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Landmark Alerts

Scholarships Available for the NY Statewide Preservation Conference

The NY Statewide Preservation Conference is returning to Rochester, and Early Bird Registration is now open (through March 14th)! We can’t wait to see you in the Flower City, April 15-17, for three days of exploration, conversation, and education.

The NY Statewide Preservation Conference is the only event of its kind in the state—a multi-day gathering for anyone involved in preservation and community revitalization. It’s an opportunity to learn, network, become inspired and, yes, have fun! It is the preservation event in New York State and you don’t want to miss it.

Scholarship applications are now open. If you are a staff member or serve on a municipal board (zoning, preservation, etc.) for a Certified Local Government (CLG) community in New York State, you are eligible to apply for a CLG Scholarship.  If you are a grassroots preservation advocate or neighborhood/community leader from a diverse range of racial, ethnic, cultural, socio-economic, gender, and/or generational background, you are eligible to apply for a Diversity Scholarship. Both scholarships cover the full cost of registration, but spaces are limited, so be sure to apply ASAP!

Your Conference registration includes: an intensive, pre-Conference training session, tours, and Meet & Greet on Monday; a full day of breakout sessions, lunch, and Keynote on Tuesday; and your choice of four field sessions on Wednesday. For the first time in 2024, the New York State Historic Preservation Awards and Reception will take place on Tuesday evening during the Conference (also included in your registration). The Awards recognize individuals, organizations, agencies, and communities for recent projects demonstrating outstanding achievements in historic preservation efforts in New York State. These annual awards are presented by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Sponsorship opportunities are available (contact Becky Timmons at btimmons@landmarksociety.org) if you’re interested in being a sponsor.

2024 Conference Partners: The Landmark Society of Western New York; The Preservation League of New York State; the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; and the City of Rochester.
Register now!

ADVOCACY ALERT!

On March 13th, the City of Rochester Preservation Board will review an application to designate certain interior spaces of the Times Square Building at 45 Exchange Boulevard in Rochester. The building is already a City Designated Landmark, but that designation only includes the exterior. 

The Times Square Building was designed by Ralph Walker, a master of American Art Deco style who was widely recognized by his contemporaries and given the honor of “Architect of the Century” by the American Institute of Architects in 1957. It is the only Walker-designed skyscraper outside of the New York City metro. The interior includes several of Walker’s “humanist” design hallmarks including minimally adorned natural materials like marble and wood, extensive use of bronze details, intentional use of color and materials, and the incorporation of decorative painting and murals.

Renovations to the building in the second half of the 20th century irreparably modified many of the original features, including the loss of the three-story Banking Hall – “one of Rochester’s great architectural tragedies,” according to the landmark designation application. The application aims to landmark the security vault, safe deposit spaces, and coupon booth in the basement; as well as the entrance and elevator lobbies, President’s Room, banking room, and concession area on the first floor. If you were fortunate enough to experience these main-level spaces on our Inside Downtown Tour in September, you’ll know how important it is to protect them from future alterations that could compromise their historic integrity.

Please visit the City of Rochester’s Preservation Board website to learn how to support the interior landmark designation of the Times Square Building.
Learn more & comment on the application

Nominations open for the 2024 Preservation Awards
The Landmark Society Awards Committee is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Preservation Awards program. Each fall, The Landmark Society presents awards to projects, individuals, and organizations who, through their dedication and hard work, have contributed to historic preservation in our nine-county area.

Eligible nominees can include:

  • Committed historic preservation advocates and educators.
  • Self-taught homeowners devoting blood, sweat, and tears to an older house.
  • Beautifully preserved residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, or religious buildings.
  • Remarkable restoration projects.
  • Transformative adaptive reuse, where an old building has been given new life with a use other than its original one, while maintaining the historic character and details.
  • Historic landscapes, including gardens, stone walls, farms, parks, or the grounds of a house.
  • Small businesses occupying historic properties, whether they’re new owners or long-time operations.
  • Tradespeople practicing a historic architectural craft or skill, such as masonry, carpentry, or window repair.
  • Yourself or your preservation project. Self-nominations are encouraged and appreciated. You should be proud of what you have accomplished.

The Landmark Society serves a 9-county area (Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates Counties). If your project is in Western New York but outside The Landmark Society’s service area, we encourage you to find out whether there is a local or regional preservation organization with an awards program to apply to. Otherwise, please feel free to apply to ours!

Please submit your nomination by Wednesday, May 1, 2024 (an online form and a downloadable PDF are available).
More info about the Awards program

Landmark Travels Summer Day Trips

Run away with us!  Join Landmark Travels for our summer or fall Day Trips to unique sights – Buffalo: From the Waterfront to the 28th Floor (July 16th, architectural masterworks, City Hall and the waterfront,) Roycroft and Rails (August 24th, East Aurora and a whiskey train ride), Auburn in Autumn (October 17th, Tubman and Seward and more!)    There’s something to choose for everyone . Or – treat yourself and choose them all!

