The white, monochromatic marble mosaic "CHORUS" by multimedia artist Ann Hamilton spans a total of 4,350 square feet across the walls of the new WTC Cortland Street subway station.
The white, monochromatic marble mosaic "CHORUS" by multimedia artist Ann Hamilton spans a total of 4,350 square feet across the walls of the new WTC Cortland Street subway station.
Products & Solutions

Protectosil used in new NYC subway station

The Evonik product shields a huge marble mosaic in a new subway station at the World Trade Center in New York City.

The new WTC Cordtland Street subway station in lower Manhattan, was recently opened after 17 years following its destruction in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The stop is located on the grounds of the World Trade Center and its reopening is viewed as a major milestone in the recovery of the neighborhood impacted by the events of that tragic day.

As part of the design of the new station, a white, monochromatic marble mosaic by multimedia artist Ann Hamilton was integrated into its architectural design and aesthetically linked to the adjacent World Trade Center Transportation Hub. Commissioned by Metropolitan Transit Authority Arts & Design, “CHORUS” spans a total of 4,350 square feet across the walls of both platforms and comprises small marble tesserae forming a white-on-white surface for text from the 1776 Declaration of Independence and the 1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The piece has been valued at more than $1 million.

Evonik’s Protectosil® products being applied at the new WTC Cortland Street subway station in lower Manhattan.
Evonik’s Protectosil® products being applied at the new WTC Cortland Street subway station in lower Manhattan.

Evonik’s Protectosil® SC 100 and Protectosil ANTIGRAFFITI® SP will protect “Chorus” from water damage, staining and graffiti.
Evonik’s Protectosil® SC 100 and Protectosil ANTIGRAFFITI® SP will protect “Chorus” from water damage, staining and graffiti.

The tactile surface invites subway riders to touch the text as they read, creating meaningful personal encounters meant to acknowledge the civic ideals and aspirations of humanity and society.

Between the physical contact and exposure to elements, this moving and valuable artwork would need a safeguard. That’s where Evonik’s Protectosil® products come in. Protectosil® SC 100 and Protectosil ANTIGRAFFITI® SP were selected to protect “Chorus” from water damage, staining and graffiti.

“It was a great honor to be part of this very special project,” said Pete DeNicola, marketing manager Americas, for Evonik. “The reputation of Protectosil® as a surface protector is unmatched in the industry and we are confident that “Chorus” will be enjoyed by travelers and commuters for many years to come.”

The Protectosil® products were applied in early September, right before the grand opening of the stop on September 8, and just before the 17th anniversary of the attack.

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