Church of Scientology of New York
Facade Investigations and Repairs
Built in the early 1900s, the six-story, U-shaped Church of Scientology sits on West 46th Street, near Times Square. As a center of communications, commerce, and the arts, New York City presents a particularly important population for the Church of Scientology, which endeavored to create in the religion’s Manhattan building an ideal facility in which to deliver their services.
To this end, the Church undertook a major interior renovation of the 74,760sf building in the early 2000s. Since building enclosure leaks could jeopardize the newly remodeled interior, the Church and the renovation architect, Brennan Beer Gorman, retained Hoffmann Architects + Engineers as specialized building exterior consultants. Our design professionals conducted a detailed facade investigation to identify deficiencies and recommend corrective action.
When the time came to file a facade inspection report in compliance with the New York City Facade Inspection Safety Program (Local Law 11), the Church looked to Hoffmann for building enclosure expertise.
Our architects and engineers completed the required inspections and filed the necessary report documentation with the City, both for the Church of Scientology’s main facility and for its property to the northwest, a seven-story structure at 48th Street. During the subsequent FISP cycle, the Church again retained Hoffmann to provide design through construction administration services for the facade repairs and the subsequent inspection and filing for the building at 227 West 46th Street.
Before the inspection could take place, however, a winter storm battered the building and tore loose sections of sheet metal cornice. The Church asked Hoffmann to incorporate an investigation into the cause and extent of the damage, as well as recommendations for corrective action, into the FISP project. Hoffmann’s team resolved the roof failure and addressed needed repair items at the facade, including sealant replacement, masonry repointing, exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) repairs, and stone restoration.
Through Hoffmann’s expert guidance, the Church of Scientology restored and maintained the historic exterior of their central Manhattan location, dedicated in 2004 to honor the courage of New Yorkers in the face of the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
