Gould Memorial Library, located on Bronx Community College campus, is among several New York City buildings to win a 2024 Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award. The Library’s representatives will formally receive the award, bestowed by The New York Landmarks Conservancy, during a ceremony on April 10 at The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan.

 

The ceremony attracts an audience of more than 500 every year, according to the conservancy, a private non-profit organization that has led the effort to preserve and protect New York City’s architectural legacy for more than 50 years. The various winners of this year’s Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards were announced on March 18 by the Conservancy. The awards are the Conservancy’s highest honors for excellence in preservation, officials said, adding, “The award recipients demonstrate the amazing and challenging preservation projects that occur throughout the City.”

 

According to the Conservancy, Gould Memorial Library is considered a masterwork of architect Stanford White, designed originally for what was then the uptown New York University (NYU) campus. Described as majestic by Conservancy officials, they went on to say that the building’s eclectic classical revival style is accentuated by a rich material palette and intricate detailing, conservancy officials said. They said despite this splendor, the library was underused, under maintained, and endangered, but was too important to be lost.

 

They said the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award honors an $11.5 million restoration of the library’s grand roof, with hopes that the restoration catalyzes another phase of work, and a reactivation of this City landmark. “The ‘Lucy’s’ are a joyous celebration of impressive preservation work occurring throughout the City,” said Peg Breen, president of The New York Landmarks Conservancy. “This is our largest and liveliest gathering.”

 

Conservancy officials went on to say that Gould Memorial Library became part of Bronx Community College when NYU sold the campus in 1973, and the library soon became obsolete, compared with newer buildings. They said it was maintained in an ad-hoc fashion as water infiltration threatened its structural stability and interior finishes, and its use was limited by a lack of accessibility and poor mechanical systems.

 

Despite these drawbacks, they said the magnificent architecture inspired attention and action. They said a private Friends group funded a conditions assessment, and the City University of New York funded the restoration project.

 

They said Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners oversaw the roof restoration. Custom-stamped copper shingles that match the original were installed at the roof’s dome and cupola and double-shell Guastavino tile inside the dome was repaired with new tile. They went on to say that the failing, multi-hued Roman brick dome drum wall was reconstructed with custom-fired brick to match the size, sheen, and color range of the original. They added that upgrades to the lighting and fall protections systems completed the project.

 

Conservancy officials went on to say that the work has eliminated water infiltration and secured the structure and has also positioned Gould Memorial Library for planned future phases of revitalization, including upgrades to its mechanical systems and improvements to accessibility. With these plans in place once funding is secured, they said Gould Memorial Library will again become an active centerpiece of the college and a symbol for the entire CUNY system.

 

The other 2024 Lucy G. Moses Preservation Project Award recipients were 35-37 West 23^rd Street; 75^th Police Precinct Station; 424 Fifth Avenue; James Earl Jones Theatre; La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club; Lever House; Masonic Hall NYC; Most Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church; New York Life Insurance Building; Powerhouse Arts; Queens Plaza Clocktower; Ridges Residences and Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church.

 

In addition, Roberta Brandes Gratz will receive the Preservation Leadership Award in honor of her work as an advocate, author, and urbanist. Conservancy officials said Gratz has been a driving force in the conversation about New York’s buildings and neighborhoods for decades.

 

As reported, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, a separate entity to the one described above, will hold a hearing on proposed changes to sidewalk cafés on April 16.

 

In 2020, as reported, the Church of St. Anselm & St. Roch, located at 685 Tinton Avenue in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, was the only Bronx landmark to win an award during a virtual ceremony which took place via Zoom that year on Sept. 23, marking the 30^th anniversary of the awards.

 

In 2019, Norwood News reported on a talk on redefining American greatness in the context of Bronx Community College’s Hall of Fame.

 

Conservancy officials said the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards recognize individuals, organizations, and building owners for their extraordinary contributions to the City. They said they are grateful for the support of the Henry and Lucy Moses Fund, which makes the awards possible.

 

Since its founding, they said the Conservancy has loaned and granted more than $62 million, which has leveraged almost $1 billion in nearly 2,000 restoration projects throughout New York, revitalizing communities, providing economic stimulus, and supporting local jobs. They added that the Conservancy has also offered countless hours of pro bono technical advice to building owners, both nonprofit organizations, and individuals.

 

They said the Conservancy’s work has saved more than a thousand buildings across the City and State, protecting what they described as New York’s distinctive architectural heritage for residents and visitors alike today, and for future generations. For more information, visit www.nylandmarks.org.