PA MEMO Preservation Alumni of FALL / WINTER 2004

PA’S ANNUAL FALL PARTY: STEELCASE This year’s annual fall party, one of the architecture held in conjunction with the school’s weekly happy VIIIth International DOCO- hours—known informally as MOMO Conference, drew Six on Six—in an attempt to large numbers of preservation bring together students from students, professors, and all of the different programs in alumni as well as young pro- Avery together. fessionals attending the con- Congratulations to this year’s ference. On the evening of Cleo and James Marston Fitch Monday, September 27th, Prize winner Laura Buchner guests gathered at the sleek for her paper Ornamental modern offices of Steelcase, a Terra Cotta Along the Hudson business furniture manufac- River, in the Neighborhoods of turer, at 4 . Mott Haven, Harlem, Marble René Fan From the company’s expan- Hill, Inwood, and the Bronx Ter- sive terrace and bright airy minal Market. The Fitch Prize, rooms, the crowd enjoyed awarded annually, goes to a wine and took in the stunning second year student for an View of Columbus Circle from the balcony of Steelcase, with the new Time views of and the outstanding paper completed Warner building (left) and 2 Columbus Circle (right) neighboring Time Warner for coursework. Nathan Center. Riddle (1999) won the In addition, PA’s book donations, purchased from the proceeds of the Placzek Fund, were announced. This year’s acquisitions PA President Jamie Schroe- DOCOMOMO prize awarded included J. L. Mott Iron Works’ Built-in Baths: Solid Porcelain and der’s opening remarks were to a modern architecture the- Enameled Iron (1912), James Everard’s Turkish, Roman, and Elec- followed by Director Paul sis written in the past five tric Baths (1892), The Church of the Future—The Story Behind the Byard’s comments regarding years. His paper was entitled Architecture of Community Christian Church, 4601 Main Street, the growth and direction of Landscape Preservation and Kansas City, Missouri, and The Great Cathedrals and Most Cele- the program. PA announced Interpretation: Issues of Use, brated Churches of the World (1884) by James L. Meagher. These their annual gift to the first Historical Experience, and Myth new library additions can be viewed through appointment year students: money in the at the Gettysburg National Mili- amount of $400 to sponsor tary Park. through Avery Classics. -Anne Walker GEORGE WHEELER, CONSERVATION PROFESSOR George Wheeler joins the Historic Preservation students of the newly conceived Historic Preservation Depart- have migrated to NYU to take conservation/fabrication Inside this issue: ment after 25 years at the his seminar in stone conserva- laboratory that directly Metropolitan Museum of Art tion. It is to continue and ex- links Historic Preservation Letter from the 2 as a Research Scientist in the pand these two activities – to Architecture. The goals President Sherman Fairchild Center for research and teaching – that of this linkage are to re- Objects Conservation. While have brought him to Colum- energize and develop con- Student News 3 & 4 he is probably most well bia University as the Director servation research at Co- known for his research and of Conservation Research. His lumbia and to initiate re- writing in stone conservation initial teaching responsibilities search, development, and International 4 he also has taught in the are a seminar in stone conser- testing of new materials DOCOMOMO graduate program for art con- vation and collaborating with and designs for architec- Conference servation at Uni- Francoise Bollack, Andrew ture. He is excited by the versity’s Conservation Center Dolkart, and Jorge Otero- possibilities that this new Municipal Art Soci- 5 for over 15 years, and, in the Pailos in teaching Studio I. He lab presents for the past ety Preservation process, gained the reputation will also serve as co-director to inform the present and Fellow as an excellent teacher. In along with Anthony Webster (Continued on page 3) fact, in recent years many Martin Weaver 5

