More →]]> Known for its substantial collection of Asian and Egyptian art, The Cleveland Museum of Art is nestled into the east side of the city in the Wade Park District.

In 1913, three prominent Cleveland residents, Hinman Hurlbut, John Huntington and Horace Kelley, bestowed an endowment of $750 million dollars to build the museum, all with the intention of keeping admission to the public free.

The centerpiece in the middle of the 75-acre Wade Park was built at a cost of $1.25 million dollars and designed by Hubbell & Benes. The white, neoclassical-style Georgian marble building provides great contrast with the stunning green from the park.

Over the years the museum has had many renovations and additions. In 1971, it was expanded to hold another wing. Marcel Breuer used two-toned granite in his design to break away from the original neoclassical style. In 1983, a library was built to house nine new galleries for all the art.

But the most comprehensive expansion of all is the one of the future. In 2005, the museum’s “Building for the future” project became the most expensive cultural project in Ohio’s history at $350 million. The project brought new east and west wings to the museum property as well as an atrium courtyard under a glass canopy.

Today the Cleveland museum has landed a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. With the help of the Ohio Art Council, the museum is still able to operate under free admission for everyone.

Art is timeless, and as the operators said on the museum’s opening day in 1916, it’s “for the benefit of all people, forever.”

BirdMaster is proud to support the arts and we’re happy to protect the museum from damage as long as it stands!

More →]]> Jamaica Station that is!

When we think New York City, we think of it as the center of the United States. Easily one of the most populated cities in America, it’s the heart of our country, and with so many people in and out of the city everyday, it’s a wonder anyone can keep up at all!

Jamaica Station works around the clock to provide city dwellers and tourists alike with transportation to every inch of the city. Part of the Long Island Rail Road system, the station is one of the busiest in the country serving over 200,000 passengers daily.

Originally, the station was designed by Kenneth M. Murchison and it was expanded from 1912 through 1913 to accommodate more people.

The station was given a $387 million renovation in 2006, and the project had a passenger-oriented goal in mind to developed new platforms and a pedestrian bridge, also known as Westerly Bridge, to become a part of the AirTrain JFK service.

The AirTrain connects the big apple with the rest of us! Direct routes with the John F. Kennedy International Airport through the AirTrain JFK service allow passengers to board flights all over the world!

The entire station includes five platforms, with one island platform used as the AirTrain Station sectioned off by enclosed glass. Unique doors before the railways prevent passengers from accessing the train until sensors have detected its position on the track. This way, the train never has to have a driver- it operates automatically!

Last year, 6.5 million passengers used the service. And that’s likely to increase in the years to come!

With so many people occupying the terminals on a daily basis, its imperative that its architecture last a lifetime! BirdMaster prides itself on helping to preserve the foundation of what will become a national landmark and important piece of history!

More →]]> It’s the eighth largest church in the world, the largest Catholic church in the United States and the tallest habitable building in Washington D.C.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception has been standing proud since it opened in 1959.

Believe it or not, the Basilica’s dome is only 7 feet, making it smaller than the dome of the United States Capital. But its size doesn’t take away from its beauty.

With medieval inspiration, the church was built heavily with masonry walls and columns instead of steel and concrete. The blueprints were designed in order to hold 6,000 people and include some modern amenities.

In all, there are 70 chapels. The Basilica uses art and sacred images on the sides of the church to achieve a Romanesque-Byzantine look. Each arch outside is lined with Pewabic Pottery tile and ceramic medallions on the ceiling, and sitting inside are 14 stations of the cross for the crypt.

Now, if that isn’t impressive!

Inside, the architecture features a Greek style with mosaics to decorate the domes. Some say, it even reminds them of the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice, Italy!

A church this elegant is sure to throw a fantastic party! Maybe you’ve even seen it?

Last year, they held a publicly televised Thanksgiving Mass!

BirdMaster loves a good celebration, so we’ll continue to preserve this landmark and keep it rockin’!

More →]]> It all started with the Centennial Exhibition in 1876.  As America’s first World Fair, Memorial Hall was built for visitors to relish in art from around the globe.

Memorial Hall became a permanent fixture in Philadelphia and today it’s the main building on the campus of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The new museum featured a school of industrial art, which provided classes to train craftsmen in drawing, painting, designing and more.

It wasn’t long before donations started pouring in with collections of furniture, jewelry, glass, ceramics and more. With the growing collection, the museum was renovated and expanded in 1907.

As it stands today, completed in 1928, the columns on the front are made from Minnesota dolomite. The eight pediments on the building were supposed to be decorated with different sculpture groups, however the only one ever completed was by C. Paul Jennewein, Western Civilization. Greek deities and mythical figures were sculpted in polychrome into the structure.

The architecture also dons a series of bronze griffins, which has become the museum’s symbol over the years. Fans of the institution nicknamed the building, the Parthenon on the Parkway for all the way its reminiscent of Greek culture.

Aside from its noteworthy art collections and architecture, you might recognize the museum in the epic scene of Rocky- because those are the famous steps!

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has long held cultural history on its walls and each piece has been thoughtfully preserved. With BirdMaster, the museum’s architecture will be preserved for years to come!

]]> https://birdmaster.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1050 1 https://birdmaster.com/blog/?p=1041 https://birdmaster.com/blog/?p=1041#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2014 16:12:23 +0000 http://birdmaster.com/blog/?p=1041

More →]]> The best part about the holidays are decorations! Trees, windows, streets… and even landmark buildings!

Each year in December we see those awe-inspiring historical buildings beautifully decorated. But if it wasn’t for BirdMaster’s contribution, those picturesque views might not even be there! After all, protecting our nation’s landmarks from the effects of bird guano is BirdMaster’s main focus. Its acid nature deteriorates a buildings structure and causes permanent damages.

