advocacy > 2003 winners

2003 Award Winners

The 2003 Preservation Awards were presented at the Society’s Annual Meeting on December 2, 2003. The recipients of the 2003 Awards were:

Preservation Projects

Institutional Rehabilitation/Restoration

Corliss-Bracket House, 45 Prospect Street
Constructed in 1882 to the designs of inventor George Corliss, the Corliss Bracket House has been recently restored to its original glory to the designs of Durkee, Brown, Viveiros and Werenfels Architects. This high-style Italianate building is now used by Brown University as its admissions office. Updates to the building were needed to provide handicap accessibility, improved egress, and improved office layouts and storage. Using historic building plans and photographs, interior spaces were restored using period furnishings and finishes while other interior spaces were sympathetically updated for use as office space. The building’s exterior required repair and reconstruction of brownstone as well as repointing of brick and repair of original windows and moldings. The completed project has preserved the integrity of an important local landmark while allowing the university to meet its current needs. The project has been selected for the sensitive rehabilitation of an important landmark building in the College Hill neighborhood and a prominent part of the Brown University campus. Brown’s stewardship of this historic building serves as an excellent example of the university’s commitment to outstanding restoration work.

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Institutional Rehabilitation/Restoration

St. Joseph’s Church, 92 Hope Street
The restoration of St. Joseph’s Church in Providence’s Fox Point neighborhood helps to ensure that the city’s oldest extant Roman Catholic church will be able to serve the community for another 150 years. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building is widely regarded as an outstanding example of nineteenth-century neo-Gothic ecclesiastical architecture. The extensive interior and exterior restoration of the building included patching and cleaning of exterior brownstone, repairs to the slate roof, restoration of stained glass and the building’s 110-year old bells, refurbishment of the building’s heating system, and a completely restored interior. One of the many remarkable aspects of the project is the fact that it was entirely congregation driven. The fine craftsmanship and attention to detail found in the restoration of this important landmark building are a direct result of the hard work and dedication of Msgr. William J. McCaffrey and members of the congregation, along with architects Dayton Spence and Steve Lerner. The church’s stewardship of this prominent historic building serves as a model for all congregations throughout the city.

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Commercial Rehabilitation/Restoration

Mowry Nicholson House, 57 Brownell Street
Christopher Dodge House, 11 West Park Street
The rehabilitation of both the Mowry Nicholson and Christopher Dodge houses as bed & breakfasts continues the efforts already undertaken to preserve and revitalize the Smith Hill National Register Historic District. These projects not only serve to preserve important pieces of our historical heritage, but they also respond to the increased interest in Providence as a destination for tourists and visitors. As a past listing on the Society’s Ten Most Endangered Properties List, the Mowry Nicholson House has been given renewed life and brought back from the threat of demolition. Restored on both the interior and exterior, original architectural detailing and materials have been preserved, bringing both buildings back to their original character and elegance. The collaboration of building owners and developers Kenneth Parker, Frank Hopton, and Michael Integlia, Jr., with architect Joseph Cornwall have helped to ensure that the buildings continue to dominate the Providence skyline for years to come. The two projects serve to strengthen revitalization efforts taking place not only in historic Smith Hill, but throughout the city as well.

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Neighborhood Revitalization Award

Sojourner House, 386 Smith Street
The rehabilitation and reuse of this nineteenth-century residential building for the Sojourner House, an advocacy and resource center for victims of domestic violence, represents nearly five years of planning and project development. The effort not only provides a valuable service to the community, but also helps to revitalize an important thoroughfare in the Smith Hill community. This modest, Greek Revival-style building has been rehabilitated on both the exterior and interior through the hard work and dedication of Betty Bailey, Executive Director; Ed Wojcik, architect; Greg Vaslet of Vasco Construction Management; and Kathy Taylor, board member. The project demonstrates how the preservation and reuse of a prominent local landmark can have a positive impact on its surrounding neighborhood.

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Cathedral of Life, 433 Elmwood Avenue
The restoration of this historic property reflects the hard work and collaborative effort of the Cathedral of Life, its pastor Jeffery A. Williams, members of the congregation, and architect Martin Ezeama of EA Design. Additionally, it shows the positive impact a restoration effort such as this can have on its surroundings. The restored building stands prominently along Elmwood Avenue, a major thoroughfare in the city. The over 130-year-old Second Empire-style building had suffered from deferred maintenance and required extensive work on both the interior and exterior prior to being occupied by the ministry. The effort reflects the church’s feeling that the restoration of the building on the city’s south side would provide hope for the community and serve to inspire others. The church’s stewardship of this prominent historic building serves as a model for all congregations throughout the city.

