Highbridge Water Tower
New York, NY
The Highbridge Water Tower occupies a prominent site in Manhattan, on a ridge 200 feet above the Harlem River. Completed in 1872, it was the last structure of the Croton Water Works. Although taken out of service in 1951, the tower is a designated a New York City Landmark and is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
The Rehabilitation of the Highbridge Water Tower was undertaken by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation with LSA as the Historic Preservation Architect. LSA provided hands-on documentation of the existing exterior conditions from a boom lift, noting cracked and spalled granite, deteriorated mortar, failing copper roof assembly, and failing windows. LSA provided a code analysis to allow limited public access, addressing emergency lighting, exit signage, guard rails, and barrier-free access. Using archival drawings as a basis, LSA prepared drawings for the interior and exterior rehabilitation, and provided construction administration services. The project received the New York Landmarks Conservancy Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award in 2022.
Designation: NYC Individual Landmark, New York State Register of Historic Places, National Register of Historic Places
