Poughkeepsie Station Restoration
Poughkeepsie station sign on the southbound platform. Resized photo courtesy of Eye On Transit
Earlier today the Metro-North division of the MTA issued a press release highlighting a $5.8 million dollar restoration that will take place at the Poughkeepsie station. Here is the press release courtesy of the MTA:
The original roof on the landmarked Poughkeepsie train station is getting a $5.8 million restoration, including new clay tiles, cornice, gutters and waterproofing. The building also will get a much-needed upgrade to its original sewer system.
This beautiful station, built between 1912 and 1918, is in the Beaux-Arts style and designed by Warren and Wetmore, prominent architects of the period who also designed Grand Central Terminal.
“Grand Central’s roof has been restored and it stands to reason that its contemporary in Poughkeepsie needs to be replaced too,” said Metro-North President Peter A. Cannito. “As stewards of these legacy buildings, Metro-North intends to bring the Poughkeepsie Station back to its former glory. At Yonkers, which also was designed by Warren and Wetmore, we completed restoration work in 2004.”
All the old tiles will be removed and the sheathing will be inspected and replaced as needed. A new ice and water shield will be applied. The “Yankee” gutters, which are recessed inside the building, will be relined and new leaders (downspouts) also internal to the building will be installed. Then a new layer of reddish clay tiles will be installed.
The elaborate terracotta cornice that encircles the building just below the roof line also will be restored. Using the few existing intact pieces of terracotta, replicas will be fabricated of the same material which will be molded, baked and glazed with a light grey glaze to resemble limestone.
A major portion of the funding for this project, $2.1 million, was a legislative earmark from State Senator Stephen Saland of Poughkeepsie. The remainder was funded by the MTA’s 2005-2009 Capital Program.
GEM Construction and Restoration of Union City, NJ, which has rented office space in Dooley Square for the duration of the 33-month project, is expected to begin work in August.
The work will begin on the peaked canopy above the new staircase from the center island platform to the Main Street Bridge. This just-completed canopy is covered with a high tech rubber roof. But to ensure that it is historically sympathetic to the rest of the station, it will be covered with clay tiles.
Then work will move to the two elevator towers, which also will get new clay tile roofs.
Then work move to the 6,000-square foot roof of the main station building, beginning in the rear and including replacement of the flat roof deck behind the parapet wall.
When work begins on the front of the roof, a year and a half from now, a three-story scaffold will be erected along the front facade.
A separate contract will be awarded in about two years to replace all the windows and doors throughout the four-story, brick and concrete station. The two upper floors (the Main Floor and the Second Floor) are visible on the east from the street front. Two-story wings to the north and south bracket the taller, grand Main Waiting Room space that is central to the building.
Asbestos and lead abatement on the unoccupied fourth floor was completed last month in preparation for the roof work at a cost $800,000. No additional interior work is planned at present.
Work at Poughkeepsie also will include an upgrade to the entire sewer system for the building, which still has original 1912 pipes. A contract will be awarded in the fall to replace the 14-inch pipes along the back side of the building with a new tie in to the city sewer system.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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