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William H. Dyer House, 60 Maple Street
The restoration of the William H. Dyer House at 60 Maple Street demonstrates how the preservation of a prominent local landmark can help to revitalize a neighborhood. Constructed by local builder William H. Dyer, 60 Maple Street was one of the first triple-deckers built in the city, and is a fine example of the popular Italianate style. During the latter half of the last century, the National Register-listed building fell increasingly into a state of disrepair. Located in the Pine Street National Register Historic District, the building was listed on the Society’s 2001 and 2002 Ten Most Endangered Properties Lists. The renovations to 60 Maple Street were part of a larger revitalization and housing initiative in Upper South Providence undertaken by SWAP, Inc. The restoration of this building to the designs of Durkee, Brown, Viveiros and Werenfels Architects helps to maintain an important link to the past while providing affordable housing for the future. The tireless efforts to restore this building while providing affordable housing have had a tremendous impact on the surrounding neighborhood. The restored building stands as a beacon of hope and symbolizes the hard work and dedication of this organization.

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Education

Dr. Ann Norton, Providence College
The Providence Preservation Society’s Education Initiative Award recognizes innovative and exceptional preservation educational programs or curricula. Dr. Ann Norton’s class at Providence College participated in a comprehensive program prepared by Dr. Norton that examined architecture and design as integral parts of our culture. Entitled Architecture, Culture, and Design, the course’s integration of historical architecture, culture, design and community involvement has broadened the students’ awareness of the built environment and its significance in everyday life. Dr. Norton challenged her students to become active participants in design projects throughout the city—raising their awareness of the historical importance of each site while integrating all types of architectural media as learning tools. The students not only learn about historical forms of architecture and revitalization techniques, but acquire valuable skills in documenting and presenting their research. Dr. Norton was selected for this award for her dedication and hard work, which help PPS in its mission to educate the public about the importance of the built environment.

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Government/Policy

Rhode Island State House Plaza and Terraces
State Senator Rhoda Perry and Representative Edith Ajello
The recent restoration of the Rhode Island State House Terraces by Durkee, Brown, Viveiros, and Werenfels Architects could not have happened without the drive and commitment of State Senator Rhoda Perry and Representative Edith Ajello. When in the early 1990s, PPS began a major advocacy effort to ban parking on the McKim, Mead & White-designed marble terraces at the State House, both Sen. Perry and Rep. Ajello were there to lead the way. At the time, the terraces were in a deteriorated condition from years of parked cars. PPS hoped to ban the parking and restore the terraces to their original use as an elegant forecourt to the State House. The leadership of Sen. Perry and Rep. Ajello and their sponsorship of the legislation prohibited the parking and led the way for restoration of the terraces. This recognition is particularly timely since the restoration of the terraces is finally complete and these advocacy efforts can now be fully realized and appreciated. PPS recognizes not only the craftsmanship of the rehabilitation work, but the advocacy efforts that saved a prominent feature of one of the most architecturally important buildings in the state, if not the nation.

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Preservation Initiative

“Illuminate Providence” and “Light and Steel”
Illuminate Providence/Light and Steel, Hogan/Macaulay Architects
The Society’s Preservation Initiative Award recognizes the work of an individual or organization in creating and fostering an awareness and appreciation of the historic built environment and its importance to our everyday lives. The architectural firm of Hogan/Macaulay has undertaken a monumental task with its vision for Providence and its historic structures. Steel and Light, a designated work for the 2002 Convergence International Arts Festival, was an installation of sound, light, and projected images celebrating the industrial structures of the lower Providence River. Steel and Light was an outgrowth of the firm’s lighting master plan, Illuminate Providence, a work that provides for a long-term vision of Providence at night. The plan proposes the use of light to link the city’s key historic, civic, and cultural sites, transforming and highlighting Providence’s architecture and urban environment. This work has resulted in the illumination of numerous buildings and structures throughout the city, including City Hall, the First Baptist Church, the Point Street Bridge, and the Arcade. Prior to this, these important structures became all but lost in a sea of darkness after nightfall. Now the buildings engage visitors and residents of the city in a new and meaningful way.

