T HE P RESERVATION A LLIANCE ’ S EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL PRESERVATION ACHIEVEMENT A18WARDS M AY 2011 The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia actively promotes the appreciation, protection, and appropriate use and development of the Philadelphia region’s historic buildings, communities and landscapes. Board of Directors Staff Walter Gallas Director, Northeast Field Office Officers John Andrew Gallery National Trust for Historic Preservation Katherine A. Dowdell, AIA Executive Director Jeff Groff Chair Patrick Hauck Director of Public Programs Susan Glassman Director of Neighborhood Preservation Winterthur Museum and Country Estate Vice Chair Programs Stephen D. Marshall Melissa Jest Robert J. Hotes, AIA, LEED AP Secretary Neighborhood Preservation Program Preservation Committee, Co-Chair Coordinator Philadelphia Chapter of the American Christophe Terlizzi Institute of Architects Treasurer Benjamin Leech Director of Advocacy Janet S. Klein Directors Holly Keefe Board Member Leonidas Addimando Director of Membership Development Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Peter C. Benton, AIA Amy E. McCollum Vital Neighborhoods Interim Project Director John G. Carr Rachel Royer, LEED AP Joseph P. Charles Development Director Grand Jury Awards Panel Anchor Health Properties Sally Elk Randal Baron Linda A. Galante, Esq. Assistant Historic Preservation Officer Lori Salganicoff Marian A. Kornilowicz, Esq. Philadelphia Historical Commission Historic Preservation Coordinator Lower Merion Conservancy Eugene Lefevre Scott Doyle Randall F. Mason, PhD Preservation Specialist Paul Steinke General Manager Andrew Palewski Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Reading Terminal Market Corporation Harry Schwartz, Esq. Rebecca Stoloff Ron Emrich Thomas J. Sugrue Preservation Consultant Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler Diane-Louise (D-L) Wormley EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL PRESERVATION ACHIEVEMEN T 18AWARDS Tuesday, May 17, 2011 CRYSTAL TEA ROOM, THE WANAMAKER BUILDING 100 E. Penn Square | Philadelphia, PA Special Recognition Awards 2 Grand Jury Awards 6 James Biddle Award Public Service Award AIA Philadelphia Awards 17 Rhoda and Permar Richards Award AIA Landmark Building Award Special Recognition Award Henry J. Magaziner, EFAIA Award Board of Directors Award of the Historic Preservation Community Action Awards Committee of AIA Philadelphia Easement Donor Recognition 19 Luncheon Sponsors 20 SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS THE JAMES BIDDLE AWARD PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD For lifetime achievement in historic preservation For preservation in the public interest NICHOLAS L. G IANOPULOS , PE SCOTT WILDS Nicholas L. Gianopulos, PE was a founding member of Scott Wilds began his career in Philadelphia city govern - Keast & Hood Co. in 1983 and a principal of the firm for ment in 1984 as a legislative assistant to Councilman Ed 26 years until his retirement in 2009. His early career as a Schwartz. When Councilman Schwartz was appointed structural engineer focused on contemporary architec - Director of the Office of Housing and Community ture, including projects with Louis I. Kahn, for whom he Development (OHCD), Scott joined him at OHCD and was consulting engineer for the National Assembly rose to the position of Deputy Director in 2001. Buildings in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and with Robert Venturi, In 1987, Scott was appointed as the representative of with whom he worked on Franklin Court and other proj - OHCD on the Philadelphia Historical Commission. At the ects. time of his retirement from City government in 2011, he Nick’s interest in history led to an increasing concentra - was the longest serving member of the Historical tion on the structural issues of historic properties. His first Commission in its history, having served 23 years and experience with an historic landmark was in 1959 when attended 234 Commission meetings. In addition to being he and Sheldon Keast worked on Independence Hall and a member of the Commission he also served on its the Independence Hall Tower. From the 1980s on, Nick Financial Hardship Committee, chaired the Committee on and Keast & Hood became the pre-eminent structural Legislation, the Special Committee for Germantown engineers for historic landmarks. Nick contributed to the Avenue and, from 2008 to 2011, was Vice Chair of the preservation of many of Philadelphia’s National Historic Commission. Landmark buildings including Carpenter’s Hall, Christ As a result of his long period of service, Scott provided Church, the Fairmount Water Works, the Merchants an “institutional memory” for other commissioners, recall - Exchange Building, the Second Bank of the United States ing cases heard many years ago that helped guide deci - and the