West Park Presbyterian Church Update
The circa 1939 tax photo shows a standing seam metal roof at the sanctuary – which means that within 40 years of construction, the original slate or tile roof was replaced with a metal one.
Contractor Larry Burda Jr. inspects plaster cracks at sanctuary ceiling
Detail, cracked plaster at sanctuary ceiling
Detail, cracked plaster at sanctuary ceiling
Engineer Don Friedman enters measurements of attic roof truss on a notebook computer containing existing truss drawings.
A Conservancy-funded phased restoration plan for West-Park Presbyterian Church is nearly complete. For the last several months, the Conservancy has worked closely with the church, initially overseeing urgent roof drainage repairs; then initiating and funding the creation of a phased exterior restoration plan, including Conservancy research to establish original roof materials.
This month the Conservancy arranged inspection of the church by a fire safety consulting engineer as well as solicited and provided a Conservancy Sacred Sites grant to fund engineering inspection and design to secure severely cracked plaster at the sanctuary ceiling – like the spring roof leaks – an immediate priority.
An illustration (click here to view PDF) summarizes the draft phased restoration plan by Matthew Gottsegen of Franke, Gottsegen, Cox Architects, incorporating countless hours of pro bono construction management by Larry Best and Kirsten Leung of F. J. Sciame Construction. While full exterior restoration is estimated at $11.5 million, the Conservancy’s goal has been to try to break the project down into achievable phases – and determine how much a phased approach would add to total costs. With funds from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Conservancy has retained a consultant team who have worked with the congregation for many years: architect Matthew Gottsegen, conservators Ray Pepi and Dorothy Krotzer of Building Conservation Associates, engineer Don Friedman of Old Structures Engineering, and construction manager Larry Best of F. J. Sciame Construction. Newer to the project are Conservancy colleagues Tom Garcia of the Gil Studios, Patrick J. Baldoni of Femenella & Associates, Chris Marrion of Marrion Fire & Risk Consulting, and contractor Larry Burda, Jr.
This month, in addition to worship, West Park Presbyterian Church was host to a four-concert series co-sponsored by The Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing, the New York Jazz Academy, El Taller Latino Americano, and The Stony Point Center, while avante-garde drama troup The Woodshed Collective has been actively rehearsing and installing sets for upcoming August performances of The Tenant, an immersive production in which audiences will move from location to location throughout the church:
http://westparkpresbyterian.org/childrens-activities/
The recent roof and drainage repairs, engineering assessment of displaced plaster sanctuary ceiling, and fire safety recommendations will ensure that West Park Presbyterian Church can continue to be safely occupied in the short term by the congregation, the public, arts groups, and income-generating tenants, while the phased restoration plan will help guide ongoing fundraising and planning efforts.
For information about the community’s West Park Restoration Fund please contact City Council Member Gale A. Brewer here.
