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Notable New Yorkers:
Making New York History
THE 2001 MAKING NEW YORK HISTORY AWARDS
Honored Outstanding Renovations of Commercial Buildings
From the demolition of old Penn Station to the destruction of the Twin Towers, New Yorkers have found that we often love our buildings only after they are lost. But on Thursday evening, November 15, 2001, The Skyscraper Museum highlighted a dozen extraordinary building renovations that demonstrate that New York’s history lives and thrives through its great commercial structures. The Museum’s annual “Making New York History Award” was presented at a cocktail party in the lobby of the landmark Lever House at 390 Park Avenue.
For the awards, a distinguished jury of architects and preservationists nominated twelve outstanding renovations of commercial buildings completed in the past five years. These range from the exterior and interior restorations of the super-trophy Chrysler Building and Art Deco gem 570 Lexington Avenue to the reinvention of the Hudson Hotel and the striking modern addition of the lobby of 350 Madison Avenue. From these nominees, the jury voted a “Top Five” who received the major awards.
“These awards are intended to recognize the exceptional commitment of building owners to the highest values of preservation, as well as to applaud innovative renovations of older properties,” explained Carol Willis, the director of The Skyscraper Museum. The jury in particular commended projects that went “above and beyond” what is required for landmark buildings. Cited are 111 and 115 Broadway, the little twin towers of lower Broadway of 1905 and 1906, where the opulent neo gothic style lobbies were meticulously restored. Another “A+” effort honored is 11 Madison (once known as the Metropolitan Life Annex). Calling its monumental lobby “a great marble quarry that tunnels a full avenue through to Park,” the jury praised the owner’s attention to every detail of the restoration “from Art Deco ceiling lamps to sidewalk grates.”
They also cited the savvy repositioning of 770 Broadway, once a Wanamaker’s department store, as a hip office building. Special mention was given to 1501 Broadway, the 1927 Paramount Building in Times Square, for the night lighting of its upper setbacks and the restoration of its glorious glass globe and clock.
Star of the evening is Lever House, the emerald of Park Avenue, which is just completing a text-book restoration that replicates its original green-glass curtain wall and will realize the original plaza and landscaping scheme conceived by sculptor Isamu Noguchi in collaboration with architect Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). “Lever House is one of the treasures of American architecture, and it is thrilling to see it restored as an icon of post-war modernism,” noted Carol Willis.
Architect Hugh Hardy was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, and awards were bestowed by Sherida Paulsen, Chair of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission and other figures from the architecture and preservation community.
The list of the twelve nominees, top awards, and the members of the jury are listed on the next page.
JURY
A distinguished jury of architects, critics, and historians included Hugh Hardy of Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates, Robert A.M. Stern of Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP, Andrew S. Dolkart, professor of historic preservation at Columbia University, preservation architect Judith Saltzman of Li-Saltzman, and Carol Willis, director of The Skyscraper Museum
NOMINEES
Major Building Restorations
Lever House
The Chrysler Building
70 Pine Street (The AIG Building)
230 Park Avenue
Graybar Building
11 Madison Avenue
1501 Broadway (The Paramount Building)
570 Lexington Avenue
Lobby Restorations/Innovations
Hudson Hotel (356 West 58th Street)
770 Broadway
111 & 115 Broadway
350 Madison Avenue
TOP AWARDS
Major Building Restorations
Lever House
The Chrysler Building
The Paramount Building
570 Lexington Avenue
Lobby Restorations/Innovations
350 Madison Avenue
770 Broadway
