The Fleming Smith Warehouse

Henson was retained to direct the restoration of this Individual Landmark building listed on the National and State Register of Historic Places. The Fleming Smith Warehouse was originally designed in 1891 by notable New York architect Stephen Decatur Hatch in the Romanesque Revival and Neo-Flemish styles.

Many of the building’s original details had been lost – all the original copper finials had been removed from the building by the mid-1980s. Henson undertook the historic research needed to determine the original design of the finials, working closely with a craftsman in upstate New York to fabricate accurate replicas. A new more secure attachment, able to withstand hurricane-force winds, was designed to ensure the longevity of the recreated finials.

Henson led the efforts to restore the existing masonry construction, make repairs to the original stone cladding. The brownstone was matched and repaired to its original form and brick masonry was repointed to ensure the long-term stability of the building envelope. Additionally, the historic wood windows were replaced, and original cast iron elements were restored.