ABSTRACT
The Park Avenue Armory was built between 1877 and 1881 by the Seventh Regiment of the National Guard, a prestigious regiment that included several of the most important Gilded Age families of New York as its members. In the course of history, the building underwent several adaptations. Between 1909 and 1914, the belfry above the central tower was removed, and a fourth and fifth story were added to the Head House; the historic interiors were not removed, but most were altered or covered under new finishings. The Board of Officers Room was strongly altered during the twentieth century: original lighting fixtures were replaced, walls were overpainted, stained glass had been removed, and a new floor was added. The architects’ role was mainly to bring the room to technical standards for its contemporary cultural use without harming its atmosphere. In each of the rooms, the architects were especially attentive to the lighting and lighting fixtures.
