In 1872, after a fire at his Manhattan factory, German-born Eberhard Faber moved his pencil manufacturing factory to Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The structure consists of the unified free-standing façades of three buildings constructed as the company expanded. Each distinct façade segment was built with different brick and mortar types, and architectural detailing. Additionally, the building had undergone decades of wear, successive modifications and repairs, and a palimpsest of graffiti that gave it a unique character. Due to the district’s rich history, characterized by continuous expansion and addition, it was important to the project team that the chronological nature of the building’s development be preserved at a very detailed level. The intent was for every aspect to be conserved, from the historic brick and mortar types to the contemporary graffiti, anachronistic masonry repairs and severely spalled face brick from the passage of time.
Henson was the historic preservation architect for the exterior restoration which brought the building back to life. The rehabilitation and redevelopment of the Engelhardt Addition as a major internet company’s headquarters have been hailed by local media as a catalyst for Greenpoint to be included alongside nearby established tech-industry centers such as DUMBO and Downtown Brooklyn. As newer and more innovative companies continue to migrate to the neighborhood, it is critical that stewards of historic restoration and rehabilitation are recognized for their attention to historic accuracy so that future developments are encouraged to follow their lead. This method of rethinking restoration as the preservation of a building’s evolution through time, instead of an exact reconstruction of the past, can be a vital tool in the continued redevelopment of historic neighborhoods.
Role:
Preservation Architect
Project Status:
Completed
Location:
Brooklyn, New York
Historic Designation:
Eligible for Listing on the State/National Registers, District Eligible for Listing on the State/National Registers, NYC Historic District
