After a long restoration process, the New York Public Library's landmark building at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street is complete! They had the official ribbon cutting yesterday morning, and showed off the sparkling new facade. Click through to check out some photos from the event, and from the restoration process (who doesn't love some Before & After porn). And now, a zillion things you didn't know about the exterior restoration, in list form:
- Duration of current restoration: 2 years
- Square feet of marble facade: 150,000
- Approximate number of existing marble units: 20,000
- Gallons of Vulpex concentrated soap: 200
- Linear feet of masonry joints re-pointed: 100,000
- Hand carved marble dutchman patches installed: 2,045
- Marble balusters replaced: 868
- Mortar patches installed: 2,072
- Cracks repaired: 1,145
- Re-tooling repairs: 1,063
- Square feet of bird netting installed: 18,000
- Exterior doors restored: 20
- Bronze windows repaired and refinished: 341
- Glass panes replaced: 264
- New bronze castings for window repairs: 14
- Square feet of roofing replaced: 38,000
- New cut stone pavers installed on the approach plazas: 73
- Average crew size on the job at any one time: 45 (up to 80 at peak periods)
- Restoration Cost: $50,000,000
The completion comes during its 100th year—the library opened on May 23rd, 1911. On that date this year there will be a rededication ceremony to celebrate.
