Current Events

JGWA’s adaptive use and restoration of Thomas Jefferson’s Rotunda at the University of Virginia has received a 2019 Institute Honor Award from the National Institute of Architects.

JGWA’s restoration of Thomas Jefferson’s Rotunda at the University of Virginia has received a 2018 Award of Merit in Adaptive Reuse/Historic Preservation by the New York State American Institute of Architects.

Construction has begun on Pullman National Monument, JGWA’s project with the National Park Service.

JGWA is pleased to announce that Katherine Onufer, AIA has been named an Associate at the firm. Katherine has been an integral part of the firm’s success, having worked on projects such as the restoration of Carr’s Hill, the Presidents House at the University of Virginia, and the exterior restoration of Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, NY. Congratulations to Katherine for this achievement.

JGWA would like to congratulate Staff Architect Jessica Lankston who recently became a licensed architect in the State of New York.

John G. Waite, FAIA is featured in the Journal of Preservation Technology APT Bulletin’s Special 50th Anniversary Issue in an article titled:  The Evolving Role of a Preservation Architect. The piece highlights the changing landscape of preservation over the last 50 years.

JGWA is currently working as the historical architect in association with Glavé & Holmes Architecture, who are coordinating individual design consultants for the renovation and restoration of Carr’s Hill, the Presidents House at the University of Virginia.

JGWA’s restoration of the Ticonderoga High School gymnasium was recently awarded an Adirondack Architectural Heritage award.  A formal award presentation will take place on November 2, 2018. 

JGWA recently completed a Value Analysis for the National Park Service as part of the preservation and restoration of the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in Xenia, OH.   

John G. Waite was the featured presenter for the Chapel + Cultural Center Lenten Wednesday Speaker Series on March 21st in Troy, NY.

JGWA presented “Cincinnati Museum Center: Preparing the Restoration of a Museum & National Historic Landmark” at the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums Symposium in Philadelphia, PA. Also speaking with the firm was GBBN Architects, and the President/CEO of the Cincinnati Museum Center.

JGWA recently completed the first phase of renovation for Pavilion VIII at the University of Virginia. The historic structure will serve as the temporary home of the University President-Elect until the firm completes the renovation and restoration of his permanent home, Carr’s Hill.

JGWA has been selected by the National Park Service to preserve and restore the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument (1907-1922) in Xenia, OH. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the important role that Charles Young and the Buffalo Soldiers played in our nation’s history.

The U.S. Green Building Council released its annual list of the Top 10 States for LEED which included VA for the 8th straight year. This was due in part to the firms renovation and restoration of The Rotunda at the University of Virginia.

JGWA and their Renovation and Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia is featured in the current issue of Traditional Building Magazine.

JGWA’s Cincinnati Union Terminal project was featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer in an article titled Union Terminal:  Building a Brand New Relic.

JGWA and consultant Glavé & Holmes were recently the recipient of an Honor Award by the Virginia American Institute of Architects for Interior Design for their work on The Rotunda at the University of Virginia.

JGWA’s restoration of the Parish of All Saints, Ashmont in Dorchester, MA project has won a Best Project Award from Engineering News Record New England as well as a Preservation Achievement Award from the Boston Preservation Alliance.

JGWA’s Rotunda project at the University of Virginia was recently featured in the Washington Post and on Yahoo News.  The article details how during the comprehensive interior and exterior restoration of the historic structure, JGWA came to discover a chemical hearth and why it remained hidden all these years.

July 12, 2015 marked the official reopening of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, the Long Island home of Theodore Roosevelt in Oyster Bay, NY, after the completion of the three year interior and exterior restoration. 

2015 marks the twentieth anniversary of John G. Waite Associates, Architects PLLC. The roots of our firm go back even further to a general architectural practice founded before World War II. As one of the first architectural firms in the United States to deal solely with the preservation and reuse of existing buildings and the design of new buildings in historic settings, our firm has worked on some of the most significant structures in the country.

JGWA is happy to welcome Katherine Onufer to the firm as project architect.  Katherine received a Master of Architecture from the Syracuse University School of Architecture and a B.S. in Human Ecology from Mercyhurst College.  Katherine is working on the interior restoration of the Kate Mullany House in Troy, NY and the exterior restoration of Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, NY. 

JGWA has been commissioned by the National Park Service to complete an exterior rehabilitation of Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, NY.  The multi-phased project comes on the heals of the firm’s roof replacement project at the national historic site, both of which are being done under the firm’s historic preservation contract with the NPS.  In addition, the firm is currently completing a historic furnishings report for the site.