Edgar Allen Poe House. One of his most chal - sions in more recent cases. While he advocated for firm lenging projects was the repair of the roof trusses of the and consistent preservation standards, he was often a Academy of Music in 1989, which was completed in 17 mediating voice, trying to find an appropriate balance days after the structural problems were discovered. between high preservation standards and the needs and In addition to his professional practice, Nick has also concerns of homeowners. been a visiting lecturer and critic in the Department of In addition to his service on the Commission, Scott has Architecture of the University of Pennsylvania. His contri - also been active in his own community of Spruce Hill and butions to historic preservation have been recognized by has served on the boards of other non-profit organizations many awards, including Preservation Pennsylvania’s including Philadelphia FIGHT of which he is president. Preservationist of the Year Award in 1990, the Wyck- Strickland Award in 1995, and the Master Builders Award from the Carpenters’ Company in 2006. 2 The Preservation Alliance’s board of directors honors individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to historic preservation with its Special Recognition Awards. RHODA AND PERMAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AWARD RICHARDS AWARD For exceptional contributions to historic preservation For service to the Preservation Alliance UNKEFER BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY From its founding in 1928 until 2010, Unkefer Brothers Construction Company was one of Philadelphia’s out - standing general building contractors and especially skilled in the restoration of historic properties. Beginning in the 1960s, restoration of historic properties became a significant portion of the company’s work as a result of increasing public awareness of the importance of preserv - ing an aging stock of architecturally significant buildings. In contrast to typical general contractors, Unkefer Brothers employed its own compliment of carpenters, training successive generations of craftsmen in the skills necessary to restore historic properties. GERMANTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL The list of properties on which the firm has worked is a “who’s who” of historic Philadelphia. It begins in the early A community anchor in one of Philadelphia’s most his - 1960s with the Episcopal Services Building (formerly St. toric neighborhoods, the Germantown Friends School Paul’s Church) in Society Hill and the Arch Street Friends was established in 1845 to educate the area’s large popu - Meeting House, and extends into the following decades lation of Quaker youth. Over the years, its campus has to a diverse and challenging range of historic buildings. grown from a small stone schoolhouse into a nineteen- Notable buildings include four Fairmount Park houses building complex spread over seven acres of bucolic (Hatfield, Woodford, Mt. Pleasant and Belmont Mansion), grounds, providing important community space and John Bartram’s historic farm buildings, the German amenities to its surrounding neighborhood and beyond. Society Library, University of Pennsylvania’s College Hall, The school’s insignia contains the fitting passage, Logan Hall and Irvine Auditorium, Beth Shalom syna - “Behold, I have set before thee an open door,” to which gogue, and Louis I. Kahn’s Erdman Hall at Bryn Mawr the Preservation Alliance can readily testify. College. Two of the Unkefer Brothers’ most challenging For the last five years, Germantown Friends School has projects were the dismantling of the 12th Street Friends graciously opened its doors to the Alliance for our Meeting House in Center City and the reassembling of popular Old House Fair. The annual day-long event the meeting house on the George School Campus in brings together nearly one thousand owners and aspiring Middletown PA, and the rebuilding of the 1899 Fernery at owners of older and historic homes, historic preservation the Morris Arboretum while keeping its interior intact. specialists, and specialty product vendors from across Between 1995 and 2011, Preservation Alliance the region. The school’s generosity in providing its two Achievement Awards were awarded to seven projects for gymnasiums rent-free for the Fair not only supports the which Unkefer Brothers was the general contractor, mission of the Preservation Alliance and the efforts of including this year’s award winner the Wagner Free thousands of homeowners to preserve our architectural Institute of Science. heritage, but also showcases Germantown’s historic In spite of these many outstanding achievements, the beauty and hospitality for hundreds of new visitors every Unkefer Brothers’ project that attracted the most public year. The school and its professional, tireless staff have interest — and true evidence of the diversity