REMARKS
Kate Lemos-McHale Presents the Modulator Building Landmark Designation
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3 min
Kate Lemos-McHale and Steven Thompson from the NYC LPC highlight the Modulator Building's designation as the city's youngest landmark, acknowledging its significance in American architecture and its contributions by Paul Rudolph. Emphasizing broad support from various organizations and individuals, they detail Rudolph's vision for its construction and its dynamic facade, and they call for the council to uphold its landmark status.
Speaker 3
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And our 3rd designation is the modulator building, an important work by the innovative American architect Paul Rudolph.
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It was designed in 1988 to 89 and constructed in 2 distinct phases with the lower floors mostly completed in 1993.
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So this is the city's youngest landmark.
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It has crossed its 30 year birthday.
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So at the public hearing on November 28th, 6 people spoke in support of designation, including representatives of the owner, the Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture.
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Dokomomo US and Dokomomo US New York Tri State, Historic District Council, New York Landmark's conservancy, and NYC LGBT Historic Sites project.
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No one's spoken opposition.
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And in addition, the commission received 30 written submissions in support of designation.
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Next, please.
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The modulator building is in Manhattan at 246 East 58th Street, just west of Second Avenue.
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Next, please.
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Paul Rudolph was a leading figure in American Architecture during the latter half of the 20th century.
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At the Harvard Graduate School of Design, he developed a modern sculptural aesthetic using industrial materials like concrete and steel.
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He moved his thriving practice in Manhattan at the height of his career in the mid 19 sixties when he also headed the Yale School of Architecture and designed many important buildings.
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Some shown here, including the what's known as the Paul Rudolph building at Yale.
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And the his Pentasan Apartments 23 Beakman Place, which is a landmark.
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Next, please.
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Rudolph purchased the property in February 1989, and he and Ernst Way ner, co founded the modulator lighting company in 1976 and developed a plan to rebuild the structure as a sales showroom with apartments above.
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And as you can see here, it replaced an 18 sixties row house that had been substantially remodeled at that time in the sixties.
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In 1990, Rudolph and Wagner moved their offices into the unfinished building.
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The Department of Buildings issued a certificate of occupancy in 1993.
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Next, please.
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The building has a remarkably lively and intricate street fasad with steel Ibeans forming jigsaw like overlaps.
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Rudolph died in 1997, and the building was banded vertically by architect Mark Squeeo, who worked in Rudolph's office in the nineties and based Drew in duration from Rudolph drawings in the collection of the library of congress.
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This phase added two floors in a roof deck.
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The modulator building contains a ground floor commercial space as well as a duplex apartment and exhibition space.
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It's owned in occupy by the Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture.
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This was designated on December 19th, and we urged the council to uphold the designation.
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Thank you.
Speaker 1
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Thank you very much.
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One more.
Speaker 3
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That's it.
0:17:14
That's it.
0:17:15
Yep.