Construction of a museum and adjoining mixed-use tower at 242 Broome Street was essentially two projects rolled into one for Walsh Glass & Metal. The museum’s east elevation consisted of 25 oversized glass units with custom glass doors and custom 3/8” thick aluminum bent panels. The complex screen on the west elevation involved 105 2ft x 5ft units, each one unique. These had to be installed in a pre-determined sequence following the installation of custom perforated corrugated panels. The screen was framed by 3/8” thick aluminum column covers 60 ft high, fabricated by Walsh, that required the construction of a supporting substructure with welded angles and heavy gauge padding.
The distinctive custom curtain wall on the 14-story tower posed its own challenges. A complicated angular design with units that bypassed the slab edge created limited visibility and made it difficult to marry the units seamlessly. In addition, the floor plan changed at each level, requiring a different starting point for each floor. The penthouse level included a custom storefront with terrace doors and CRL railings around the terrace perimeter. Walsh Glass & Metal designed a custom engineered system to ensure all fasteners were hidden as per the ownership’s specifications.
