Throughout the five boroughs are more than 200 long-overlooked marvels of engineering and architectural beauty-the interlocking tile vaults built by Spanish immigrants Rafael Guastavino, Sr. (1842-1908), and his son, Rafael Jr. (1872-1950). The system of structural tile vaults developed by the Guastavinos-lightweight, fireproof, low-maintenance, and capable of supporting significant loads-was used by leading architects of the day, including McKim, Mead & White and Carrere &Hastings. Ellis Island´s Registry Room, Carnegie Hall, the Bronx Zoo´s Elephant House, and Grand Central Terminal all contain Guastavino vaults.
Palaces for the People: Guastavino and the Art of Structural Tile is a major exhibition exploring the innovations the Guastavino Fireproof Construction Company (1889-1962) brought to the science and art of building. It was originally organized by MIT´s John Ochsendorf, who is a MacArthur Fellow; it is substantially expanded here to include some 20 key Guastavino spaces in the five boroughs.
Exhibition Co-chairs: Paul Katz, FAIA; Jill Lerner, FAIA; Leslie Earl Robertson, P.E.; and SawTeen See, P.E.