Ritz Carlton Residences
690 Market
The Chronicle Building is the first skyscraper in the west that’s also still standing today. Designed by famed Chicago Architects Burnham & Root, the building was constructed in 1890, and survived the 1906 earthquake and fire. The richly carved sandstone, brick and terra cotta belted Romanesque structure originally served as headquarters for the Chronicle Newspaper.
In the 1960s, the building went through an unfortunate modernization and many of the most beautiful architectural elements were destroyed to make room for a new stark metal and glass facade cladding.
In 2006, the Ritz-Carlton Residences conversion began and the plan required an authentic, historic restoration to return the facade to its original appearance, which we had the privilege of providing.
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The lower floors are covered in sandstone, and wholesale areas were removed or damaged in the 1960s facade modernization. Missing sections needed to be replaced, and damaged or deteriorated stone needed to be restored. However, the stone type was uncommon and difficult to track down its origin. With some sleuthing, we uncovered the long-closed Sespe Quarry in a canyon in a private ranch in Southern California. After forging a relationship with the land owner, we were able to order the boulders from which we carved a thousand replacement blocks to replicate missing originals. Our craftsmen and women assembled the new stones as they rebuilt the lower Market St. facade.
Deteriorated stone was repaired using a combination of techniques: retooling and installation of dutch patches. The art of retooling is a restoration option when damage is confined to the outer inch of the stone, allowing craftsmen the opportunity to put a fresh finish on the stone in place.
