CTA Fall Newsletter
YOUR QUARTERLY ROUNDUP
This quarter, we mark a bittersweet milestone at CTA Architects: the retirement of Principal Dan Allen—our esteemed historic preservation specialist and the sharpest wit this side of the Hudson.
With more than 35 years of experience, Dan’s legacy is deeply etched into New York City’s architectural landscape. Beginning his career as a terra cotta and cast stone craftsman before earning his Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University, Dan has brought extraordinary knowledge, skill, and sensitivity to every project he's touched.
As Principal in charge of many of CTA’s most acclaimed preservation efforts, Dan’s influence can be seen across the city—from the intricate façade of 36 Gramercy Park East to the grand ceilings of the Jaffe Art Theater, the historic grounds of Wave Hill, and the evocative Irish Hunger Memorial. His ongoing work at the Bronx County Courthouse, Weeksville, and other active projects will carry his signature well into the future.
Dan’s impact goes far beyond the office. He has helped shape the preservation field through his role as an adjunct professor at Columbia GSAPP, and through leadership positions with the Historic Districts Council and the New York Preservation Archive Project. His contributions have been recognized by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, the Preservation League of New York State, the Society of American Registered Architects, and many more.
Below, we invite you to take a look back at some of Dan’s most memorable projects as we celebrate his remarkable career. For now, we simply say: thank you, Dan. Your commitment to craftsmanship, conservation, and mentorship has left an indelible mark on CTA, on our city, and on generations of preservation professionals to come.
Primo!
Wave Hill Gatehouse
CTA is proud to have designed a new entry sequence for Wave Hill, a beloved public garden and cultural center in the Bronx. The new kiosk structure provides shelter for staff and visitors alike, replacing an outdated entry point that offered little protection from the elements. Designed in close dialogue with the site's vernacular architecture, the gatehouse features locally sourced ashlar schist, painted wood windows, and a slate roof with copper trim—elements that earned unanimous approval from the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Wave Hill Gatehouse received the 2023 SARA CA Design Awards and Design Award of Merit.
Cherokee Apartments Window Restoration
At the landmarked Cherokee Apartments on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, CTA undertook the restoration and replication of more than 1,200 historic wood windows. Our work preserved the buildings’ distinctive aesthetic—including triple-hung windows and Guastavino-tiled balconies—while improving functionality and energy performance. This restoration ensures the long-term preservation of one of New York’s most architecturally unique early 20th-century residential complexes.
The Cherokee Apartments received the 2014 Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts Restoration Award and the 2014 New York Metropolitan Chapter of the Victorian Society in America Preservation Award.
American Youth Hostel
CTA led the exterior and interior rehabilitation of the landmarked American Youth Hostel, located in a historic former religious institution in Manhattan. Our work involved restoring exterior masonry, upgrading building systems, and modernizing interior spaces to better serve international travelers. This project honors the building’s historic significance while ensuring it continues to function as a vibrant, welcoming space for youth from around the world.
The American Youth hostel received the 2011 Landmark West! Unsung Heroes of the Upper West Side Preservation Award.
Village East Cinema
CTA is honored to have restored the elaborate plaster ceiling at the historic Village East Cinema in Manhattan. This highly detailed restoration required extensive investigation, repair, and recreation of missing ornamental elements. The work preserves the theater’s rich visual language and ensures the longevity of one of the city’s important, yet often overlooked, interior treasures.
Chapel of the Sisters
The restoration of the Chapel of the Sisters, located on the Roosevelt Island campus of the New York City Health + Hospitals system, demonstrates CTA’s commitment to sensitive historic preservation. Our work stabilized the structure, restored significant masonry and wood elements, and returned this serene Gothic Revival chapel to active use as a community and cultural space.
Chapel of the Sisters received the 2009 Preservation League of New York State Excellence in Historic Preservation Award.
36 Gramercy Park East Façade Restoration
This award-winning restoration brought new life to the terra cotta façade of 36 Gramercy Park East, one of the earliest co-op buildings in New York City. CTA carefully cleaned, repaired, and replicated ornamental components to restore the building’s original splendor. The project has been recognized for its craftsmanship and its respectful approach to preserving a landmark residence overlooking Gramercy Park.
