Owner
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
New York, New York

Project Engineer/
Designer
WASA/Studio A
New York, New York

Repair Contractor
Nicholson & Galloway, Inc.
Glen Head, New York

Structural Engineer
Robert Silman Associates, PC
New York, New York

Architectural Conservator
Integrated Conservation Resources
New York, New York

The exterior façade restoration of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City is an exceptional concrete repair project. The project team’s analysis and recommendations were guided by a multi-disciplinary preservation approach that successfully addressed the complex challenges posed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s icon of modern architecture, completed in 1959.

The thorough, well-documented condition assessment, which included material testing, nondestructive evaluation, probes, laser survey, structural and environmental monitoring, crack mapping, paint analysis, structural three-dimensional modeling, and corrosion assessment, provided the basis for diagnosing the causes of deterioration and specifying required repairs. 

The holistic architectural, conservation, and structural analysis included an exhaustive materials research performed in both the laboratory and in the field; a structural analysis that computed, modeled, and field-verified the building’s structural behavior as never before; and an assessment of cultural values that led to designs and repairs that enhance the conservation of significant exterior building features. 

The concrete façade repair resulted in a concealed structural reinforcement installed only where and as needed; a system approach that selected repair materials suitable to the nature and condition of the historic fabric; and custom concrete repair techniques that addressed existing deterioration without compromising the appearance and authenticity of the original building envelope.