Memorial Service Page 2

Preservation Alumni, Inc. is a non-profit organization that LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT was formed by alumni of the Historic Preservation Program Hello Alumni and Friends! It Just recently, in early No- ber of alumni spoke about at the School of Architecture, is a pleasure for me to serve vember, PA board members their jobs and careers, in Planning and Preservation at as PA’s new president. organized an historic pub preparation for many first- crawl in the East Village and Columbia University. The I hope that all of you have year students’ decision to mission of PA is to support and Lower East Side. Students choose a sector specializa- been enjoying our many re- and alumni visited one of the enrich the Historic Preservation cent events. We saw many tion. program, by advising and assisting oldest bars in the city, alumni and friends at our Preservation Alumni is an the students, faculty, and alumni, McSorely’s (opened in annual fall party, a reception active organization that pro- and to advance preservation as a 1857), the former Ukrainian for new students that was vides vital support for stu- diverse field of public and Communist Party headquar- held in late September at ters, KGB (decked with So- dents and alumni. Make sure professional endeavors. Steelcase’s office at Colum- viet memorabilia), the 70’s that you are in the loop on bus Circle. There was a all of our future alumni PA Board of Directors and 80’s themed Welcome spectacular view from their to the Johnsons, and the events. Sign up for the e- President outdoor terrace! former speakeasy Lansky newsletter by contacting: Jamie Schroeder Vice President In October, we had an Lounge. [email protected] alumni work day at Gover- Kate Lemos In addition, PA organized a We hope to see you at our Secretary nor’s Island, which included a symposium in November for Spring Party! Amy Diehl behind-the-scenes tour of students and alumni. A num- Treasurer the island and its buildings. - Jamie Schroeder Melissa Baldock

Becca Birch-Dowling BOARD MEMBERS STEP DOWN, STEP UP Michael Caratzas This past May 2004 saw a Easton, Gregory Dietrich, the first year class this year is James Conlon significant turnover in the Preuit Hirsch, Mary Kay Judy, René Fan Manami Kamikawa. Board of Directors due to Kirsten Reoch, Jake Tilove, Tania Goffee PA is working on a number of many members stepping and Andrea Kaiser (2nd year Manami Kamikawa (1st yr. Student Rep) events this upcoming year for down at the end of their student representative) for all Daniel Lane current students and alumni, of their work these past Kate Lemos three-year term. such as career talks, alumni Kim Owens PA will miss Lisa Kersavage years. work days, and publishing the Nathan Riddle (President), Morris Hylton III New members added to the indispensable Preservation Lorie Robinson (Vice President) and Paula Board this September include Alumni Directory 2005. Rena Sichel Rosen Hankins (Secretary) on the Becca Birch-Dowling, Michael Please visit our website at Kevin Seymour Executive Committee. In ad- Caratzas, James Conlon, Tania www.preservationalumni.org J. Legier Stahl (2nd yr. Student Rep.) dition, many thanks to depart- Goffee, Kim Owens and for the latest news. Anne Walker ing members Kevin Daly, Lisa Kevin Seymour. Representing Serianne Worden

PA Memo welcomes submissions LETTERS from faculty, alumni, students and friends. Please contact us at: To the Editor, give it a moment’s thought, that I attended you will realize that ‘adaptive’ as a preservation student in Re: Spring 2004 Issue and ‘reuse’ both mean the the early ‘80s. The subject of Preservation Alumni P.O. Box 669 same thing. Adaptive use tells the seminar was adaptive use I always enjoy reading the PA you all you need to know. Peck Slip Station Memo, but am saddened to of historic buildings. New York, NY 10272 Lose the ‘re’. see that it frequently employs Nancy O’Neil (1983) [email protected] a common misuse of a term If thinking about it doesn’t important to preservation. convince you, I quote as a source Michael Ainsley, past Editor: René Fan In the last issue, Spring 2004, president of the National Contributors: George Wheeler, I counted four of these er- Trust of Historic Preserva- PA Memo welcomes letters from Anne Walker, Seri Worden, rors, in an otherwise excep- tion. He made the point - readers. Letters may be short- Legier Stahl, Manami Kamikawa tional issue. That term is vigorously - at a seminar at ened due to space requirements. adaptive reuse. If you will

