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Landmarks
1250 Avenue of the Americas, aka 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Applications for 1) Interior Restorations to the Rainbow Room and 2) Alterations for Replacement of Windows and Doors on the Western End of the 65th Floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
At the scheduled monthly meeting of Community Board Five on Thursday, December 13, 2012, the Board passed the following resolution by a vote of 36 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, 30 Rockefeller Plaza ("30 Rock") is part of the Landmarked (Designated in 1985) Rockefeller Center, and, in October 2012, the Landmarks Preservation Commission ("LPC") designated the Rainbow Room, on the 65th floor of 30 Rock, as an Interior Landmark; and
WHEREAS, In designating the Rainbow Room, LPC stated that it "has a special character, special historic and aesthetic interest and value as part of the development, heritage and cultural characteristics of New York City;" and
WHEREAS, Rockefeller Center has made an application to LPC for certain restorations and alterations to the Rainbow Room which include the following:
1. the repair and rehabilitation of historic elements, including the domed ceiling, the dance floor, raised platforms at the perimeter of the room, the railings and the chandeliers and sconces,
2. making the wall panels around the two window openings in the northeast and southeast corners of the Rainbow Room consistent in size to the other twenty-two windows openings, refinishing wall surfaces with fabric panels, refinishing the ceiling with plaster and installing new carpeting with the exception of new inlay wood across the existing dance floor,
3. incorporating bronze, wood, and stone elements at the base of the walls and across the front edge of the raised platforms,
4. removing the non-historic exposed ductwork, vents, and lighting across the ceiling and installing new lighting, sound and HVAC systems discreetly across the ceiling; and
WHEREAS, The primary original architectural elements of the Rainbow Room remain unchanged and intact, such as the double height ceiling, unencumbered by internal supports, a 32-foot diameter circular revolving dance floor, over which is a 30-foot circular dome, stepped terraces with crystal balustrades, crystal chandeliers, and the 24-foot high floor to ceiling windows; and
WHEREAS, The requested restorations and alterations are deemed appropriate and maintain the significant elements of the Rainbow Room; and
WHEREAS, Rockefeller Center has also made application to modify the windows and doors of the western end of the 65th floor of 30 Rock, by:
1. installing glass panels similar to those on the 67th and 69th floors of 30 Rock on the west setback terrace,
2. enlarging the windows to the height of the original openings, which will align with the bottom of the original cast-aluminum panels on the north, west and south sides of the western room, installing new glazing, and removing limestone from above the existing openings which will either be reused or replaced in-kind at the base of the new openings,
3. preserving across the south elevation of the floor the original cast-aluminum exterior mullions and removing the secondary mullions from the non-historic windows,
4. installing new swing doors which will lead to two ADA-compliant ramps to provide access to the set-back terrace; and
WHEREAS, The requested modifications to the windows and doors of the western end of the 65th floor of 30 Rock will not be detectable from the public way; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the applications for interior restorations and alterations to the Rainbow Room and the replacement of windows and doors on the western end of the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.