RAND’s Samuel and Albelisa Kemp at The Plaza.
Recently my husband (and RAND Project Engineer) Samuel and I had the honor of attending the New York Landmarks Conservancy's 20th Living Landmarks Celebration—fittingly enough at a New York City Landmark.
The New York Landmarks Conservancy is the preeminent organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the iconic buildings and diverse neighborhoods that define New York City. Since its founding 40 years ago, the Landmarks Conservancy has provided financial and technical support to owners of residential and commercial buildings, as well as cultural, religious, and social institutions.
Each year the Landmarks Conservancy honors multiple individuals as "Living Landmarks," selected based on their significant contributions to New York. This year the Conservancy honored actors Joel Grey and Brooke Shields; waterfront planner and urban historian Ann L. Buttenwieser; pioneering advertising executive Mary Wells Lawrence (the force behind the I ♥ NY tourism campaign); CEO of Four Freedoms Park William vanden Heuvel; and Dean of NYU Langone Medical Center, Dr. Robert I. Grossman.
To the audience’s pleasure, the honorees presented a candid retelling of what being a New Yorker has meant to them and shared personal stories demonstrating how the city and its resources directly impact the vibrancy and resilience of our people. There was much laughter and many toasts to be had!
The event was held at The Plaza, a National Historic Landmark, in its majestic Grand Ballroom, which has undergone an impressive restoration with the help of a grant partially funded by the Conservancy.
While enjoying a delectable dinner, Samuel and I marveled at the intricate details on the walls, moldings, balconettes, and ceiling, not the least of which were the fabulous original crystal chandeliers.
Sitting in that room, we felt transported in time, back to the glamorous and dazzling high society of 1920s New York. It’s easy to imagine how the building’s first guests must have felt and how the saying "Nothing unimportant ever happens at The Plaza" came to be spoken.
RAND congratulates the Living Landmarks for their contributions and the Landmarks Conservancy for its invaluable role in sustaining the city's architectural heritage.
