S. J. Kessler and Sons | Bronze Plaque for Apartments | Extant | Rockaway Beach | Apartment Building | 1964 | Located just across the street from the Rockaway Beach boardwalk, originally these buildings were clad in white brick and probably looked more similar to the Kesslers’ most prominent design, Washington Square Village. Today the buildings have been resurfaced in tan stucco with some dark red horizontal areas and dark red slab balconies which give the buildings a more drab, utilitarian appearance. The five buildings only occupy 11% of the total land but the site is minimally landscaped. The awards program description also states that houses of worship were included in the design, which could possibly refer to the pre-existing St. Rose of Lima Church and Temple of Israel on Beach 84th Street.
Arthur A. Unger and Associates | Bronze Plaque for Public Buildings | Extant | Rockaway Beach | Public Building | 1971 | This one-story library is a severe sight with an exterior of dark brick, a narrow band of grey aluminum clerestory windows, and a flat roof also of grey aluminum. There is a simple concrete and leaded glass window mosaic next to the entrance.
Tippetts Abbett McCarthy and Stratton | Bronze Plaque for Theatres & Other Places of Amusement | Extant | Rockaway Beach | Hotel or Motel | 1963 | This beachfront club is one of a disappearing breed of clubs catering to largely working class Brooklynites who have been renting the beachfront cabanas for years. Unlike some other waterfront cabanas, the Silver Gull is unique in that its cabanas are two story and some jut out into the water on piers. The buildings are faced with wall board and the doors are painted bright colors. The complex is centered around a large one story clubhouse with restaurant, bar, and cafeteria. In front of the clubhouse are several swimming pools on a raised concrete platform. It was originally constructed with 473 cabanas and 351 cabinettes which could accommodate approximately 1,500 families. During 2012 Hurricane Sandy severely damaged the club. It has subsequently reopened but some cabanas were not rebuilt.