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GEORGE WHEELER, CONT’D

(Continued from the concentration camps at Auschwitz/ a professional to publish widely and his page 1) Birkenau (Theo Prudon). book Alkoxysilanes and the Consolidation of future in ar- As with many others in the diverse pro- Stone will appear in the Spring of 2005 in chitecture, fession of historic preservation, his ca- the Research in Conservation Series by the and how ac- reer path has been anything but straight. Getty Conservation Institute. Among his tive engage- As an undergraduate at Muhlenberg Col- other honors is a Rome Prize in 1997. ment with the lege, he majored in physics and also gar- “Being immersed in Rome and Italy in all creation of nered All Conference honors in both its glory and having daily interactions new architec- football and baseball. As part of the dis- with artists and scholars fully devoted to George Wheeler joins the ture can en- tribution requirements at this small lib- the past, the present and the future, has faculty of the Historic gender a eral arts college, he took a course in been my most enriching intellectual ex- Preservation program deeper appre- Impressionist Art and was forever al- perience.” He sees and ciation and tered. Staying an additional year to com- Columbia University modeled along the understanding of the past. plete a double major in art history and same lines. “There is nothing more allur- For all his years in the world of museum physics lead to a master’s degree in art ing than working with dedicated, ener- conservation, George is no stranger to history at Hunter College of the City of getic, and intelligent colleagues and stu- architecture conservation – an area he New York and to a graduate degree in dents. I see not only great tradition here has actively consulted in since 1980. In art conservation at the Conservation in Historic Preservation but a great fu- that time, he has collaborated with many Center at NYU. But the lure of science ture.” George also continues his engage- HP alumni and faculty on projects as was strong and George was able to bring ment with the world outside academia diverse as the Lincoln (John Waite) and his love of science into full alignment by consulting with Building Conservation Jefferson Memorials (Judy Jacob), Angkor with his love of art by completing a Associates (Raymond Pepi), the Isamu Wat (John Stubbs and Glenn Boorna- Ph.D. in chemistry at NYU with the re- Noguchi Foundation, New York Univer- zian), The Brooklyn Historical Society nowned Seymour Lewin while working sity’s Villa La Pietra in Florence, and the (Raymond Pepi, Claudia Kavenagh, Rich- in the Objects Conservation Depart- Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is this ard Pieper), and helping assess condi- ment at the Metropolitan Museum. background and experience that he now tions and develop a preservation plan for George has used this broad education as brings to Columbia University.

STUDENT NEWS

Every year, PA presents a gift to the sometimes opposing per- students at the Fall Party. In past years, spectives came together PA has contributed money toward scan- to enjoy beer, wine, and ners, printers, and notably last year, a snacks. boat ride for an overview of the study area, the Harlem River. However this FIRST YEAR year, there was no pressing need for The first year studio is new studio equipment. Students felt focusing on the east side that the money could be better spent to of Lower , promote interaction between historic around the Brooklyn Manami Kamikawa preservation students and other stu- Bridge. From South dents in the architecture and planning Street and the waterfront departments. As a result, funds this year to the western boundary were directed toward a party for the of Nassau Street, the school, sponsored by HP students. In- study area stretches north stead of having the habitual Friday drinks to south from Wall Preservation students at the HP sponsored “6 on 6” at Tom’s, in at 6 on 6, preservation students hosted Street to Catherine Lane. the basement of Avery Hall. From left to right are Amanda Davis, a well-attended and hugely successful Stay tuned for more news Jessica Williams, Lew Gleason, and Anne LeBleu. party at Tom’s, in the basement of Avery about this interesting area Hall on October 23. In perhaps un- in next spring’s PA Memo. precedented fashion, students from

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STUDENT NEWS CONT’D from page 3

SECOND YEAR Second year students presented their Mexico (UNAM), as a case study for enhances the original design. Preserva- thesis topics on October 8 and 9. This designing additions. Preservation stu- tion students will demonstrate an his- winter break, two Kinne trips are dents will study the history and environ- torical understanding of the site and ex- planned: one group will be traveling to ment of Mexico City and situate the amine the meaning of the site as it un- Cambodia with Professor John Stubbs campus and university in an historical dergoes changes and additions. and an- narra- FITCH GRANT other tive. group will PA will soon be awarding one second- The journey to year student a grant of $500 towards class Argen- any expenses related to research for

