100 Broadway

Location: New York City

Originally constructed as The American Surety Building at the end of the 19th Century, 100 Broadway was among the earliest of New York City skyscrapers, and Carlton has continuously worked with building ownership over the past decade, most recently Northwood Investors. While the exterior of the building was saved from “modernization” by a 1995 designation as a New York City landmark, much of the interior lobby was lost in prior renovations. With little information as to the lobby’s original design, Carlton strategized a straight-forward design that restored all of the lobby’s decorative pilasters, and most importantly, celebrated the original coffered ceiling, which had survived. The building’s main entrance, once dark and foreboding, was dismantled and replaced with frameless glass doors and transom bringing the sidewalk view into the lobby which in turn increased the lobby’s visibility from the street. Polished limestone was selected as the predominant material for its timeless appeal, and neutral quality. Central to the design was the integration of a new sprinkler system hidden within the ceiling’s many details, with new lighting concealed just below the decorative ceiling in a custom bronze fixture that lines the perimeter. New security kiosks and fully refurbished elevator cabs went into operation upon project completion in 2017. Today, Carlton continues to work with Northwood and the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission on façade improvements to replace opaque window transoms with clear glass in an effort to continuously improve this building asset.