Radio City Music Hall
To restore Radio City Music Hall's historic 1932 interior, John Canning & Co. applied over 180,000 square feet of metal leaf and glazes to surfaces throughout the building.
BUILDING FACTS
Location: New York, NY
Built: 1932
Architect: Edward Durell Stone
Style: Art Deco
Status: National Landmark
SCOPE
Radio City Music Hall was completed in 1932 and was the largest theater at the time of its completion. Designed by the famed Donald Deskey, Radio City was intended to be a place so spectacular the only thing that could possibly surpass the brilliance of the design would be the shows themselves.
This project involved restoring the original 1932 gilded finishes, including the application of aluminum leaf, Dutch metal leaf, copper leaf, and gold leaf. Over 90,000 square feet of surfaces were gilded throughout the building, which included the Grand Foyer, Orchestra Level, Mezzanine Levels, Basement, and Smokers’ Lounge. Glazing was applied to all gilded surfaces. Other techniques included cleaning, toning, and striping.
The challenges overcome throughout the project were monumental. The scope of the space is unparalleled anywhere but to further put John Canning & Co. to the test, the entire restoration needed to be completed in just eleven weeks. Since Radio City Music Hall is a registered landmark, any changes require approval from a board of governors. Through constant problem solving and troubleshooting, John Canning & Co. was able to execute a monumental gilding project and helped preserve one of America’s most iconic landmarks.
AWARDS
1999 Award of Merit, Restoration Project, New York Construction News
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