In the beloved 1984 film, the Ghostbusters move to a dusty firehouse that becomes their headquarters. But one member of the trio isn't so sure about the space.
"I think this building should be condemned," Dr. Egon Spengler (played by Harold Ramis) says to Dr. Peter Venkman (played by Bill Murray). "There's serious metal fatigue in all lower bearing members. The wiring is sub-standard. It's completely inadequate for our power needs, and the neighborhood is like a demilitarized zone."
Now, the real New York City firehouse used in the film is undergoing the renovation that Spengler said their home base desperately needed.
Totaling $6 million, the project includes updates to the electrical and plumbing systems, kitchen, bathroom, locker room, offices, and roof, according to NYC's Department of Design and Construction. The renovation team is also working to restore the building's facade.
Fire Station Hook and Ladder Company No. 8 was built in 1903 and designed by Alexander H. Stevens, the FDNY Superintendent of Buildings at the time.
The three-story structure was the first in a series of Beaux-Arts style firehouses, characterized by flat roofs, arched windows, and impressionistic sculptures on the facades.
The two "Ghostbusters" logos painted on the sidewalk in front of the building were, of course, added later.
During the construction, which is expected to finish in 2017, the fire company that normally uses the space is working out of a firehouse in Soho, north of the iconic Tribeca location.
As noted by The Guardian, some of upgrades in the renovation are meant to accommodate women who work at the firehouse — a women's bathroom and locker room will be added.
The new all-female Ghostbusters film sparked some controversy after fans of the original voiced criticism of the reboot, but at least the firehouse from the movie is becoming more welcoming to its real-life female employees.
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