A Hidden Art Deco Lobby on Wall Street Undergoes a $1 Million Restoration

An exclusive peek at the elaborate mosaic-clad Red Room, designed by Hildreth Meière

Summer 2017
Art Deco interior with ornate geometric patterns, tall windows, warm red and gold tones, and a central column in a grand hall.
The stunning Red Room is in the final throes of a $1 million restoration. Photo: Danlly Domingo

When it was unveiled in 1931, the elaborate mosaic-clad lobby of Irving Trust Co. at 1 Wall Street, an Art Deco skyscraper designed by architect Ralph Walker, was one of Manhattan’s most unusual interior gems. The Red Room, created by artisan Hildreth Meière, was sheathed in a dazzling pattern of orange and oxblood glass tiles, and laced with a web of gold and bronze lines. Closed to the public since 2001, the 9,000-square-foot mosaic installation is in the final stage of a 16-month, $1 million restoration, spearheaded by developer Harry Macklowe, who bought the building three years ago. (His firm, Macklowe Properties, is busy converting the rest of the 1.1-million-square-foot edifice into residences and retail.) When the vaulted space is once again revealed, the glowing results are sure to enchant a new generation of New Yorkers.

Art Deco interior with vibrant red and gold patterns, large windows, and geometric designs, showcasing architectural elegance.
The northwest corner of the room held a time capsule that was removed by BNY Mellon after they sold the building to Macklowe. The gash, still visible, will soon be repaired as part of the project. Danlly Domingo

Room with tall arched windows, a central pillar, and intricate red and gold mosaic patterns on the walls and ceiling.
New flooring will be installed in the coming weeks. Danlly Domingo

Interior of a building with tall, intricate stained glass windows and an ornate ceiling with geometric patterns.
The developers plan to lease the space for retail or use it as a sales gallery. Danlly Domingo

Art Deco mosaic above golden elevator doors in vibrant red, gold, and orange tones at the Chrysler Building, New York.
A detail of the tiles, which range from oxblood to orange. Danlly Domingo

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