Dec 29 2008
Seaboard Weatherproofing and Restoration, a leading restoration construction firm, and Walter Sedovic Architects, an Irvington, New York, architectural firm dedicated to historic preservation, were part of a team that was recognized for restoration work on the landmark Eldridge Street Synagogue and Museum in New York City.
Walter Sedovic and Jill Gotthelf of Walter Sedovic Architects represented the team, which was among the 21 national recipients of the 2008 National Preservation Awards presented at the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference on October 23 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In addition to Seaboard and Walter Sedovic Architects, team members include Eldridge Street Project; Wiss Janney Elstner Associates; Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger; Robert Silman Associates PC; Goldman, Copeland Associates; Reynaldo C. Prego; T. Higgins Construction; Landmark Slate & Copper Works Inc.; EverGreene Painting Studio; The Gil Studios; Aurora Lampworks Inc.; Stuart Dean Co.; ICS Builders; Damo Construction; Boro Plastering; Marcel Electrical Contracting Corp.; BP&J Associates; and Northshore Plumbing Inc.
When it opened in 1887, the Eldridge Street Synagogue was the first grand house of worship built in New York by Jews from Eastern Europe. The ornate building melded Gothic, Romanesque, and Moorish styling into an imposing structure. The building suffered the ravages of time and fell into disuse as congregants moved away from the Lower East Side. A 20-year effort has returned the building to its original glory. As the lead contractors for the façade work, Seaboard cleaned the beige brick façade, repointed the masonry, repaired the wooded window surrounds, restored the synagogue's large terra-cotta center window, and replaced the synagogue's finials.
"When the project was complete and the synagogue's main sanctuary was filled with people for the first time in 40 years, we were reminded that architecture is for people," said Jill Gotthelf, Principal, Walter Sedovic Architects. "Seeing the faces and expressions and hearing voices echo throughout the building made us realize that our work was done and we had reintegrated the building into the community."
"Seaboard is proud of its body of work on numerous houses of worship in metro New York," said Michael Y. Ahearn, President of Seaboard Weatherproofing and Restoration. "Our craftsmen have a solid reputation for the meticulous work and attention to detail that is required to restore historic synagogues and churches to their former glory." Earlier this year, the Eldridge Street Synagogue and Museum restoration was also recognized by the New York Landmarks Conservancy with its Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards.