Engelhardt, T. H. | Bronze Plaque for Commercial | Significantly Altered | Forest Hills | Commercial Building | 1949 | The basic shape of this curved corner commercial site is still visible although otherwise largely altered. The original design attempted to be classic yet contemporary by being both low-scale with numerous windows and use of elegant materials such as limestone, white marble, stainless steel, and granite. There were also originally numerous neon signs advertising the commercial establishments located here, although not referenced in the award program. Today the building is a bank and over the entrance in the recessed curve is a large mural of the sites of Forest Hills, a fitting addition to a commercial building built and owned by the company that developed much of the surrounding neighborhood.
Furman, Joseph J. | Honorable Mention | Extant | Forest Hills | Religious Building | 1949 | There were two Jewish Centers honored in 1949 (the Jewish Center of Kew Gardens Hills being the other). Here, a more restrained modernism was employed with a slightly convex front facade faced in a warm stone block and featuring a center, three-door entrance topped by tall stained glass windows. There is very little overt detailing, only with small Jewish symbols and phrases carved above the entrance doors. The principal side elevation also features the same stone and a long bay of stained glass windows framed in concrete. At the rear of the site is a five-story school building. This structure is clad in yellow brick that harmonizes well with the stone of the Jewish Center, a cantilevered entrance canopy, and International style casement windows.
Baylinson, S. Brian | Bronze Plaque for Public Buildings | Extant | Kew Gardens Hills | Religious Building | 1949 | This temple is described as modified Georgian Colonial, mostly relating to the use of brick, wood-framed white windows and doors, and symmetrical facade orientation. The design was employed to fit into the the neighborhood, but with the evolution of the community, the Center now seems like one of the oldest structures in the area. There is a low rise youth center to the north with classical elements and originally there was space to the south for expansion, that is now filled with a bank.
Bousquet, George L. | Bronze Plaque for Rehabilitation | Extant | Flushing | Residence | 1949 | This residence was awarded as a rehabilitation not a residence, as the modern intervention was to expand the house from a one-family to two-family and one story to two, with an additional one-story extension. According to the awards program description, both residences have front and rear access. The interior was completely gutted and redone. The exterior remains mostly intact and features a facade of granite veneer on the first floor, shingles on the second, and a slate roof.
Republic Steel Engineers | Honorable Mention | Significantly Altered | Long Island City | Industrial Building | 1949 | This building still stands although completely altered and serving a retail use. It was built as a distribution center for several of Republic Steel Corporation’s subsidiaries. The image from the program book shows a two-story warehouse with factory style windows on both levels and what looks to be concrete framing around the window banks and entrance area. The building was completely fireproof. It was altered around 1997 as a big-box type establishment and sits among numerous similar retail outlets.
