The Herman Ritter School, IS 98, is one of the most architecturally sophisticated historic buildings in the New York City school system. The building’s accommodation of the uneven street pattern, existing apartment buildings on the block , adjacency to the park, splendidly plastic façade articulation, grand and finely proportioned interior public spaces and crowning three-story limestone rotunda at the street corner represents a high point of school design and the cultural priority accorded to public education until the Second World War.

The intent of the project was to provide an exacting historical renovation of all area of the building in line with New York State Historic Preservation Office approvals that were approved, as well as the provide a new music and dance studio in the rotunda and other interior improvements. Highlights include:

New limestone blocks quarried for extensive exterior limestone façade repairs
Repairs to building steel frame behind limestone façade
Repair and restoration of limestone rotunda and sculptural decorative statues and urns
Repairs to terra cotta detail work on street facades throughout
Re-stitching and repair of brickwork with new expansion joints throughout
Cleaning of entire exterior building surface
New historic reproduction sustainable forest mahogany windows throughout
Demolition and replacement of new interior play yards
New Music and dance studio inside rotunda
New electrical systems, fire alarm system and public address system

Windows

The existing windows were badly deteriorated, and were replaced with new painted mahogany windows conforming to the original historical design. The generally six over six design of the window sash is vertically articulated and contributes greatly to the energetic street rhythm of the principal facades. All mahogany for the windows was harvested from sustainable forests. For security purposes lower windows are fitted with expanded metal window guards.

Dimensional Limestone

The exterior of the building on the street facades was composed of dimensional limestone, varying between 4 and 8 inches in thickness. Due to rusting of the interior steel structure, many vertical cracks had begun to appear, especially in the tower and rotunda element at the main entrance. The limestone blocks forming the four corners of the tower and rotunda at the steel framing were removed the full height of the building, new matching dimensional limestone was quarried, and the stones were replaced.

Limestone Repair

Many areas of limestone on the other facades and at the rotunda were chipped or had other surface damage; these areas were repaired in place, and the entire rotunda was re-pointed. Special attention was given to the rotunda’s limestone sculptures of flaming urns and monumental robed figures presenting open books to the four point of the compass. These elements required very careful repair.  As well, the rotunda roofs were replaced to prevent interior leaks.

Terra Cotta

Much architectural expression on the street facades is derived from the terra cotta panels. These are designed to emphasize the vertical articulation of the building, grouping windows into vertical strips. The deeply molded panels of ochre and rust red terra cotta were spalled and cracked in many cases. It was possible to repair the panels in place with a flowable repair mortar and custom coloring, re-pointing all joints. Similar repairs were made in the terra cotta banding around the rotunda.

New Music and Dance Studio

A marvelous double height space inside the rotunda existed with an uninterrupted view over the borough in all directions, but was in a state of total disrepair. After demolishing the entire room, new walls, ceiling and flooring was installed, with new mahogany windows and window treatments, lighting, all new mechanical systems and sound system, and new handicapped accessible bathrooms.

In the interior of the building, new electrical systems, public address and fire alarm were installed, and repairs made to various wonderful historic light fixtures.