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.
Neumann, Herbert W. with Ryder, Alfred H. | Bronze Plaque for Rehabilitations and Alterations | Significantly Altered | Jamaica | Office Building | 1965 | The rehabilitation of this office building consisted of recladding the first floor in white granite and adding porcelain enamel panels of blue and white to the upper floors. The building also included newly designed stylized signage including the company’s blue gas flame, a projecting blue and white sign, and blue lettering above the new central entrance. Today the building has been completely stripped of all decorative elements and paneling, although the white granite at the base is still visible around the side entrances.
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.
Gracer, Herbert | Honorable Mention | Extant | Richmond Hill | Office Building | 1962 | This complex is a standard suburban style medical center, common in other parts of the country but less so in New York City. The elements are a dark brown brick with white trim and a flat roof.
Barbanel and Levien | Bronze Plaque for Alterations | Significantly Altered | Jackson Heights | Office Building | 1962 | This former New York City government office building is today barely recognizable under layers of signage as a 99 cents discount store with a daycare center on the upper floor. The project that received an award was not the initial construction in 1958 but rather an alteration in 1962 to add an additional floor as well as a second entrance and elevator. White brick, glass and aluminum are the main materials here. Sitting immediately adjacent to the elevated subway line, it is hard to see the building in full or appreciate the elements of modern design that were so striking when it was originally built.
