Project Description
The Albert Kahn Building, formerly called the the New Center Building was built by the Fisher brothers and designed by Albert Kahn. It was completed in 1931 and in 1980 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Allen Architectural Metals was contacted by Cunningham Limp, the General Contractor, in the Summer of 2019. The original plan by the developers was to simply clean the seven hundred double hung bronze windows, replace broken glass with ¼” monolithic glass when required and install storm windows. After conducting a visual assessment and completing our documentation, we concluded that the windows were in excellent condition despite having little to no maintenance over the years. We believed that a more appropriate solution for a residential conversion would be to restore the windows and make them operable by supplying an insulated glass option that the existing glazing pockets could accommodate.
The project architects, Kraemer Design Group, wanted a more natural patina or oxidized “green” look for the exterior bronze frames and sashes. In comparison, on the interior of the building they wanted an antique bronze statuary finish on the frames and sashes. This gave them a “warm golden” tone to compliment the interior finishes of the building. We achieved this desired look with a combination of cleaning, hand finishing and waxing.
Allen Metals also restored the building envelope.
