Castle Clinton has been an active example of adaptive reuse since it was completed in 1811. The Castle served as a military headquarters, restaurant, immigrant processing center, and aquarium, before Robert Moses tried to demolish it. FDR’s intervention saved the structure which was turned over to the federal government in 1950. Now, its robust facade has finally been restored.
This restoration focused on treating the historic red Newark sandstone walls, which had been damaged by the harsh marine environment and construction of the nearby Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. New archival research and non-destructive techniques helped the project team diagnose complex masonry problems, such as major vertical cracks, dislocation of stonework, and exfoliation and spalling of the sandstone. They cleaned the stones and removed old patches, making Dutchman repairs, and, when necessary, installing new stones sourced from Germany that match the originals.
Today Castle Clinton welcomes more than 3 million visitors annually, as the National Park Service NPS ticket office for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. This work ensured that the Castle will continue to welcome visitors to New York City for decades to come.
Matt Coneybeare
Editor in Chief
Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.
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