JGWA is happy to welcome Jessica Lankston to the firm as project architect.  Jessica received her Masters of Architectural History with a Certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Virginia.  Prior to graduate study, she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Architecture from Texas Tech University.  Jessica is currently working on JGWA’s Rotunda project at the University of Virginia.

Also new to the firm is project architect Jessica Stuck.  Jessica received her Master of Architecture degree, Bachelor of Science in Architecture, and Bachelor of Arts in History degrees from Kent State University in Ohio. Jessica is currently working on the First Church of Albany, the Parish of All Saints Ashmont, St. James Place, and the University of Virginia Rotunda projects. 

JGWA has been commissioned by Fort Ticonderoga, a large 18th-century star fort, built by the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain, to complete a historic structure report of The Pavilion.

JGWA’s Rotunda project was featured in the Summer 2013 edition of The University of Virginia’s Alumni Magazine in an article titled:  “A Roof With a View”.

JGWA has been selected to complete the interior and exterior restoration of Thomas Jefferson’s Rotunda on the campus of the University of Virginia.  The firm previously completed a historic structure report and is currently restoring the Rotunda’s roof.

JGWA is returning to the old Binghamton Inebriate Asylum to begin work on the next phase of their “Castle on the Hill” project.

JGWA’s African Meeting House project was recognized by Traditional Building Magazine, published by Restore Media, LLC, with a 2012 Palladio Award in the restoration and renovation category for commercial, institutional and public projects.

John G. Waite and Douglass Bucher presented a lecture on the architectural and artistic history and legacy of St. Peter’s Church at the Albany Institute of History & Art entitled “300 Years, One Congregation: Three Buildings, Four Distinguished Architects.”

JGWA’s Hamilton Grange was recognized with an Honor Award in the category of historic preservation from the Easter New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.  The award was presented at a ceremony held at The Arts Center in Troy, NY. 

JGWA’s African Meeting House project was featured in Traditional Building Magazine in an article titled:  National Treasure. Project Manager, Clay S. Palazzo, AIA, LEED AP says, “…It’s a balance between today’s building and life-safety codes and the historic character-defining features of the building – you don’t want to compromise the cultural significance and character of a building for modern use.”

JGWA’s historic restoration of the African Meeting House in Boston, MA was recently celebrated at a rededication ceremony that coincided with the structures 205th Anniversary. Sr. Principal, Jack Waite, FAIA, was a featured speaker at the event. 

JGWA has begun work on restoration of The Hawkes House (1780) at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site in Salem, MA.  This project is being completed as part of JGWA’s historic preservation IDIQ contract with the National Park Service. 

Working as a subconsultant to Mactec Engineering and Consulting, JGWA has been awarded a five year MACC contract with the National Park Service’s Northeast Region.  

JGWA will begin work on a 19th Century Structure (Building H) on the campus of Snug Harbor Cultural Center on Staten Island.  The project is being completed under the firms Historic Preservation Requirements Contract through the Department of Design and Construction. 

JGWA is pleased to announce that Jennifer Gurney has joined the firm as a staff architect.  Jennifer hails from Maryland where she served as the Senate’s representative for coordination with contractors on projects involving the preservation of Capitol Hill’s oldest office building.  Jennifer received her Master of Architecture degree from Pratt Institute in 2003.  Jennifer is currently working on Sagamore Hill (Oyster Bay, NY) and Vanderbilt Mansion (Hyde Park, NY).

JGWA has begun work on a feasibility and existing conditions study to evaluate the possibility of relocating the current Troy, NY City Hall to the Dauchy Building located at 275-283 River Street.

JGWA has begun work on the rehabilitation of Woodside Church, a stone Gothic Revival building constructed in 1869 in Troy, NY.  The structure is now home to the Contemporary Artists Center, a 20-year-old international arts organization. 

John G. Waite was a featured speaker at the Historic Preservation Education Foundation, partnering with Columbia University and the APT Northeast Chapter, symposium on the restoration of historic cast and wrought iron.  He spoke about previous efforts to preserve New York City’s cast-iron historic architecture and the vital role of his friend and colleague Margot Gayle. 

JGWA is pleased to announce that Matthew Scheidt, AIA, LEED AP was recently promoted to Associate.  Matt began his career as an intern at JGWA, returning as staff architect in 2008 after spending nine years with a preservation firm in Cincinnati, OH.  Matt has worked on some of the firms most prestigious projects including Sagamore Hill (Oyster Bay, NY) and Vanderbilt Mansion (Hyde Park, NY). 

