Elegant Centenarian Avoids the Wrecking Ball

The plan was to convert the structure into a 210-room Hyatt Hotel, with medical office space, restaurants, and other amenities, including a museum to honor the hospital’s legacy. The design intent was to celebrate and leverage the old-world beauty that remained. The old precast cement terrazzo tile was restored to its original brilliance, the terrazzo artisans saving what could be saved and creating matches where needed with epoxy terrazzo.

The original terrazzo tile installations on eight floors, each with its own set of colors and design dynamics, were painstakingly replicated. The design team reviewed numerous color samples, and each of the 15 colors was hand-selected.

Notably, no divider strips were used in either the original installation or the restoration. Epoxy terrazzo was poured-in-place to match the original design where extensive repairs were required. After the floor was ground and grouted, the contractor cut simulated grout joints with a thin diamond saw blade to mimic the precast terrazzo tiles.

The classic terrazzo design details were elegantly preserved, including the accent borders lining the hallways. Fifteen thousand square feet of flooring and 4,500 linear feet of new cove base were installed with the specified matte finish.