We are proud to say that some of the places we helped to protect are looking pretty festive for the holidays!

Providence, Rhode Island City Hall

United States Capitol Building

Statue of Liberty

Washington D.C. Metro Station

Pretty nice, huh?

Send us a picture of your favorite place decorated for Christmas! We’d love to see!

More →]]> After a devastating earthquake 25 years ago that ruined a section of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the bridge has finally been restored. But it seems that the old bridge section, won’t be demolished anytime soon.

The old section is filled with 800 double-breasted cormorants that have nested there and have made it obvious they would rather not relocate. City officials have spent time with decoys, bird recordings and even built special manmade nests underneath the new bridge section to try to lure to the birds over.

But taxpayers are not happy about it. It’s estimated that they’ve already spent $33 million to try to relocate the birds- a very difficult feat, especially after they’ve settled!

It’s likely that the bridge will stay in place long past February as well, because demolition of the bridge section will be halted when the birds start laying eggs. Officials are planning to have the Bay Bridge finished by 2018 if they can relocate the birds.

The city is also thinking about installing bird control netting so the avian population doesn’t increase any more than it already has.

“If we don’t do this our penalties could far exceed the cost, so we’re in a balancing act,” said Leah Robinson, a spokesperson of the California Department of Transportation.

Since cities are developing fast, there is a constant problem with finding natural nesting sites, and transportation bridges are becoming a prime option for birds. They love bridges because it provides reliable food sources and protection from predators.

The San Francisco bridge is currently home to 533 nests and by demolishing the bridge, the nests would be destroyed too, leaving those protected birds without a home.

It is important that nesting on manmade structures, such as this, do not take place, so prevention is key! Birds are better suited in their natural habitats and time and money are needed to relocate the birds without harm.

BirdMaster safely protects architecture and bridges from pest birds and gives them a chance to remain in nature!

More →]]> The best part about preserving architecture is that it lasts well into the future. And with history you’re sure to get a few stories.

Every October, thousands of people take part in Halloween festivities. At the top of the list are haunted houses. Historic buildings especially those involved in the Salem Witch Trails, are filled with hair-raising activity- here are a few of our favorites!

The Witch House

Jonathan Corwin served as judge during the Salem Witch Trails in 1692 while living in this house. Its perfect 17^th century architecture closely resembles the Whitehall Building of England. A tour through the house brings to life the events of the trails and light into the lifestyle of Corwin at the time. In the 1940’s the house was restored to preserve its look from its century and the gambrel roof was altered. Now, the house is a museum operated by the city of Salem.

The House of Seven Gables

This 17^th century house, which has survived with many of its original features, was home to Susanna Ingersoll, the cousin of Nathaniel Hawthorne. One of the first Georgian architectural houses of the time, it’s considered to be significant to American culture and history. Made famous by the novel, the house and its surrounding houses eventually landed on the National Historic Landmark District in 2007. A tour through the houses with theatrical performances will showcase the hauntings of those who lived before.

Joshua Ward House 

George Corwin, a sheriff who participated in the Salem Witch Trails, lived in this three story Federal style brick house in the 17^th century. The house, which now resides on the National Register of Historic Places, is actually home to businesses today. Of the 19 witches executed on the premises, most are said to haunt the grounds. Some have even claimed to feel Sheriff George Corwin choking them. 

Lizzie Borden House

Lizzie Borden had an axe. Gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, gave her father forty-one.

Anyone from Massachusetts probably knows the Lizzie Borden story. Charged with murder of her parents, Lizzie was never acquitted and the mystery remains unsolved- though the public overwhelming believed it was her to this day. The Victorian style house, now a historic bed and breakfast, is preserved exceptionally well. The architecture is reminiscent of the exact same house when it was built. Guests can channel what it was like to live there by staying in the room Lizzie slept in.

Hawthorne Hotel

Part of the Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Hawthorne Hotel was named after Nathaniel Hawthorne, made famous in pop culture through the television show, Bewitched. Stay in room 325 and feel hands touching you at night, hear the cries of child and grace the sixth floor looking for the woman that roams the halls. Built by 1925, the hotel was the first modern structure for the city of Salem at the time. Spending a night in the hotel is sure to give you a fright as long as the hotel is preserved in time!

More →]]> No matter where you come from, living in New York City is a dream come true. Imagine living in a luxurious, state of the art apartment building in Manhattan, facing the “most famous and beloved urban park in the world.”

Owned initially by the Clarks, the same owners of the reputable Dakota, The Langham has much more to offer than just wealth and opulence. It is history! Built at a cost of $2 million, this New York landmark contains 13 floors, 54 units and has been part of the Upper West Side/Central Park West local historic district since 1982.

Did You Know?
Irving Bloomingdale, son of the founder of the famous store, was one of the first tenants.

The Langham, located at 135 Central Park West, gains its prestigious architectural appearance, by projecting French and Italian influences. Designed by renowned architects Charles W. Clinton and William Hamilton Russell, the building was fully completed and opened for rental in 1907, exhibiting a stunning facade composed of brick, limestone, terra cotta and ironwork. However, due to its ornamented Beaux-Arts elements and prime location, The Langham has also been a favorite spot for nesting birds.

Knowing that birds can severely deteriorate the structure and cause permanent damage to the façade stonework, BirdMaster was trusted to take part in The Langham’s most recent restoration. By installing humane bird control systems, BirdMaster protected the building structure and insured that birds were safe, flying freely in their natural habitat!

And the result? Award-winning!

Thanks to the The New York Landmarks Conservancy, for offering to BirdMaster the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award, and for recognizing BirdMaster’s dedication, product quality and hard work!