For the restoration of the African Meeting House for the Museum of African American History, JGWA is working with the National Park Service and Shawmut Design and Construction as CM.  Constructed in 1806, it was the first home of worship built for an African American congregation in the United States.  Restoration is scheduled for completion in July of 2011.

JGWA is pleased to celebrate 15 years as a nationally recognized leader in the preservation, restoration, and adaptive use of historic properties.

JGWA has begun work on the exterior restoration of the Vanderbilt Mansion (1897) in Hyde Park, New York.  This project is being completed as part of JGWA’s IDIQ contract with the National Park Service. 

JGWA has begun work on a concept plan and programming study for the Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center in Lowell, MA.  This project is being completed under the firm’s IDIQ contract with the National Park Service. 

JGWA’s John G. Waite, FAIA, and Clay S. Palazzo, AIA, LEED AP were the featured presenters at the APT Conference in Denver, CO in a lecture titled:  Mississippi Longleaf Yellow Pine: Its Use by H.H Richardson and Louis Sullivan and the Conservation of the Charnley-Norwood Cottage.

JGWA’s Daniel Wilson, AIA and Matthew Scheidt, AIA, LEED AP attended the New York State AIA Conference in Buffalo, NY where the pair accepted an award for the firm’s West Hall project on the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 

As part of the team led by MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc., under a term contract with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, JGWA will provided historic preservation services for the rehabilitation of the Nelson Laboratory Building (1938) at the Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD.  

Amanda Gold has joined JGWA as Project Architect in the firm’s New York City office.  Mandy received her Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania, and her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Lehigh University.  For the past nine years of her professional career she has honed her skills in the field of historic preservation while working in Chadds Ford, PA.  Mandy will be assisting with the complete restoration of Hamilton Grange National Historic Landmark, the former country home of Alexander Hamilton in Harlem, NY.  In addition to Hamilton Grange, Mandy will be assisting with restoration projects at Sagamore Hill , the former home of Theodore Roosevelt in Oyster Bay, NY and the Statue of Liberty.

JGWA’s John G. Waite, FAIA, and Nancy Rankin, AIA, LEED AP presented Contemporary Preservation:  Case Studies for the Treatment of Historic Buildings as part of the New York Department of Design and Construction’s DDC Talks Series. 

JGWA was engaged by the National Park Service to complete a historic structure report for the Statue of Liberty under their Historic Preservation Indefinite Delivery Contract.  The project is set to begin in early 2010.

JGWA has begun work on a comprehensive historic structure report and restoration master plan for the Louis Sullivan designed Charnley-Norwood Summer Cottage Complex in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  The structure sustained heavy damage by Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005. 

Working as a historic preservation consultant to STV, JGWA was awarded an Indefinite Delivery Contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Services will be provided primarily within New York District’s boundaries and other Corps of Engineers locations. 

An article written by members of the JGWA staff titled:  Adaptive Use Project Utilizes Both Public and Private Funding is the AIAENY Project Spotlight Feature in the December issue of the Architext newsletter.

In conjunction with Historic Albany Foundation, JGWA consultant Mount Ida Press has released a new book titled: ARCHITECTS In Albany.  Essays from JGWA’s William Brandow and Douglas G. Bucher are featured.

JGWA has begun work on a comprehensive historic structure report and restoration master plan for the Louis Sullivan designed Charnley-Norwood Summer Cottage Complex in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  The structure sustained heavy damage by Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005.

JGWA was asked to prepare a comprehensive historic structure report for St. Peter’s Protestant Episcopal Church in Albany, NY.

JGWA was asked by the Roslyn Landmark Society to complete the exterior restoration and roof repair of the Jerusha Dewey House in Roslyn, NY. 

JGWA is proud to announce that Cory Trembath, LEED AP has been certified by the American Institute of Architects as a professional Architect.  Cory works in our New York City office and has contributed to some of JGWA’s most celebrated projects.  

JGWA is proud to announce that Matt Scheidt, AIA, Clay Palazzo, AIA, Cory Trembath, Arthur Rollin, and Aaron Opalka are now LEED Accredited Professionals.

JGWA’s Nancy Rankin, AIA, LEED AP, presented with Stephen Spaulding, Chief, Architectural Preservation, Engineering & Maintenance Construction & Facility Management for the Northeast Region of the National Park Service at the annual New York State Historical Association’s Conference on New York State History.  The pair presented Hamilton Grange:  Restoring Hamilton’s Home to a Country Setting in Urban Manhattan.  

