PresvNews_Spr09.qxd 4/13/09 4:34 PM Page 1 PRESERVATION Preservation Alliance for greater philadelphia MATTERS THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PRESERVATION ALLIANCE FOR GREATER PHILADELPHIA SPRING 2009 Hyman Myers Recognized with James EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S Biddle Award for Lifetime Achievement MESSAGE hen Inga Saffron, the on over 200 projects, including many of Hy’s work has been recognized with many Philadelphia Inquirer architec- Philadelphia’s National Historic Landmarks. honors, including awards from the National Wture critic, made remarks recent- Among his early projects in Philadelphia were Trust for Historic Preservation. In 1992, Hy ly at a wonderful panel discussion organized by the 1976 restoration of the Pennsylvania received the F. Otto Haas Award, Pennsylvania’s Avi Eden in memory of his wife, Judith Eden, a Academy of the Fine Arts, followed in 1980 by highest recognition for contributions by an longtime community activist and advocate, I the restoration and conversion of the Bellevue individual in the field of historic preservation. was struck by how well her observations echoed Stratford Hotel to a mixed-use facility. a point of view expressed by the Preservation Subsequently, Hy directed preservation work on Alliance in recent years. (See page 4 for Inga’s such notable sites as Independence Hall, the remarks.) The topic was “Community Groups and Academy of Music, Girard College, the Reading The 16th Annual Distressing Economic Times: Should the Terminal Train Shed, the Philadelphia Museum Preservation Achievement Criteria for Opposing Development Projects be of Art and City Hall. Re-Assessed?” and in her remarks, Inga first Hy’s work has not been confined to Awards addressed how the physical fabric of Philadelphia. As director of preservation servic- Every May, Preservation Month, Philadelphia is one of the city’s most important es for VITETTA, he has led restoration projects the Preservation Alliance honors assets. When she referred to the walkable charac- for the Pennsylvania Capitol Building in ter of Philadelphia and its human scale, she was individuals, organizations and projects Harrisburg, the Cleveland Museum of Art and implicitly reminding us that the historic archi- for outstanding accomplishments and the National Gallery of Art in Washington. tecture that predominates in Philadelphia neigh- Hy has also lent his considerable knowledge contributions to the field of historic borhoods and in much of Center City creates an unusually pleasant and distinctive urban envi- yman Myers, FAIA is the recipient of of architectural history to the service of many preservation. The 16th annual Preservation Achievement Awards ronment. However, she also noted that change is the Preservation Alliance’s 2009 nonprofit and public organizations, including necessary for a city to grow and stay lively. The will be held on Monday, May 11 at the H James Biddle Award, given for life- serving as chair of the board of the issue is not whether we should oppose the time achievement in historic preservation. Pennsylvania Bureau of Historic Preservation. Park Hyatt at the Bellevue. Visit inevitability of change, but is one, as she put it, of Hy has made an exceptional contribution to His most notable public service was his 27–year www.PreservationAlliance.com for finding the right balance between the existing the field of historic preservation, both as an membership on the Designation Committee of details. (See more about the award urban fabric that gives the city its special charac- architect and through service on the boards and the Philadelphia Historical Commission, where winners on page 2–3.) ter and new additions to that fabric. committees of many nonprofit organizations he helped to strengthen numerous nominations Finding the right balance between the existing and public agencies. Over the course of his 37- of historic buildings and districts through his character of Philadelphia neighborhoods and year career, Hy has directed preservation work scholarly knowledge of architectural history. historic districts and proposals for new develop- ment has been one of the biggest challenges in Philadelphia in recent years. I could easily list a dozen examples of new developments opposed by neighborhood organizations and the Preservation Alliance because of their inconsis- Nancy Kolb Recipient of Public Service Award tency with the character of the neighborhoods in which they were proposed. In spite of the current economic slowdown, this is still a significant ancy Kolb, president and CEO of the carefully restored, but under Nancy’s leader- issue. Developers continue to come forth with Please Touch Museum, is the recipi- ship other historic elements were added, projects that threaten historic districts or historic