A registration form is now available for the Buffalo trip here. Contact Cindy Boyer at cboyer@landmarksociety.org or (585) 537-5953 if you’re interested in any of the others, and keep an eye on our website for more details.
More info about Landmark Travels

Landmark Travels Prague and Danube Explorer Cruise

Landmark Travels are not your typical tours. Our tours are tailored to offer exceptional, personal opportunities at each destination. Often that is because we choose locations where we have a connection with friends or colleagues, giving you a unique opportunity to interact with local residents. The Becan family in Prague, longtime friends with Associate Director Larry Francer, will offer a gateway to Czech culture that other groups can’t access.

In Prague you’ll also get an amazing view from the rooftop restaurant at Hotel U Prince, on the Old Town Square, overlooking the famous astronomical clock. Landmark staff discovered this on our last Czech trip and can’t wait to bring guests here. You might even join us for a nightcap after dinner at the world-famous Black Angel’s bar in the caves below the U Prince!

After two nights in Prague, we’ll journey to the Danube for our 9-night cruise on Emerald Waterway’s luxury Star-Ship. One of the ports of call, Vienna, gives us another opportunity to meet with a staff friend: Sona MacDonald, an acclaimed Austrian actress and singer. Sona will delight you with stories about her upbringing in a Frank Lloyd Wright designed college community where her father was a professor and her acting career in her mother’s homeland.

Don’t miss out on this exclusive Landmark Travels tour to five countries. In in addition to Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, ports also include the charming towns and villages of Passau, Germany; Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic; Linz, Melk, and Weissenkirchen, Austria; and Bratislava, Slovakia.

Pricing starts at $5,244/person (double occupancy).

See the full brochure and pricing as well as registration form for this magnificent trip on our website. Contact Larry Francer for more info: lfrancer@landmarksociety.org, (585) 537-5954.
More info about Landmark Travels

Cobblestone Museum Masonry Workshop

The Cobblestone Museum is holding a hands-on Historic Masonry Workshop presented by Brian Daddis Masonry at the Thompson-Kast Visitors Center. It will be held on Saturday, May 18th from 9am to 4pm.

The full day workshop will focus on maintaining a historic masonry structure. Topics will include the importance of using lime mortar when reconditioning historic masonry structures, with a hands-on demonstration involving repointing a stone foundation, repointing brick, extracting and replacing bricks, and composite patching of bricks. The cost for the full day workshop (including lunch) is $90 for Cobblestone Society members and $100 for all others.
Learn more and register

Wood Workshop in Silver Lake - Special deal for Landmark Members
Landmark colleagues Stacy Grinsfelder and Bradley Huber are offering a generous discount to Landmark Society members on their upcoming Wood Window Workshop. This is an  immersive, work-forward, crash course in traditional repair and rehabilitation techniques for wooden windows at historic Silver Lake. Workshop 1 will be held Friday, July 19th through Sunday, July 21st. Workshop 2 will be held Friday, July 26th through Sunday, July 28th. Sales begin Friday, March 1st at 12:00 noon EST, and the cost of the workshop is $575 for a single or $975 for a duo. Landmark members receive 10% off with the code: LSWNY. Last year’s workshop sold out very quickly, so be sure to grab a spot if you’re interested!
Reserve your spot

Spring Classes with Rochester Brainery

Have you signed up for any of our spring classes with Rochester Brainery? We have three classes scheduled in March/early April:

All classes take place at Warner Castle (5 Castle Park in Rochester).
Learn more and register

Upcoming Events

March 11: Women in Preservation and Design class with Rochester Brainery

March 25: The Rocks that Built Rochester class with Rochester Brainery

April 4: Landscape Architects of Rochester class with Rochester Brainery

April 10: Old House Hacks: Curb Appeal class with Rochester Brainery

April 15-17: NY Statewide Preservation Conference in Rochester

April 22 – May 2: Landmark Travels: Arte Cuba (SOLD OUT)

April 29: Crash Course in American Architectural History: 19th Century class with Rochester Brainery

May 1: Deadline to submit nominations for 2024 Preservation Awards

May 6: Crash Course in American Architectural History: 20th Century class with Rochester Brainery

September 29 – October 11: Landmark Travels: Danube Explorer River Cruise and Prague
Full Events Calendar

Thank you to our past event sponsors!

The Landmark Society of Western New York is supported, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature

The Landmark Society receives support from Monroe County through the Mid-Size Arts Organization Grant

5 Castle Park, Rochester, NY 14620
PHONE: (585) 546-7029 x10 · FAX: (585) 546-4788

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