Since its founding in 1919, The New School has redrawn and redefined the boundaries of intellectual and creative thought as a preeminent academic center in New York City. The Orozco Mural Room, perched on the seventh floor of Johnson-Kaplan Hall in New York City, houses José Clemente Orozco’s 1931 five-panel mural cycle. His New School mural cycle—a rare glimpse into early twentieth-century Mexican muralism—holds historical weight. It’s the second of only three murals he crafted while in the United States (all for educational institutions), and it’s New York City’s sole surviving public example of Mexican fresco painting. These murals aren’t mere decoration; they’re keystones in The New School’s identity. They echo the university’s mission: blending creativity and social research to tackle societal challenges—especially equity, justice, and inclusion. Now, a climate-focused upgrade project aims to safeguard this artistic legacy for generations to come.

The condition of the Orozco murals is at a critical juncture. Despite efforts by The New School to preserve and maintain the murals, they have a history of significant paint loss and salt efflorescence. Although some of these issues are the result of the artist’s use of non-traditional fresco materials, the environmental conditions within the room and the adjacent corridor as well as the weak building envelope have exacerbated and contributed to the murals’ overall deterioration. FCI Implementation funding will support improvements to the building envelope and installation of new windows, creating a better moisture/vapor barrier for the murals. This project aligns to the Buildings Department’s Sustainability Initiatives focus on the efficient design and operation of spaces on campus to reduce energy consumption and the resulting carbon emissions. Mitigation efforts focus primarily on upgrading or replacing existing building systems, improving operational procedures, and rethinking the intersection of occupant behavior and our built environment. The proposed upgrades in this project relate directly to the university’s overall energy and sustainability goals.