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John H. Chafee Award for Public Policy

Richard Godfrey, Rhode Island Housing and Finance Corporation
Investments in affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization are generally not the first thoughts people have when they hear the words “historic preservation.” The need for affordable, high-quality housing that balances historic preservation and adaptive reuse of the existing housing stock can often be at odds but not in Providence. During the past ten years, significant numbers of historic buildings throughout the city have been restored as affordable housing – our historic resources have become part of the answer to housing for the future. While no one person can take credit for all of these efforts, there is one person who can be singled out for having the foresight, the focus, the will power and the resources to make this happen – Richard Godfrey, executive director of Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation. Mr. Godfrey is being honored today with the John H. Chafee Public Policy Award for his long-term efforts in providing affordable housing while preserving the historic building stock in the city.

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Volunteer of the Year Award

Mark Goldberg
Each year, the Providence Preservation Society honors an individual for outstanding service to the Society with our Volunteer of the Year Award. This year, we honor an individual who epitomizes the spirit of volunteerism here at the Preservation Society – Mark Goldberg. Over the years, Mark has brought his enthusiasm and energy to the PPS Annual Festival of Historic Houses and Holiday Stroll. In both 2002 and 2003 he served as the Chair of the Festival of Historic Houses, bringing his passion for historic buildings and dedication to the Society to this annual event. Mark’s humor, good sense and attention to detail are all attributes that make him not only an outstanding volunteer, but a valuable asset to the Society. We honor him today for dedication and his years of tireless service to the Preservation Society.

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President’s Award

Christopher “Kip” McMahan
The Providence Preservation Society’s President’s Award honors an individual who has contributed significantly to the Society’s endeavors over an extended period of time. In recognition of his efforts on behalf of both the Providence Preservation Society and the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the President’s Award this year goes to the chairman of the steering committee of the PPS/AIAri Guide to Providence Architecture, Christopher (Kip) McMahan. Immediately upon joining the PPS board in 2002, Kip embarked on a major undertaking – the largest publishing effort PPS has ever undertaken. He brought together a group of individuals as a steering committee who would set a high standard in terms of content and design, to produce a book worthy of its sponsors. And he guided the process carefully from beginning to end. It is no understatement to say that this project would not have been possible without his participation. His hard work and dedication have resulted in a permanent record of our most treasured resources, which will help to educate visitors and residents alike for many years to come.

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Special Citation

Lumiere Salon, 57 Fulton Street
The design of the Lumiere Salon in the Smith Building on Fulton Street in downtown Providence is honored today with a Special Citation. The location of this project is particularly important since the Smith Building stands adjacent to City Hall and was one of the first buildings in the downtown area to be rehabilitated for housing and commercial space. While upper stories were rehabilitated for residential use, this storefront space was left unfinished. The creative design for the salon retains the exposed plasterwork and piers and embellishes them with 8,000 copper rods which hang from the ceiling to the floor. The rawness of the existing space is retained behind the rods, which allow for varying degrees of translucency depending on the lighting conditions. The creative lighting, retention of historical elements, and use of copper rods create a dramatic effect for this prominent storefront space. The effort represents the collaboration of its owner, Terry Donnelly, the design firm 3SIX0, construction engineer Wilbur Yoder, and lighting consultant Hogan/Macaulay Architects. The project represents one element of the ongoing efforts of architects, developers, and preservationists to bring renewed life to the area.

Damiano Industries
The Damiano brothers – Luigi, Roy, Freddi and their late brother Rico – are honored for the impact their work has had on the Providence cityscape. Since its establishment in 1936, Damiano Industries has dedicated itself to the craft of metalwork. Their impact on Providence is immeasurable – their craftsmanship can be seen throughout the city. Included within their many projects, the Damianos were responsible for the replication of historic railings at Waterplace Park and the historic fence panels at Moses Brown School. It is for this devotion to a lost craft and dedication to workmanship that the Damianos are being recognized today. This winter Damiano Industries will close its doors – although their work will continue to stand as a testament to the fine craftsmanship this company has come to epitomize. We take this opportunity to thank them for the positive impact they have had on the urban landscape.