Download Annual Report - The New York Landmarks Conservancy

The Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards are the Conservancy’s highesthonors for excellence in preservation. The coveted awards, nicknamedthe “Preservation Oscars” are named for Lucy GoldschmidtMoses, a dedicated New Yorker whose generosity benefited the Cityfor more than 50 years. The Awards have recognized nearly 200 individuals,organizations, and building owners for their extraordinarycontributions to the City.Nearly 400 people filled the spectacular Milstein Hall of Ocean Life at theAmerican Museum of Natural History, one of the honorees, to honor individualcontributions to preservation and projects completed in 2009.Robert Silman received the Preservation Leadership Award for his achievementsin the preservation-engineering field in a career spanning over 50years. His portfolio features nationally-known structures such as the Museumof Immigration at Ellis Island, Fallingwater, the Guggenheim Museum,and the Jefferson Memorial, as well as countless New York City buildings.Kenneth Cobb received the Public Leadership Award for his work at the MunicipalArchives. He secured and made available to the public the remarkablecollection of “tax photographs,” which provide documentation of nearly everybuilding that stood in the City in 1939-42, and have become the foundation ofmany restoration projects.The Historic House Trust received the Preservation Organization Award forits 20 years of providing essential support for historic buildings of architecturaland cultural significance located within City parks and open to the public.The following projects received Awards:36 Grace Court is a 19th-century Italianate row house in the BrooklynHeights Historic District. New owners took a traditional approach to thebuilding, which had undergone an unsympathetic 1970s renovation. Theyreplaced a black concrete skin and aluminum windows with a brownstonefaçade and stoop, new windows, wood doors, and ironwork. Once a “blackmark” on an otherwise pristine historic district block, now 36 Grace Courtcompletes a charming streetscape.The American Museum of Natural History is an internationally recognizedinstitution devoted to natural science exhibits and one of New YorkCity’s cultural treasures. This was the first comprehensive restoration of thefaçades along 77th Street, which had suffered from deterioration and inappropriaterepairs. Damaged granite masonry was revived, the massive portecochere rebuilt, and wood windows restored. Extensive sitework and improvedillumination show this beloved building in a dramatic new light.After over 80 years as an entertainment venue on the Upper West Side, theBeacon Theatre had lost some its historic character and luster. A massiveproject restored nearly every surface of the landmarked interior back to itsoriginal appearance. Murals, gilding, plaster ornaments, and textiles wereall renewed and theatrical systems modernized in just six months, so thetheater could meet its opening day schedule.The Convent of the Sacred Heart School, New York City’s oldest independentschool for girls has owned the Otto and Addie Kahn House since 1934,and been a conscientious steward of the property, improving the interior, exteriorand mechanical systems. The Moses Award was for restoration of theKahn House courtyard, completed with French limestone and replacementsteel windows, both obtained from the original 1913 sources.No building better represents New York City across the globe than theEmpire State Building. More than 20,000 man-hours were spent on therestoration of its glittering Art Deco Lobby, requiring 16 layers of paint andglazes, 1,300 square feet of 23-karat gold leaf and 14,000 square feet of aluminumleaf to bring back its full splendor. Marble panels replaced infill andnew lighting fixtures were based on original, unused designs.22