Rochester projects to receive Excellence in Preservation Awards on 5/16

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Annex Mills at High Falls, photo by Barkstrom & LaCroix Architects

• Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, photo by Andy Olenick

ALBANY, NY (04/26/2012)(readMedia)-- The Preservation League of New York State has selected two projects in Rochester to receive its prestigious Excellence in Historic Preservation Award. This statewide awards program honors notable achievements in retaining, promoting and reusing New York State's irreplaceable architectural heritage.

"These projects illustrate the broad range of preservation opportunities in New York State," said Jay DiLorenzo, president of the Preservation League. "From retaining the grandeur of a landmark theatre while transforming it visually and acoustically, to repurposing a derelict mill building for use as much-needed housing, preservation continues to contribute to downtown revitalization."

Eastman Theatre Renovation and Expansion Project

"This historic theatre has been beautifully transformed into a 2,250 seat orchestral hall which now complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and boasts other amenities through the addition of a new East Wing," said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. "The architects and the University of Rochester took great pains to deliver greater utility while respecting the facility's historic, architectural and cultural significance. We are pleased that this effort will receive statewide recognition."

Primary contributors to the success of the project were Chaintreuil Jensen Stark Architects, LLP; The Eastman School of Music / University of Rochester; the Pike Company, and A'Kustics. Primary financial supporters included the State of New York through the efforts of Assemblymen Joseph Morelle and David Gantt, the Eastman Kodak Company, the Wolk Foundation, Wegmans, and many generous individual donors.

The Eastman Theatre opened in 1922 for silent movies with live musical accompaniment. Designed by McKim Mead and White with the Rochester firm Gordon and Kaelber, it is the only large movie palace remaining in the city of Rochester today. While major motion pictures have not been screened there in some time, the theatre continues to be a valuable community resource.

"The University of Rochester's vision to link new academic facilities at the Eastman School of Music's urban campus to a renewed commitment and stewardship of the historic Eastman Theatre provided the design team with a unique opportunity to contribute to a Landmark, enhancing historic preservation, the arts, academia, and the public realm in New York State," said Craig Jensen, AIA, partner in Chaintreuil Jensen Stark Architects, LLP. "Rarely does a project require so much of so many individuals, and also reward us in so many ways."

"The newly renovated Eastman Theatre and new addition enhance Eastman's role as one of the nation's premier music schools," said Jamal Rossi, Executive Associate Dean of the Eastman School of Music. "For the city of Rochester, this project reinforces the University of Rochester's commitment to the words that are engraved on the Theatre's façade: 'For the Enrichment of Community Life.' "

Annex Mills at High Falls

"This project transformed a group of Rochester's most historic commercial buildings from vacant and hazardous condition into a showcase for affordable urban rental housing," said DiLorenzo. "By making use of state and federal low income and historic tax credit programs, and incorporating the NYS Homes & Community Renewal Green Building standards, the project stands as an example of incentives and best practices while bringing new life to this section of Rochester."

Contributing to the success of this project were the Urban League of Rochester Economic Development Corporation; Edgemere Development of Rochester; Barkstrom & LaCroix Architects of Rochester; Saralinda Hooker, Planning & Development Consultant of Canandaigua; and LECESSE Construction Services of West Henrietta.

The Teoronto Block was built in 1845-55, and is Rochester's only surviving full block of a once-common building type, with three-story brick facades, stone trim, and continuous gabled roofs. Roof leaks had caused partial collapse of some sections of the roof and floor structures, and hazardous conditions including mold, asbestos and lead paint hampered design work and emergency repairs.

According to William G. Clark, President and CEO of the Urban League of Rochester, Inc., "I am extremely proud of the work that our team has accomplished. I would like to thank Carolyn Vitale, Vice President and COO of the ULREDC, and her staff, our development team, the City of Rochester, The State of New York, Eastman Kodak Company, supporting elected officials, KeyBank and our investor Key Community Development Corporation for their vision in undertaking such an enormous task, and preserving and converting these pre-Civil War buildings into quality affordable housing."

"The owner's vision, diligence, and financial acumen created a positive environment for building affordable apartments," said Richard Linder, A.I.A., LEED- BD&C, of Barkstrom & LaCroix Architects. "Even though this was a challenging historical renovation, their goals of a green building and higher-than-average minority-owned business participation were met. We are proud to have been on the project team that preserved a significant piece of the city's heritage."

The awards will be presented at the Preservation League's Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony in New York City at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16th at the historic New York Yacht Club, 37 West 44th Street.

The complete list of award winners is: the Albany County Courthouse, Albany County; Annex Mills at High Falls, Monroe County; The Eastman Theatre, Monroe County; Amsterdam Armory, Montgomery County; Hamilton Grange National Memorial, New York County; Niagara Mohawk Building, Onondaga County; TWA Flight Center, JFK International Airport, Queens County; Christ Church Bronxville, Westchester County. The organizers of the 2011 National Preservation Conference in Buffalo will receive a special citation. "Build a Better Burb," a project of the Rauch Foundation in Nassau and Suffolk Counties will be honored as an outstanding publication. Corning Enterprises in Steuben County will be honored for organizational excellence.

"In New York State, the preservation and reuse of our historic buildings is fundamental to the economic revitalization of our cities, towns, and villages. The League's annual Awards program allows us to share preservation success stories that may one day serve as inspiration to others," 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 Eastman Theatre Renovation and Expansion and the Annex Mills at High Falls, and to give two very different yet admirable preservation efforts the statewide recognition they deserve."

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.

By leading a statewide preservation movement, sharing information and expertise and raising a unified voice, the Preservation League of New York State promotes historic preservation as a tool to revitalize our neighborhoods and communities, honor our heritage and enrich our lives.

Additional Contacts:

(For Eastman Theatre)

Craig Jensen, Chaintreuil Jensen Stark Architects LLP

585-244-3780; cjensen@cjsarchitects.com

(For Annex Mills at High Falls)

Carolyn Vitale, Urban League of Rochester

585-454-5710; cvitale@ulr.org