36 Gramercy Park East received the 2016 Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award, the 2016 Victorian Society in American Metropolitan Chapter Preservation Award, the 2016 SARA NY Council Design Award of Excellence, and the 2016 SARA Design Award of Merit.
Staten Island Supreme Court
CTA restored the grand staircase of Staten Island’s Richmond County Courthouse, a civic landmark designed and completed by Carrère and Hastings in 1919. Originally built with cost-saving limestone in place of granite, the stairs had severely deteriorated over time. CTA reconstructed them in durable granite and bluestone, complemented by rebuilt areaway walls, new limestone copings, replica light fixtures, and bronze railings. The restoration has been recognized for its faithful design and long-term resilience.
The Staten Island Richmond County Courthouse received the 2024 SARA National Design Award.
City Hall Steps
The historic entrance stair of New York City Hall, the nation’s oldest city hall still in government use, has been carefully restored by CTA. Originally constructed between 1810 and 1812 by Joseph-François Mangin and John McComb Jr., the landmark building had long suffered from deteriorated limestone steps and accessibility challenges. CTA replaced the stairs with durable granite, stabilized the supporting brick vault, and introduced new ADA-compliant handrails, a permanent lift and walkway, and a stone ramp. Guided by archival research, the decorative paving pattern at the portico was also reinstated, ensuring the restoration honors the building’s history while serving the needs of today.
Irish Hunger Memorial
The Irish Hunger Memorial at Battery Park City, a poignant tribute to the Great Irish Famine, was restored to address persistent through-slab leakage. CTA waterproofed the structure, repaired the concrete slab, and reconstructed the fieldstone walls, cottage base, and surrounding landscape. Working closely with the memorial’s artist, the team ensured the restoration remained true to the original vision while securing the site’s longevity.
Prospect Cemetery
Prospect Cemetery in Jamaica, Queens, the borough’s oldest family burial ground, established in 1668, was carefully restored after years of neglect. CTA led a conservation program to stabilize and repair historic grave markers while clearing overgrowth and improving site access. A two-year comprehensive geographic information system (GIS) survey documented more than 2,000 markers, providing essential information for future preservation and research.
Grace Church
Grace Church Brooklyn Heights, designed by Richard Upjohn and completed in 1849, underwent a comprehensive roof and façade restoration. CTA replaced deteriorated asphalt shingle roofs with historically appropriate copper batten seam roofs, rebuilt parapets and gutters with improved waterproofing, and repaired stone tracery at the stained glass windows.
The project was honored with the 2015 Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award and the 2015 Victorian Society in America Preservation Award.
Weeksville (in progress)
The historic Weeksville Heritage Center, a two-acre site preserving one of New York’s first free Black communities, is in the process of being restored. The project focuses on the four historic houses, with exterior repairs and new cedar shingle roofs on three, alongside the design of a climate-controlled archive room to safeguard artifacts and documents. These updates will ensure the houses and their stories remain preserved.
Poppenhusen (in progress)
Restoration efforts are close to completion at the Poppenhusen Institute, a rare surviving civic building from 1868 and a designated New York City Landmark. The project features custom historically sensitive wood window replacements, masonry and cast stone restoration, and decorative wood repairs, alongside new accessibility upgrades.
The Bronx County Supreme Court (in progress)
The Bronx County Supreme Court, a 14-story historic landmark built between 1931 and 1934, is undergoing a three-phase restoration. Work includes parapet reconstruction, limestone restoration, Dutchman repairs, and window sealant replacement across all four facades. Interior finish upgrades will take place on the first, eighth, and ninth floors, while two roof replacements will introduce a new green roofing system and a standing seam copper roof at the courtyard. Stay tuned for more updates!
Selma’s House (in progress)
Work is officially underway at Selma’s House, a historic wood-framed colonial home with deep ties to the Louis Armstrong House Museum. Once home to Selma Heraldo, a close friend of the Armstrongs, the house was generously donated to the museum to serve as much-needed support space. Our restoration carefully preserves its historic character while incorporating key updates, including an ADA-compliant first floor, a reconfigured catering kitchen, and fireproofing upgrades to meet modern code requirements.
