NY Athletic Club — Ornamental Plaster & Decorative Paint Conservation

The New York Athletic Club’s ornamental plaster and decorative paint required careful conservation treatment to preserve the club’s distinguished interior character. The historic plasterwork — including moulded cornices, ceiling medallions, and decorative relief panels — had suffered from moisture damage, structural movement, and the natural ageing of materials.

Our conservators stabilized the ornamental plaster using injection consolidation techniques, re-adhering separated sections to the substrate and repairing damaged moulded details. Missing plaster elements were reproduced using moulds taken from surviving original sections, ensuring exact replication of profiles and ornamental patterns.

The decorative paint finishes were restored to complement the conserved plasterwork, using traditional painting techniques to achieve the colour, texture, and sheen appropriate to the club’s historic interior. The completed conservation work preserves the New York Athletic Club’s architectural heritage while maintaining the refined atmosphere its members expect.