Nent of the Preservation Alliance’s including the restored 1908 Woodside Park properties because they are out of scale, designed 2009 Public Service Award recognizing Dentzel Carousel. Nancy also extended the pro- with radically different materials or in a deliber- achievement in preservation in the public ject’s scope to include the history of the ately different architectural style than the urban interest. Centennial and worked with nearby institu- fabric that surrounds them. Nancy began her career in the field of his- tions to create a master plan for a Centennial From a historic preservation point of view, toric preservation. She served as director of District. the situation seems to be out of balance because Pennsbury Manor from 1972 to 1982, and then Nancy has long been recognized as a leader these projects continue to get large zoning vari- moved to the Pennsylvania Historical and in the museum field and for her dedication to ances and project approvals. Finding the right balance first requires a com- Museum Commission from 1982 to 1988. She fostering educational and arts programs for mitment to preserve the existing urban fabric returned to serve as a member of the children. She has served on the Mayor’s and the architectural elements that comprise it. Commission from 1998 to 2002. This long- Cabinet for Children and Families, the But just as important is a commitment to design standing interest in history, her professional Philadelphia Art Commission and on a nation- infill that is compatible with that fabric, that har- preservation background and 20 years of al program to link museums with Head Start monizes with it in scale, materials and architec- museum experience made Nancy the perfect programs. In 2009, she was appointed general tural character. New buildings can be distinctive- person to lead the adaptive reuse of Memorial chair of the American Association of Museums’ ly modern without being radically out of charac- Hall for the Please Touch Museum. annual meeting in Philadelphia. ter with the urban context in which they are From the start of the $88 million conversion, With the restoration of Memorial Hall, located. Finding the right balance is the key to Nancy set a high standard for faithful restora- Nancy has provided children with the opportu- maintaining the distinctive character that sets Philadelphia apart from other cities. tion of the historic building and its reuse as a nity to experience firsthand a great historic children’s museum. Not only were the exterior building, an essential step in developing the JOHN ANDREW GALLERY of the building and the central rotunda space next generation of historic preservationists. Executive Director WWW.PRESERVATIONALLIANCE.COM PresvNews_Spr09.qxd 4/13/09 4:35 PM Page 2 The 16th Annual Preservation Achievement Awards 2009 Special Recognition Awards Grand Jury Awards 1 832 Lombard Street 12 Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church Masada Custom Builders, Inc. Atkin Olshin Schade Architects, 1:1:6 (Isaac Ohayon and Naomi Alter-Ohayon) Technologies Incorporated, Keast & Hood Co., St. Edmond’s Federal Savings Bank Premier Building Restoration Inc., The Temple Group, Wolf Historic Preservation 2 Arcadia University, Murphy Hall 13 Arcadia University Nemours Mansion and Gardens, DE Russell Roofing, Joseph Manero Masonry, John The Nemours Foundation Byrne Painting, Thomco Inc. John Milner Architects Inc., Rodney Robinson Landscape Architects, Gredell & Associates, The James Biddle Award Public Service Award Rhoda and Permar Richards 3 Bryn Mawr Film Institute Bruce E. Brooks & Associates, Milner + Carr For lifetime achievement in For preservation in the public Award Voith & Mactavish Architects LLP, Keast & Conservation LLC, Wohlsen Construction historic preservation interest For service to the Hood Co., QED, Bartush Signs, E. Allen Reeves Company, Ball & Ball, VanDemark & Lynch Inc., Brubacher Excavating Inc., Gooding Hyman Myers, FAIA Nancy Kolb Preservation Alliance Inc., Fiore Skylights, Evergreene Architectural Arts Simpson & Mackes Inc., Connolly Flooring, George Hoessel Wayman Fire Protection Inc., The Tri-M Group 4 Chinatown Friendship Gate LLC, Dan Lepore & Sons Company, Rasevic Landscape Company, Delcard Associates Inc. Board of Directors Award City of Philadelphia Department of Public Property For exceptional stewardship of his- Chinatown Development Corp., International 14 The Newport Visitors Council, Yao C. Huang AIA, Sabrina toric properties Soong AIA, Watts Restoration Inc., Superior Spruce 1530 LLC Eastern State Scaffold Services, Dietz & Watson Inc., Liu Jie, DPK&A, Graboyes Commercial Window Co., Penitentiary Historic Liu Jinduo, Su Jingwang, Zhang Qin, Liang Donald E. Reisinger Inc., Cathedral Stained Xueping, Sun Yundong Glass Studios, John Ott, Mazzamuto Site, Inc.