Historic renovation underway on Madison.

New York City-based Rosen Johnson Architects, PC this week announced that construction is under way at a Midtown office building managed by Newmark Knight Frank.

"Our design reconfigures the entrance and lobby to boost the building's profile in the marketplace," said architect Paul Rosen.

"The upgrades respect and celebrate the building's historical qualities while improving perception of it along the street and the flow of traffic through its public spaces," principal Anthony Johnson added.

The 42-story building at 515 Madison Avenue and 53rd Street was designed by J.E.R. Carpenter and completed in 1931 in a melange of classical styles executed with materials attuned to the high standards of the period.

The revised the entry sequence helps refresh the building's competitive strengths. The elegant wrought-iron entrance marquee sheds light through a new glass roof, and its signage is redesigned to better identify the portal.

The deep porte-cochere is greatly foreshortened and newly illuminated to better articulate the space and reinforce the building's street presence.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Now extended toward the street, the enlongated and reorganized lobby is made more welcoming by thoughtful lighting and relocated reception desk, security turnstiles and newsstand. Finishes are carefully matched with original lobby details of historic value.

Analysis of the coffered, polychrome ceiling revealed a lighter and brighter palette under the existing finishes. The earlier palette will be reproduced throughout the enlarged lobby, and the original light fixtures and marbles matched.

Previous building renovations by Rosen Johnson Architects include 1251 Avenue of the Americas (Mitsui Fudosan), One Hudson Square (Trinity Real Estate) and the Grace Building on 42nd Street for Trizec Properties. The firm has completed multiple projects with Vornado Realty Trust, Metropolitan Life Insurance, ING Clarion Partners, George Comfort & Sons, the Lefrak Organization, and the Collegiate Church Corporation