a stronger, weather-resistant exterior system. The project exposed significant systemic failures in the original construction of the building, which had been completed only a decade earlier in 2010.
The building features a distinctive curving street façade of glass and terracotta, but the rear section, finished in stucco, proved vulnerable to extreme weather.
CANY's Involvement
Services provided
CANY performed a full damage assessment, identified systemic building envelope failures, and developed a complete restoration plan that prioritized immediate safety and long-term performance.
Scope of work
Emergency damage assessment after Hurricane Isaias
Investigation of building envelope to find root causes of failure
Cost analysis for replacement cladding options
Design and implementation of a new Exterior Insulating Finishing System (EIFS)
Project oversight and coordination with owners, managers, contractors, and the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)
Our approach and solutions provided
Main challenges
Revealing that the original stucco cladding system was fundamentally flawed
Identifying water damage to the underlying substrate caused by poor waterproofing
Communicating the extent of systemic failures to owners and managers
Coordinating repairs with multiple parties including condominium owners, building management, contractors, and the DOB
CANY's solution
Kept owners, management and contractors informed at every stage of the process
Oversaw complete removal of the compromised stucco cladding
Replaced damaged substrate materials to restore structural integrity
Designed and installed a high performance EIFS with superior weather resistance and insulation
Applied a protective cementitious coating to enhance durability
Project Achievements
Key outcomes
Restored building safety after catastrophic cladding failure
Upgraded the building envelope with fully water-tight and air-tight exterior
Improved insulation performance across the building façade
Strengthened the building’s resistance to future extreme weather events
Fostered close collaboration among owners, managers, contractors and DOB over a four-year restoration effort
Building History
Completed in 2010, 250 East 49th Street is a 24-story residential condominium in Midtown East, Manhattan. Designed with a modern curving façade of glass and terracotta, the building was marketed as a boutique luxury residence. Despite its relatively young age, the building's rear stucco façade suffered catastrophic failure during Hurricane Isaias in 2020, leading to a major multi-year restoration project to rebuild and strengthen its exterior.
The restoration not only repaired the building’s envelope but reinforced its original vision of offering residents modern, resilient city living in the heart of Midtown.
Conclusion
CANY's investigation revealed that the building's façade failures were rooted in fundamental construction defects, not just hurricane damage. Over four years, CANY transformed the building's performance, providing residents with safer homes, comfort, better energy efficiency, and renewed confidence, all while preserving the architectural character of this Midtown residential tower