Deborah Del Sontro visited tina their thesis. Travel expenses, copies of the site with drawings or photographs, purchase of from Profes- materials are all costs that can be applied Septem- sor towards the Fitch Grant. Last year, the ber 29 Theo award went to Takushi Yoshida for to Oc- Prudon. travel related to his thesis, “Machine tober 1. Aesthetics is Architecture: Adaptive Re- This fall Professor Byard with students in Mexico City for the Advanced Archi- Built in use of Grain Elevators in Buffalo as an semester, tectural Design Workshop the 1950s, Industrial Landscape”. some HP the University emerged as a symbol of students are participating in the Design The grant will be awarded in mid- Mexico’s progress into the modern Workshop, a course conducted jointly November after the Memo goes to world. Architecture students will design with architectural design students. The print. The winner will be announced in a 55,000 square foot addition that re- course examines the campus of the Uni- our Spring issue. sponds to the existing conditions and versidad Nacional Autonoma de

DOCOMOMO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE DOCOMOMO held its VIIIth interna- sign and technical interventions, policy extensive series of walking and bus tours tional conference in New York City last proposals and overviews of modern ar- in the city and beyond. Topics ranged September 26th through the 29th at Co- chitecture and its preservation were from Corporate and lumbia University’s School of Architec- presented over three days. Sessions cov- Modern Living on the Upper East Side to ture, Planning and Preservation. The ered such themes as Internationalization: Modern Architecture in Queens and Long conference theme, Import – Export: Aspects of Modernity and Innovation Across Island.

Postwar in an Expand- International Borders, Resistance and Inde- The conference was topped off with a ing World, 1945-1975, drew speakers pendence: Proposals for Resistance by Inde- fittingly sleek party at one of New York and attendees from over 30 countries. pendent Architects and Postwar New York: City’s premier modern buildings, More then seventy case studies on de- Architects, Developers, Patrons and Corpo- Skidmore, Owings and Merril’s Lever rate Liberalism; the latter included a dy- House. namic and lively paper titled," Brazilian New York: Connecting Corb to the The conference not only brought to- Postwar City,” presented by the preser- gether many nationalities and people of vation program’s director Paul Byard. In various academic backgrounds, but a related event, Preservation Alumni & closer to home it helped to bring to- DOCOMOMO US held a Fall Party for gether the architecture program and

René Fan students and young professionals at the preservation program within Columbia’s Steelcase showroom in Columbus Cir- GSAPP through lectures and symposia cle. opened to students as well as an exhibit in Avery on the famed New York Mod- On the final day of the conference, par- ernist, Max Abramovitz. A display model of classic Steelcase furniture in ticipants got out of the lecture halls and -Seri Worden their office at Columbus Circle onto the streets of New York via an

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MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY’S NEW PRESERVATION FELLOW: LISA KERSAVAGE

Preservation Alumni’s previous president, portion of Route 66 for the New Mex- Having worked with developers and Lisa Kersavage (1998), was chosen as the ico State Historic Preservation Office community groups at the neighborhood new Kress / RFR Fellow for Historic and researched and wrote preserva- level, Lisa looks forward to being in- Preservation at the tion policy and design guidelines for volved with issues and projects across (MAS). the Planning Department in Albuquer- the five boroughs. During the two-year Founded que, New Mexico. fellowship, Lisa will have the opportu-

