The Site  |  The Wall  |  The Future  |  Reborn  |  Yesterday & Tomorrow

The reconstruction of the orange tiled wall is of utmost importance to the community and to the developers of The National. The critical objective in this effort is to maintain the overall aesthetic of the façade as a tribute to mid-century modern ideals and as a historic anchor in the community. Architectural historians hold that it is far more important to preserve the integrity of the façade as perceived in its entirety (a bold commercial "billboard") than preserving the individual pieces of tile as significant historic objects in their own right.

To this end, the elements that can be salvaged will remain. Virtually all of the original steel lettering, window framing, main entry doors and large vertical granite inset panels will be preserved and reinstalled once construction of a new 6-story building is complete. The meticulous dismantling of the existing façade will be done piece-by-piece. Over time, the orange tiles themselves have severely deteriorated and cannot be restored. However, the development team has located a manufacturer capable of creating new tiles that will match the old tiles in design, color and texture. The orange tiled wall itself will be replaced in kind and will become a significant feature of the site’s redevelopment.