Saphier, Frederick | Bronze Plaque for Office Buildings | Extant | Jamaica | Office Building | 1967 | Mirrored glass began to appear more frequently in the late 1960s and here a bold bronze tinted plate glass and amber spandrel glass gives a corporate sheen to this former union headquarters. The building is raised up on a brick base with a large glazed brick band across the cornice as well. There is some marble cladding at the entrance stairway although its unclear if that is original.
Arlen, Samuel S. | Bronze Plaque for Office Buildings | Extant | Forest Hills | Office Building | 1963 | The Pickman Building, named for its prominent local developer, is a six-story corporate style office complex with underground parking, office space, and retail space. Although the exact reason for its construction is unclear, its proximity to Queensborough Hall and other municipal offices most likely played a role. The exterior is of glazed white and blue brick with aluminum trim and ribbon style windows. The striking entrance is surrounded by porcelain and marble with the building name displayed in metal lettering.
Heller, Simeon | Bronze Plaque for Office Buildings | Demolished | Flushing | Healthcare or Nursing Facility | 1955 | Judging from the award program image, Simeon Heller’s Flushing Medical Building was a simple two-story brick box with a raised entrance and parking at the rear. The structure held 12 offices. Not only did Heller design the building but he was also most likely the owner, hidden behind the name 42-27 Union Street Corporation, which was based out of his architecture office at 38-11 Union Street. The building was demolished sometime in the past few decades and subsequently became a parking lot.
Heller, Simeon | Bronze Plaque for Office Buildings | Demolished | Flushing | Office Building | 1948 | This building addressed the issue of inserting a mixed use into a residential neighborhood. The structure, which housed both a residence and medical office had the character of a low ranch structure facing north to allow light to enter the examination and operating rooms. The building had a low hipped roof and a facade of brick and stone. It was demolished in approximately 2001 and the site is now filled by multifamily attached housing. Coincidentally, there is a similar building immediately nearby, the award-winning 1959 residence of Dr. Elmer Kestler, which also addresses the same issue and remains largely intact.
Lorimer Rich and Associates | Bronze Plaque for Office Buildings | Extant | Jamaica | Office Building | 1958 | The Otis Elevator Company stands semi-derelict on a somewhat forlorn block of Jamaica with empty lots on either side. The building remains intact with its brick and limestone facade and the aluminum windows are now behind metal mesh screens. The metal Otis Elevator signage is now gone and the entrance area is surrounded by a blue wooden partition. The awards program states that the building is 90 x 99 feet and uses the Larson system of continuous membrane waterproofing.