JGWA served as the featured speaker at an AIA Eastern New York Chapter reception where they presented “Restoration of the Baltimore Cathedral – 2009 National AIA Institute Honor Award Recipient”. 

JGWA’s Daniel Wilson, AIA and William Brandow participated in a panel discussion at the Columbia County Historical Society geared toward home owners of historic properties.  For more information please visit http://www.cchsny.org/.

JGWA has been awarded a historic preservation term contract with the University of Virginia. 

JGWA’s Nancy Rankin, AIA, LEED AP, presented with Stephen Spaulding, Chief, Architectural Preservation, Engineering & Maintenance Construction & Facility Management for the Northeast Region of the National Park Service at the annual New York State Historical Association’s Conference on New York State History.  The pair presented Hamilton Grange:  Restoring Hamilton’s Home to a Country Setting in Urban Manhattan.

JGWA served as the featured speaker at an AIA Eastern New York Chapter reception where they presented “Restoration of the Baltimore Cathedral – 2009 National AIA Institute Honor Award Recipient”.

JGWA accepts National 2009 AIA Honor Award for Architecture at annual AIA Convention in San Francisco, CA.

JGWA begins condition assessment of the facade of a 15-story building at 110 State Street in Albany, NY.

As part of a team led by MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc., JGWA will provide historic preservation services on an engineering led nationwide term contract with the National Park Service.

JGWA’s Clay Palazzo, AIA and Nancy Rankin, AIA, LEED AP, presented:  Hancock Shaker Village:  A Sustainable Master Plan at 2009 Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums annual conference.

Working with The LA Group, JGWA will assist with the preparation of a General Management Plan of Lindenwald, the former home of Martin Van Buren. 

Speaking with Dr. David Smith, President of Upstate Medical University, JGWA’s Jack Waite, FAIA and Clay Palazzo, AIA, presented Adaptive Use:  19th Century Asylum becomes 21st Century Medical School at 2009 North Atlantic Regional SCUP Conference.

JGWA’s Nancy Rankin, AIA, LEED AP, recently spoke at the APT International conference in Montreal, Quebec Canada.  Nancy’s presentation was titled The Preservation of Ransome’s Hollow Core Reinforced Concrete System at the Old Nassau County Courthouse. 

JGWA was awarded a contract to complete a Window Improvement Study for the City of Albany, NY for five (5) City owned buildings.

JGWA was recently awarded a Requirements Contract with the New York Department of Design and Construction (DDC) for Historic Preservation Design, Architecture Engineering and Construction Related Services, Citywide.

As Historic Preservation Architect on the Starr Whitehouse team, JGWA was selected for an “On-Call” service contract for the New York Department of Public Works in Nassau County, NY.

As a member of the L.A. Group, Landscape Architecture and Engineering team, JGWA will provide historic preservation services for the General Management Plan for the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site in Kinderhook, NY. 

JGWA was hired by the City of Pittsfield, MA to complete a recommendations report for Wahconah Park, an 1892 baseball park.  

JGWA’s Basilica of the Assumption project was awarded the Building Congress & Exchange “2008 Craftsmanship Award”.  Firm will be recognized at the November 7th, 70th Annual Dinner and 120th Craftsmanship Awards Program.

JGWA’s Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption project was honored by the AIA New York State, Inc.  The award was presented at the organization’s annual convention in White Plains, NY.    

JGWA received an Honor Award at the 2008 American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention and Design Exposition held in May in Boston, MA for work on the Liberty Memorial and National World War I Museum. 

JGWA’s Dan Wilson, AIA was on hand to accept a “Sense of Place” award for the firm’s work on the restoration and preservation of notable Albany landmarks.  The award was presented at a ceremony held at the 9th annual Albany History Fair at the Albany Visitor’s Center and drew close to 500 attendees. 

JGWA’s Bill Brandow headed up a presentation on rubble stone architecture at the Bronck Museum in Coxsackie, NY.  The presentation kicked off their special event season. 

Members of the JGWA staff participated in an information session that briefed community leaders in Binghamton, NY on plans to renovate the historic New York State Inebriate Asylum, also known as the “Castle on the Hill”.  The event was open to the press and was covered by local media outlets such as News 10 Now, WBNG 12 Action News, and News Channel 34. 

JGWA was recently awarded an Indefinite Quantity Contract with the National Parks Service (NPS).  The contract period will be for one year with options to extend for four additional one-year periods and will include a variety of projects within areas of national significance at locations throughout the Northeast and National Capital Regions of the NPS.