The Lighthouse Tower, an iconic landmark on Roosevelt Island, has been restored by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) led by Aida Morales. The tower, designed by James Renwick, has a rich history and has been vital to Roosevelt Island’s past. In 2019, Thomas A. Fenniman Architects was recruited to lengthen the structure’s usable life, remove potentially hazardous issues, and save operating and maintenance costs.

The restoration work on the exterior and interior of the Lighthouse Tower included fixing the brickwork, replacing the concrete brackets and platform, replacing the railings, replacing the spiral staircase, doors, and windows, and doing electrical and site work.

The changes made the tower safer and easier to use for a long time, and they also cut the costs of running and maintaining the building. The Office of Parks, Recreation, Historic Preservation, and the Landmarks Preservation Commission agreed that the work should be done.

Shelton J. Haynes, president, and chief executive officer of the Roosevelt Island Operating Company, expressed his gratitude towards RIOC staff, the architect, and the contractor for their efforts on the project. Prince R. Shah, Assistant Director of Capital Planning and Projects at RIOC, said, “I am pleased for the community to see the colorful up-lighting on the tower and enjoy this location again.

Thomas A. Fenniman, Project Architect, expressed his pleasure in balancing two factors in the restoration process: preserving the original masonry building and paying honor to the long-lost distinctive lamp created by Renwick and removed sometime in the 1930s.

The Lighthouse Tower is a true gem of Roosevelt Island and a community cornerstone. Adopting the requisite architectural measures, the tower becomes a transforming emblem everyone in New York can recognize as Roosevelt Island.

The northern edge of Lighthouse Park will offer secure outdoor space for people to enjoy for many years. Thanks to Aida Morales and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, the Lighthouse Tower will continue to serve as a beacon of the past while shining brightly toward the future.