Flatiron Building
Historic Window Replacement Project

The Flatiron Building, once considered the tallest building in New York City when it was built in 1902 is one of the most photographed buildings in the city. The steel framed 285ft triangular historic landmark building that mimics the bow of an ocean liner, was designed by Daniel H. Burnham, a famous Chicago architect. The Flatiron Building is situated on the southwest corner of Madison Square Park at the intersections of 23rd Street, Broadway and 5th Avenue. The stone and terra-cotta façade building considered one of the oldest skyscrapers in NY was in dire need of new windows due to weathering effects and age. The windows selected for the project were the same Traco historic windows that were selected for the Empire State Building restoration in the early 1990s. The architectural paint coating was replicated after an extensive paint color analysis was conducted to identify the original aged-copper finish. A beveled muntin base was used to reproduce the profile of the original copper-clad window.
The age of the building presented several installation challenges:

• The limited storage area meant that windows had to delivered floor by floor as installation was completed.
• The 18th and 19th floor windows did not fit into the elevator and had to be hoisted up the building with an exterior hoist. The sashes had to be pulled out and moved with the empty frames between floors.
• Delivery had to be done in the off-hours, because the building had only one small freight elevator.

Product: TR-9000 H-AW45 Double Hung Tilt Aluminum Architectural windows

Quantity: 1,000 +

Paint: PPG Custom Aged Copper

Alliance Dealer: Kilroy Architectural Windows, Inc. ––Brooklyn, NY obtained the contract and installed the products

Architect for the Replacement project:  Fifield Piaker Elman Architects