The Preservation League of NYS is thrilled to recognize the restoration of the Most Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church with a 2024 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award.
The restoration of the Art Deco masterpiece Most Precious Blood Church was a monumental 15-year effort aimed at preserving a historic landmark while ensuring its continued service to the community. Key aspects of the restoration included the complete renovation of the exterior facades, belfry, and roof, as well as the careful repair and preservation of the interior Art Deco elements. The team worked diligently to restore the iconic geometric stained glass windows, the monumental steel frames, and the intricate terrazzo flooring, all of which are critical to the church’s unique character. The aluminum pinnacle adorned with a stylized peacock screen—a symbol of Christian rebirth—was also restored, ensuring it continues to be a beacon of hope against the night sky. "It is incredibly rewarding to see our team’s hard work and dedication recognized by the Preservation League of NYS,” said Project Architect Carlo Zaskorski. “This award is a testament to our commitment to excellence in preservation, and it reflects the collaborative spirit and expertise that our firm brings to every project." Now in its 40th year, the League's annual Excellence Awards program allows us to shine a light on the people who are using historic preservation to make all our lives better —through exemplary restoration projects, indispensable publications, individual action, and organizational distinction. More info about this project can be found at https://www.preservenys.org/blog/exce...
Project team: Diocese of Brooklyn, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio; Most Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church, Father Vedran Kirinici, Father William Krlis; Alberski PE, PHD, Tadeusz Alberski, PE; Jablonski Building Conservation, Inc., Mary Jablonski; Rocklyn Asset Corp., Robert Dadona, Peter Fede; RSE Associates, Liam O’Hanlon, PE; Vestacast, Piotr Kaminski; Victoria Consulting & Development, LLC, Dariusz Knapik, Nazariy Sukhovych; Zaskorski & Associates Architects, AIA, PC, Carlo Zaskorski, RA, Principal, Jason Galindo, Jason Popkin, RA, Mario Drakos.
We had another spectacular “Living Landmarks Celebration” last night that honored dedicated New Yorkers, filled The Plaza Ballroom, and brought in $1 million for our programs. “Our amazing group of honorees reflected the talent and diversity of New York,” said Peg Breen, President of The New York Landmarks Conservancy. ”Each has made significant contributions that benefit the City and its residents.” We were delighted to acknowledge these dedicated New Yorkers: Ellen Futter Audrey & Martin Gruss Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda & Luis A. Miranda, Jr. Genie Rice Ann Ziff We also want to thank our marvelous Living Landmark alumni who served as Honorary Co-Chairs Oscar L. Tang ‘22 Barbara Tober ‘19 Angela Vallot & James G. Basker ‘23 And of course, our marvelous Master of Ceremonies Stephen S. Lash ‘18 The New York Landmarks Conservancy is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and protecting the iconic buildings and diverse neighborhoods that define our vibrant and extraordinary City. Your support has enabled the Conservancy to provide grants and low-interest loans of more than $900 million to more than 2,000 restoration and repair projects throughout New York providing much-needed economic stimulus and supporting local jobs. No other organization is engaged in such a hands-on way in sustaining the City’s cultural heritage. For more information, contact Carla Eilo at [email protected]
New York Landmarks Conservancy - Lucy G Moses Award
St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church
This massive Church was built in 1888 as the jewel of St. John's University's First home in Brooklyn. It was designed in a Romanesque Revival style by preeminent religious property architect Patrick Keely. In recent years, Saint John the Baptist was served as a neighborhood parish church but was not a welcoming sight. The building was in extremely poor condition, with leaks at the roofs, rusty and decayed sheet metal elements, boarded-up windows, and rotted wood window frames. This project, completed over 11 years, has dramatically improved the handsome façade. All stonework was cleaned, repaired, and repainted. There are new roofs. An eight-foot-tall decorative frieze that runs along the entire building, and the cornices, gables, pinnacles, and gutters were replaced in lead-coated copper exactly matching the original. Stained-glass windows were restored with new hardwood outer frames and new protective glazing. The glorious 22-foot diameter rose window which could not be restored, were replaced using laser-cut, solid mahogany components to replicate the original design. Once worrisome eyesore. the church is once again a beacon to its community.
Most Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church
Most Precious Blood is an Art Deco masterwork, completed in 1932. It is well-known in its Astoria community for the solid granite façade with decorative limestone carving, and the octagonal granite belfry tower, reminiscent of an Irish farm silo. the tower is crowned with a perforated aluminum screen in a delightful pattern of peacocks and flowers. This comprehensive, 15 year restoration project has addressed substantial leaks at the entire building envelop. The facades' granite stone were numbered, and their positions recorded. they were removed so the walls could be waterproofed and then rebuilt. monumental original steel farmed stained-glass windows were carefully removed, rebuilt off-site, and returned. The peacock screens (fabricated by Alcoa in 1932 when cast aluminum was new material) were disassembled, air blasted, and repaired with molten aluminum, then re-installed with the support of new buttresses constructed of identical aluminum. the parapet walls, roofs, and copper drainage system were repaired or replaced. once the envelope was secure and watertight, the interior plaster was repaired.
St Raphael Roman Catholic Church
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St Sebastian Roman Catholic Church
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Woodside, NY 11377
Currents News - Diocese of Brooklyn
PROSPECT HEIGHTS — After decades of renovating churches across the Diocese of Brooklyn, a New York City architectural firm with strong Catholic ties is getting commemorated by one of the premier preservation organizations in the state. Zaskorski & Associates, Architects, has earned the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award, the highest award given by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, for the restoration of St. John the Baptist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Most Precious Blood Church in Astoria. Taking eight years and 15 years, respectively, for complete analysis and reconstruction, the restorations called for complex repairs, from the stained glass windows to the rooftops. Both projects were completed in 2023. “It’s on a preservation level. It’s more than just a repair. After working on something for 15 years, it’s nice when someone says you did a good job,” Carlo Zaskorski, the firm’s founder, a Catholic, told The Tablet. The New York Landmarks Conservancy will honor the recipients of the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award on Wednesday, April 10.
UJA Federation New York
UJA campground sites serve thousands of campers each summer, including children with special needs with free camp for children with cancer and their siblings. Z&A developed master plans to modernize the three sites, which begun implementation in 2018. The projects’ design scope includes revitalization of existing structures, construction of new pavilions, and construction of new pool centers. Other improvements include a new modern health center, spacious home bases with renovated restrooms and changing rooms, and refurbished basketball and tennis courts and ball fields. New aquatic complexes enable more frequent and longer swim periods. The three sites combined are approximately 243 acres. Working with Zubatkin Owner Representation, the Z&A team have developed a phased architectural solution that works within the client’s budgets and with the limitation that each phase of construction be performed and completed between September and June of each year.