El Barrio's Artspace PS 109 in New York to be honored

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ALBANY, NY (04/27/2015)(readMedia)-- The Preservation League of New York State has selected El Barrio's Artspace PS 109 in New York to receive an award for Excellence in Historic Preservation.

The League's statewide awards program honors notable achievements in retaining, promoting and reusing New York State's irreplaceable architectural heritage.

"The conversion of the dilapidated former public school into low-cost loft apartments and workspace for artists is a testament to the spirit of collaboration that is the hallmark of projects sponsored by Artspace," said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. "Scheduled for demolition two decades ago, El Barrio's Artspace PS 109 now provides live/work apartments for 89 artists and their families, 14,000 square feet of community space, and has breathed new life into a cherished neighborhood landmark."

The project team included HHL Architects of Buffalo; El Barrio's Operation Fightback and Artspace Projects, Inc., Owner/Developer; Victor Morales, Victor Morales Architects; Harshad Lakhani, PE, Principal, Lakhani & Jordan Engineers; Dan Cuoco, PE, Engineer, Robert Silman Associates; Jeffrey Terhune, PE, Engineer, Warren & Panzer Engineers; Jane Siebert, CID, Principal, Roche & Co. Ltd.; Mary Jablonski, Principal, Jablonski Building Conservation; and Peter Hansen, Vice President, Monadnock Construction. The project utilized Low Income Housing Tax Credits and State and Federal Historic Tax Credits.

Designed in 1898 by the famed New York City School Construction Authority architect Charles B. J. Snyder, P.S. 109 served as a public school for nearly a century. In 1995, the building was decommissioned and slated to be razed. Architects and neighborhood groups opposed the demolition and had the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Now, the building offers its residents and members of the Spanish Harlem neighborhood a gathering place that lives up to the Artspace motto: "Lots of space, lots of height, and lots of daylight."

"We are very proud to have contributed our 45 years of experience and creativity to help the Artspace team adaptively reuse this unique and significant neighborhood landmark," said Matthew Meier of HHL Architects. "The Spanish Harlem neighborhood once had pride in their Public School 109, now they have embraced El Barrio's Artspace PS109's mission to help make their community better by fostering affordable housing and space for local artists. We can only hope that HHL will have another opportunity like this to be creative, save an architectural legacy, and provide an inspiring home for people to embrace, afford and be proud of."

The awards will be presented at the Preservation League's Awards Ceremony in New York City at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13th at the historic New York Yacht Club, 37 West 44th Street.

The complete list of award winners is: Daniel Conkling House – Rensselaerville, Albany County; Lafayette Lofts – Buffalo; The Tishman Building – Buffalo; DePaul Carriage Factory Apartments – Rochester; El Barrio's Artspace PS 109 - New York; Pier A Restoration and Adaptive Reuse - New York; Remington Lofts on the Canal - North Tonawanda, Niagara County; and Rye Meeting House: Sustainable Preservation, Ecology and Conservation – Westchester County.

"With our annual awards program, the Preservation League explores not just the present, but the future of historic preservation. Many of the 2015 award winners provide valuable examples for others by incorporating energy efficiency techniques, adaptive reuse strategies and Federal and State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits," said DiLorenzo. "Each year, we are impressed by the number and variety of laudable nominations, and this year was no exception. We are delighted to celebrate the rebirth of P.S. 109 as El Barrio's Artspace and to commend all members of the project team for their leadership and vision."

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The Preservation League's Excellence in Historic Preservation awards program is funded by a generous grant from the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation.

The Preservation League of New York State invests in people and projects that champion the essential role of preservation in community revitalization, sustainable economic growth, and the protection of our historic buildings and landscapes. We lead advocacy, economic development, and education programs all across the state.