Subeseries 6.4. Construction, 1950-1957
- Scope and content:
-
Documents related to the construction of the office building at 300 Park Avenue and the work performed in areas leased by Chemical Corn Exchange Bank and Colgate-Palmolive Company. The subseries contains correspondence, work orders, agreements, instructions to bidders, specifications, drawing transmittal sheets, worksheets, financial records, reports, proposals, contracts, schedules, drawings, and other materials. Within these documents, there are accounts of all aspects of the construction including the design by Emery Roth & Sons and general contracting by Uris Brothers, Inc. Subjects discussed include the HVAC, electrical, plumbing, lighting, telephone, television antenna, vertical conveyor systems as well as the installation of walls, roofing, windows, floors, ceilings, elevators, doors, store fronts, toilets, hardware, and signs. These documents also detail subcontractor's work on the acoustics, brick, cement finish, concrete slabs, fireproofing, glazing, granite, gunite, insulation, iron, marble, masonry, metal furring and lathing, ornamental metal, painting, plastering, steel, terrazzo, tile, Venetian blinds, waterproofing, woodwork, vault installation, lobby desk, and a plaque commemorating the Columbia School of Mines. In addition, these records illustrate the architectural plans, project status, expenditures, tenant specifications, alterations, problems with work, lease terms, delays, and related issues that arouse over the course of construction.
- Physical description:
- About 10,300 items (14.625 linear feet)
- Arrangement:
-
Arrangement is by tenant
Contents
Access and use
- Parent restrictions:
- This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.
- Parent terms of access:
- In addition to permission from Columbia University, permission of the copyright owner (if not Columbia University) and/or any holder of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) may also be required for reproduction, publication, distributions, and other uses. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of any item and securing any necessary permissions rests with the persons desiring to publish the item. Columbia University makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the materials or their fitness for a particular purpose.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers are encouraged to request materials at least one month in advance. You will receive an email from the department within 2-3 business days confirming your request and currently available appointment times. Requests are limited to 8 boxes per day (or equivalent), with a maximum of 5 boxes for off-site materials, 5 folders of drawings, or 5 rolls or tube boxes.
- Contact:
- avery-drawings@columbia.edu