Excellence Award Spotlight: Dale Jones Burch Neighborhood Center
Henry Street Settlement’s Dale Jones Burch Neighborhood Center is one of this year’s Excellence in Historic Preservation Award winners. This post is part of an in depth series exploring all of the 2020 Award winners.
A view of the Dale Jones Burch Neighborhood Center from street level with a group of people with children standing in front. Credit: Beyer Blinder Belle - Max Touhey
The nonprofit Henry Street Settlement has been providing services to Lower East Side residents since 1893. The formerly vacant firehouse that is now home to their Dale Jones Burch Neighborhood Center is one of 18 locations where Henry Street operates social services, arts, and healthcare programs.
A closeup look at the restored, red, cast iron storefront, featuring Corinthian pilasters.
Preserving historic buildings is not new for this organization – they care for their community by serving underserved populations, and that dedication is mirrored in how they steward the built environment in which they operate as well. From their website: “The architecture of the buildings that house Henry Street’s programs is as rich in history as the Settlement itself. Spread throughout the Lower East Side of Manhattan, they act as both a guide to the growth and evolution of the social service reform movement, and as a timeline for American architecture. Of the 18 locations, four are recognized as significant historical landmark structures, and two have received awards for the Settlement’s preservation efforts.“
A firehouse is home to a neighborhood’s first responders. Henry Street plays a similar role, and by bringing this firehouse back to active use, the building can once again be of service to its community. The team at Henry Street collaborated with designers, community advocates, donors, and elected officials over the course of decade-long quest to gain ownership of the building after it was vacated by the FDNY in 2001.
The firehouse is a contributing building in the Lower East Side Historic District. The restoration took care to bring the many decorative elements of its facade back to its original condition, including the cast iron storefront and floral terra cotta panels. The interior was completely renovated to create spaces that will support Henry Street’s programming for years to come.
The interior spaces have been renovated to serve the organization’s mission of providing essential services to the community. Credit: Beyer Blinder Belle - Max Touhey
The Dale Jones Burch Neighborhood Center project team included: Henry Street Settlement – David Garza, CEO, Renee Epps, Chief Facilities Officer, and Maggie Oldfather, Facilities Manager; Manhattan Community Board 3 – Susan Stetzer, District Manager; Beyer Blinder Belle – Elizabeth R. Leber, AIA, LEED AP, Partner-in-Charge, Lauren Cawse, AIA, LEED Green Associate, Project Architect, Graham Roscoe, AIA, LEED AP, Construction Administrator; Burda Construction – Larry Burda Jr., General Contractor