The George Nakashima Family House was the subject of an extensive digital documentation project by the Center for Architectural Conservation, which analyzed the design intent and building evolution over its 80-year history. Photo: Mojtaba Saffarian.
Weitzman faculty and alums number among the recipients of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia’s annual Achievement Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to the physical and cultural preservation of historic places in the city and region.
A National Landmark in New Hope
A team from the Department of Historic Preservation’s Center for Architectural Conservation (CAC) was recognized with a Grand Jury Award for its comprehensive documentation work of the George Nakashima Family House, National Historic Landmark in New Hope, Pennsylvania, considered to be a masterpiece of midcentury design fused with Japanese tradition craft.
Frank Matero, the Gonick Family Professor and director of the CAC, led the team as project director; John Hinchman, senior research associate at the CAC, served as project supervisor; Mojtaba Saffarian (MSHP’24) led the field team and completed the drawings; and Paridhee Goel (MSD-HP’24) conducted research and layout.
The documentation project integrates archival research and innovative 3D modeling techniques to go beyond merely documenting present conditions, toward grasping the logic underlying the building’s construction and evolution over time. “In essence,” writes Saffarian, “the house underwent a form of digital reverse engineering and deconstruction to be comprehensively understood.”
This project was supported by grants from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Wharton Esherick Silo Preserved & Restored
Image courtesy Heritage Conservation Collective
Another renowned artist’s home and studio underwent an award-winning restoration by Weitzman faculty and alums. At the Wharton Esherick Museum in Malvern, the concrete-block silo was experiencing cracking and water infiltration, and the original abstract fresco mural had also faded to become nearly indistinguishable.
Last year, the Museum, led by Weitzman alum and preservation director Andy Gustine (MSHP’02), commissioned a building assessment and diagnostic study from Michael Henry, lecturer in historic preservation and co-principal of Watson & Henry Associates, alongside three conservation alums from Building Conservation Associates, Inc, Dorothy Krotzer (MSHP’01), Marlene Goeke (MSHP’08), and Preston Hull (MSHP’16).
Meanwhile, BCA contributed to the design of the silo restoration project, which brought new life to the Esherick’s 1966 mural. Andrew Fearon, Weitzman lecturer and principal of Heritage Conservation Collective, led a team that cleaned away layers of biogrowth and mold, exposing the original vibrant swaths of color. They also removed previous treatments and repaired damage.
Faculty & Alum Projects Across Philadelphia
Molly Lester (MSHP’12), a lecturer in historic preservation and associate director of the Urban Heritage Project, earned the Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance Award for her monograph Building Ghosts: Past Lives and Lost Places in a Changing City. She shares the recognition with her co-author Michael Bixler.
Image courtesy Molly Lester
The community groups behind last year’s two new historic districts were recognized with Board of Directors Award for exceptional stewardship of historic properties. Emily T. Cooperman (MSHP’93), was the main author for the Washington Square West Historic District nomination for the Washington Square West Civic Association.
The other Board of Directors Award went to the Spruce Hill Community Association, which successfully nominated the Southeast Spruce Hill Historic District in October. The University City Historical Society, whose board president is Amy Lambert (MSHP’16), acted as the preservation consultant for the SHCA in their quest for neighborhood designation. While UCHS was not recognized, they are involved and committed to the ongoing designation process.
Kim Broadbent Chantry (MSHP’11) and Laura DiPasquale Zupan (MSHP’12) were also involved in the historic district processes for the Spruce Hill Community Association and Washington Square West, in their capacities with the Philadelphia Historical Commission.
Holly Boyer (MSD-HP '19), a preservation architect with Independence National Historical Park, designed and managed the restoration of the Washington Square Guardhouse, which included a new roof, exterior wood repairs, and exterior painting.
Powers & Company had 5 projects recognized. Kevin McMahon (MSHP’11) worked on the Picnic Philly in East Kensington and Vernon Lofts projects in Germantown, and Logan I. Ferguson (MSHP'06) worked on the Inn of Amazing Mercy, Reyburn Manufacturing Company, and Spence Building projects.
A team of alums from John Milner Architects were recognized for their work at A Man Full of Trouble Tavern in Society Hill. Alanna Stewart Piser (MSHP'11) prepared the federal and state tax credit certifications; Fon Wang (MSHP'07) worked on the construction documents, and Cathy Subick (MSHP'97) worked on the construction documents and construction specifications.
Scott Kreilick (C’95, MSHP’00) of Kreilick Conservation was involved in the restoration and renovation of interior spaces at Rittenhouse Plaza, a 1925 apartment building designed by McLanahan & Bencker.
In addition to their work on the Wharton Esherick Museum, Dorothy Krotzer’s BCA team also provided paint analysis for the historic Washington Firehouse, Sora West. Kathryn Brown (MSHP'13) was the conservator who conducted the analysis.
David Facenda (MSHP’02) of Heritage Conservation Collective led the Church of the Gesu project and also continues a large-scale conservation project on the interior plaster and painted finishes that were damaged from water infiltration.
Nick Kraus and Cindy Hamilton of Heritage Consulting Group were recognized for their work on the adaptive reuse of former West Philadelphia Passenger Railway Company trolley depot into the Carriage Car Lofts.
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