The Governor's Island Vent Building stands in New York Harbor as a critical piece of the regional transportation infrastructure managed by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority. The project encompassed both facade rehabilitation and the installation of a new emergency egress system, requiring Graciano Corporation to perform extensive masonry restoration while coordinating with general contractor Kiewit Constructors on a complex, multi-trade program at a water-access site.
The scope addressed waterproofing concerns, structural integrity failures in the masonry, and the need to restore the building's exterior so that new materials blended seamlessly with the existing historic fabric. The completed project returned the building to a weathertight and structurally sound condition while meeting the authority's requirements for emergency access infrastructure.
Scope of Work
Services Performed
- Waterproofing and water control injections throughout the facade
- Structural steel repair and replacement where deterioration was found
- Stonework restoration and sealant application
- Complete masonry repointing and surface rehabilitation
- Individual brick replacement in deteriorated sections
- Full brickwork and brick facade reconstruction where required
- Epoxy injection for structural repairs and void filling
- Application of polyurethane waterproofing membranes
Waterproofing and Masonry Integration
Waterfront masonry presents particular challenges in restoration. The Governor's Island location subjects the building's exterior to salt air, wind-driven moisture, and tidal humidity conditions that accelerate deterioration in mortar joints, brick surfaces, and sealant systems. Graciano's approach prioritized a layered waterproofing system using polyurethane membranes, paired with precision masonry repointing and epoxy injection to address both surface and structural moisture infiltration.
Where brick sections required replacement, Graciano's crews matched color and texture of new units to the surrounding historic fabric through careful material selection, ensuring that repaired sections blended in with existing materials rather than reading as visible patches against the building's weathered exterior.
Precision on an Island Work Site
Governor's Island's harbor location added logistical complexity to an already demanding restoration program. All materials, equipment, and personnel required water transport to and from the island, affecting staging, sequencing, and daily coordination. Work proceeded within the general contractor's phasing requirements for the larger emergency egress installation, requiring Graciano's masonry crews to align their schedule with structural and systems trades completing other project elements simultaneously.
About Graciano Corporation
Founded in 1916, Graciano Corporation is one of the oldest and most experienced masonry and concrete restoration firms in the United States. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, with additional offices in New York, NY, and Florida, Graciano performs approximately 90% of all work in-house with its own skilled journeymen. The company is a WBENC-certified Woman Business Enterprise with deep experience in New York harbor and waterfront infrastructure restoration.