Restoring the Art Deco Facade of the Niagara Mohawk Building
My team at Metal Man Restoration was hired to clean and preserve the exterior aluminum and stainless steel trim across the elaborate facade of the Niagara Mohawk Building in Syracuse, New York. A classic Art Deco landmark built in 1932, its metalwork had not been cleaned since the 1970s. Working from suspended scaffolding around the whole building, we brought the facade back to brilliance.
The short version
- The project: cleaning and preserving all exterior aluminum and stainless steel trim on the Niagara Mohawk Building, an Art Deco landmark in Syracuse, NY.
- Built in 1932 as the headquarters of the nation’s largest electric utility, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
- The trim was structurally sound but had not been cleaned since the 1970s.
- Built-up dirt and grime dulled the metal’s detail and, left alone, could accelerate corrosion.
- Working from suspended scaffolding around the entire building, we cleaned every element and sealed each surface with a protective wax coating.
- The multi-month effort restored the brilliance of one of Syracuse’s signature facades.
The Niagara Mohawk Building is one of the great Art Deco facades in the country, a wall of stainless steel and aluminum detail meant to catch the light. After decades without cleaning, that brilliance had gone flat under grime. Bringing it back was less about repair than about careful, thorough cleaning and the right protective finish.
What We Restored
The assignment was every piece of exterior aluminum and stainless steel trim wrapping the building’s elaborate facade. Built in 1932 as the headquarters of the nation’s largest electric utility, the building earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010, and its metalwork is central to that recognition.
The Condition: Fifty Years Without a Cleaning
The trim was structurally sound, which is common for quality aluminum and stainless steel, but it had not been cleaned since the 1970s. Built-up dirt and grime had dulled the metal’s crisp detail. Left unchecked, that grime does more than look bad. It holds moisture and pollutants against the surface and can accelerate corrosion over time.
How We Restored the Facade
The whole job was done from suspended scaffolding rigged around the entire building, which is its own discipline on a tall historic facade. From there, our crew cleaned every aluminum and stainless steel element by hand, lifting decades of buildup without harming the metal or its detail.
Cleaning alone would not have lasted. Once each surface was clean, we sealed it with a protective wax coating to guard against further corrosion and slow the return of grime. The multi-month effort restored the brilliance of the facade’s metalwork and helped preserve one of Syracuse’s signature landmarks.
Why Cleaning and Sealing Go Together
Cleaning architectural metal without protecting it is a short-term fix. Bare, freshly cleaned aluminum and stainless are exposed to the same pollutants that dulled them in the first place. A protective coating, applied right after cleaning, locks in the result and buys years before the next service. On a landmark facade, that combination is what makes the work worth doing.
What This Means for Owners of Metal-Clad Buildings
If your building has an aluminum or stainless steel facade that has gone dull, the Niagara Mohawk project shows the path. The metal is almost certainly sound. What it needs is a thorough professional cleaning and a protective coating, not replacement. Done on a sensible cycle, that protects both the look and the life of the facade. For the broader approach, see our architectural metal maintenance guide for property managers.
Common Questions About Cleaning and Preserving Architectural Metal Facades
These are the questions building owners and managers ask us most about cleaning and protecting aluminum and stainless steel facades.
Does dirty aluminum or stainless trim need replacing?
Rarely. These metals are durable, so a dull facade is usually a cleaning problem, not a structural one. The Niagara Mohawk trim was sound after 40-plus years without cleaning. Professional cleaning and a protective coating restored it without replacing a single element.
Why seal metal after cleaning it?
Because cleaning alone does not last. A protective wax or coating applied right after cleaning shields the metal from moisture and pollutants and slows the return of grime and corrosion. We sealed every surface on the Niagara Mohawk facade for exactly that reason.
How do you clean metal high on a building?
From rigged access. The Niagara Mohawk work was done from suspended scaffolding around the entire building, which lets the crew reach and hand-clean every element safely. Proper access is what makes a thorough, detail-level cleaning possible on a tall facade.
How often should a metal facade be cleaned?
On a regular cycle rather than once every few decades. The Niagara Mohawk metal went some 40 years between cleanings, which let grime build up and threaten corrosion. A planned maintenance schedule keeps the metal protected and makes each cleaning faster and less costly.
How do I start a facade cleaning project?
Send us the building location and photos of the metal facade, along with a note on its condition. We will assess the metal, the access required, and the right cleaning and protection plan, and tell you honestly what the work would involve. You can reach us through our contact page.
Have an aluminum or stainless steel facade that has gone dull?
We clean and preserve architectural metal facades, trim, and ornamental work for building owners and managers across the New York metro and the tri-state area. Call or text (914) 662-4218, or tell us about your building.