RAND Project Wins Prestigious Historic Preservation Award

Last Thursday evening, my colleagues and I had the great honor to attend the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s 27th annual Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards, otherwise known as the “Oscars” of preservation. This year, the ceremony and reception were held at the grand and majestic New York Public Library, awarded this year for its remarkable restoration of the Rose Reading Room. We’re proud to say that RAND’s historic brownstone facade restoration project, the Ziehl/Starr Residence, was also honored with a Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award.

RAND President Stephen Varone, AIA, and RAND Partner and Senior Structural Engineer, Michael Larkin, PE, and I joined owners Amelia Starr and Matthew Ziehl at the celebration. The Moses Awards are the Conservancy’s highest honors for outstanding preservation efforts, named for Lucy G. Moses, a dedicated philanthropist whose generosity benefited New York City for over 50 years. Other recipients this year included 5 Beekman Hotel and Residences, Cartier Fifth Avenue Mansion, Met Breuer, Residences at PS 186, and the Park Avenue Armory. Also honored was Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and New York City Council Member Daniel Garodnick, who received the Preservation Public Leadership Award for working to ensure landmark status for many buildings as co-chairs of the East Midtown Steering Committee.

The Ziehl/Starr Residence, a three-story Neo-Grec brownstone in the Expanded Carnegie Hill Historic District, had undergone many alterations under its various owners throughout its 138-year history, including being covered in stucco. Each alteration stripped away original ornamentation, defining details, and a great part of the building’s historic character. After Amelia and Matthew purchased the building in 2013, they observed a nearby rowhouse on the block undergoing a facade restoration project and were inspired to restore their own home’s facade.

RAND was hired to design and administer the restoration, which included removing the entire stucco finish; applying a new brownstone repair mortar replicating the historic texture, color, profile, and decorative features; the addition of historically accurate door enframements, window headers, sills, decorative paneling, flower rondels, and window grilles; repair and restoration of the metal cornice; the replacement of the modern iron railing at perimeter and stoop with a balustered railing with newel posts; as well as the replacement of the modern door with a double leaf door. Rafael Adami Johnson Restoration was the general contractor, Forerunner Creations fabricated the railings and grilles, and Nilk Eklund hand lettered the transom numbers.

The newly restored Ziehl/Starr Residence is a wonderful example of how ordinary New Yorkers and a little inspiration can contribute to preserving the aesthetic beauty and historical architectural quality of a neighborhood, building by building, block by block. RAND is honored that this project has been recognized by the Conservancy and proud to play a part in working to preserve and restore New York City’s architectural legacy.

For photos from the event and the project, see our Facebook album.

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Albelisa Kemp is RAND's Historic Preservation Group Manager and was project manager for the Ziehl/Starr Residence.