in 1893, When asked about her successes at nity to focus on a preservation policy MAS is a FRIENDS, she mentions the exhibit project. The past preservation fellow, private, she organized, “Modern Architecture Vicki Weiner, organized and compiled a non- on the Upper East Side: Landmarks of “Watch List” for architecturally signifi- profit the Future,” and her subsequent drive cant buildings less than thirty years old. mem- to designate those buildings. She also Among all the buildings and sites and bership refers to the survey and research of issues affecting their preservation, how organi- over 450 buildings on the Upper East will Lisa choose what to pursue at zation Side. That survey generated public MAS? “I want to produce useful infor- whose awareness for the advocacy work that mation for the preservation commu- mission nity,” Lisa says. FRIENDS did because members of the is to community did much of the survey Lisa has also been named the first Ex- promote work. Lisa trained the volunteers and ecutive Director for the James Marston Lisa Kersavage, Kress / RFR Pres- a more created user-friendly survey forms Fitch Charitable Foundation, Inc. ervation Fellow livable city. that indicated the size, materials, and Founded in 1988, it was established to While architectural features of a structure. recognize the unique contribution of there, Lisa will oversee the Society’s Pres- One of her board members and Chair Dr. Fitch to the field of historic preser- ervation Committee and advance their vation in the . The pur- historic preservation mission, especially in of FRIENDS’ Preservation Committee, Franny Eberhart, comments "Lisa has pose of the foundation is to advance the terms of policy. study and practice of preservation by been a joy to work with at Friends. Lisa brings extensive preservation experi- Her high preservation standards and supporting preservation endeavors ence to her new position, including more passion has kept the organization en- through a research grant program as than five years as Executive Director of ergized." Ms. Eberhart went on to say well as publications, seminars, and lec- Friends of the Upper East Side Historic that “Lisa’s advocacy for modern land- tures. Districts. Before attending the preserva- marks is fervent and also incredibly -René Fan tion program at Columbia, she surveyed a well-informed.”

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR PROFESSOR MARTIN E. WEAVER A memorial service was held for Profes- Martin’s wife Leslie and his daughters sor Martin Weaver at St. Paul’s Chapel came from Ottawa to attend the service. on the evening of October 16th, 2004. Many recent and long-ago alumni at- Martin passed away in July after being tended, as well as faculty and administra- diagnosed with cancer. tive staff. The service opened and concluded with Preservation Alumni is seeking to estab- bagpipes played by Professor Michael lish an APT scholarship in Martin’s name,

Devonshire. A number of speakers that would enable one preservation stu- René Fan shared stories they had of their friend- dent each year to attend the annual APT ships and adventures with Martin, includ- conference. The goal is for each class to ing Shelly Sass, Paul Byard, Norman raise $1,000 to put towards a fund for Weiss, Jamie Schroeder, and Hansel the scholarship. Please contact Hernandez-Navarro. Many spoke of [email protected] for infor- The ceiling of St. Paul’s Chapel Martin’s boundless energy, vast knowl- mation on donating. edge and charisma.

PA

PRESERVATION ALUMNI OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

P.O. Box 669 Peck Slip Station New York, NY 10272-0669

www.preservationalumni.org

JOURNAL OF PRESERVATION HISTORY: FUTURE ANTERIOR

Future Anterior, Columbia University’s academics in North America and abroad. new journal of Preservation History, Even without advertising, subscriptions Theory and Criticism, was recently es- have poured in from Europe, Asia, Aus- tablished by Professor Jorge Otero- tralia, and Latin America. Buoyant re- Pailos as a forum devoted to the ad- views appeared in Docomomo Interna- vancement of new ideas about the field’s tional Journal, Archinect, NTHP Northeast goals, practices, and hidden potentials. Preservation News, O.B.N.O.V.A, eOculus, The peer-reviewed journal is the first Society of Architectural Historians Newslet- and only publication of its kind in Ameri- ter, and others. The second issue is can academia, drawing together practi- forthcoming in January of 2005, and will tioners and scholars from various disci- include articles on themes such as cul- plines, who are interested in the creative tural heritage, the preservation of mod- possibilities of preservation. ern monuments, and contemporary preservation planning in China. Prof. Otero-Pailos, Future Anterior Direc- tor, works closely with a staff of seven The journal, funded in part by the historic preservation student editors. GSAPP, relies heavily on grants, individ- The experience of editing the content ual sponsors, and subscriptions. The and crafting the form of each issue is an editors warmly encourage Preservation exciting and invaluable educational ex- Alumni to contribute articles (next dead- perience for students, beyond the stric- line is January 28, 2005), and obtain a tures of the classroom. yearly subscription ($24 for 2 issues, in become a sponsor can be found at

The first issue of the journal was enthu- June and December). More information www.arch.columbia.edu/ siastically received by professionals and on Future Anterior, how to subscribe or futureanterior.