85 Richmond Street West

85 Richmond Street West c.1923 was originally lauded for its high-quality offices and cutting-edge construction technology.

By the new millennium, the building was in need of significant rehabilitation work. Planned in relation to the construction of the adjacent EY Tower, the revitalization of the building by Oxford Properties has created new prestigious energy-efficient office space that highlights the character-defining heritage features of the building. Upgrades to the building include the sensitive insertion of a distinct addition within the lightwell of the Chicago School U-shaped plan, improvements to the exterior building envelope for environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, modern mechanical and electrical systems, building automation, and streamlined PATH connection to an enlarged ground floor lobby opening to the plaza at the west.

The heritage conservation scope includes:

• Heritage Impact Assessment, Conservation Plan, and Heritage Interpretation Plan
• Reinstatement of the Beaux-Arts style cornice at the roof using pressed and soldered lead-coated copper (the original was removed in the early 1950’s)
• Reinstatement of original fenestration and spandrel details at the base to accentuate the historical proportional division of the façade
• Conservation and upgrades to the original wood windows at the second floor
• Masonry conservation of exterior white glazed brick and limestone principal heritage facades
• Reconstruction of rear masonry facades
• Decorative lead-coated copper belt courses and flashing
• Exterior heritage lighting
• Conservation of the heritage lobby and bronze entrance