2020 NHPT Merit Award

The Graduate, New Haven
1151 Chapel Street

Architect: Foote and Townsend
Built By: The Sperry Co.
Date: 1894 (as the Hotel Majestic)

Developer: AJ Capital Partners
Renovation Architect: Gerner Kronick + Valcarel, Architects, DPC (New York)
Date: 2019

The Graduate New Haven opened in October 2019 in a historic building dating back to 1894, formerly the home to Hotel Duncan. The 72-room hotel is located in the heart of the Chapel Street Historic District, steps from the Yale University campus. Graduate Hotels’ in-house design and development teams worked with GKV Architects of New York and Whiting-Turner Contracting Company of New Haven to completely restore the hotel over the course of 24 months with the goal of creating a modern hospitality experience while retaining the building’s original charm. Preserved historic details include a wood paneled reception area and reproduction fabrics from the period the hotel was built in the early 19th century. The lobby additionally features refurbished elements including Connecticut’s oldest elevator and two payphones original to the building. Guest room floors were renovated to celebrate both nearby Yale University and the building’s architectural past, including 14-foot ceilings and in-room fire places. The structure also features Old Heidelberg, a legendary Chapel Street bar which operated for 200 years before closing in the 1990s. Restored to its original state, Old Heidelberg features the recreation of four different wallpapers found throughout the renovation process, as well as the original wooden bar and tables — complete with alumni’s hand carved initials and messages.

Photo: Steve Freihon Photography

2020 NHPT Landmark Award

The Washington
39 Church Street

Built By: Major Edward M. Clark
Date: 1899

Developer: The Hurley Group
Renovation Architect: The Building Studio (New York)
Date: 2018–19

The Washington was completed in 1899 in the Renaissance Revival style. It is a contributing structure in the Ninth Square Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Rich in history and character, The Washington has been proudly restored by The Hurley Group, a local developer with four decades of experience in real estate development and management, and The Building Studio Architects of New York, an architectural firm with extensive experience in the restoration of historic landmarks.

The ornate brick and masonry façade and the entry and hallways have been restored to their original magnificence. The Trust notes that these restorations met or exceeded guidelines set by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s standards for historic building rehabilitation. This makes The Washington a fine example of the use of Federal tax credits to allow and encourage accurate rehabilitation while achieving a satisfactory return on investment.

Built by Major Edward M. Clark in 1899, The Washington was designed with a grand entry on Church Street, mosaic tile floors, exquisite marble staircase, ornamental railings, large windows, fluted columns and decorative stonework throughout. A 3½ story building with distinctive sculptural panels over the entryway, between floors and at the roofline, the façade rewards the street-level spectator who looks up. The central pavilion on Church Street is flanked by 2 window bays, each with a pair of windows with fancy stone molding. Topped with a highly decorative cornice, The Washington represents an era of prosperity and growth in New Haven. The Trust commends The Hurley Group for recognizing its character.

The Washington has been home to many retailers and restaurants over the years. August Janssen’s Hofbrau Haus occupied the basement from 1901 through the late 1960s, while retailers such as A. Schulte Cigars, Gilden’s Jewelers, Backer’s, and Gotham Citi Cafe operated at street level. The upper levels originally accommodated professional offices, later converted to artist studio lofts. Attractive apartments now occupy the upper floors, designed to blend historic elements with contemporary details. The result is a noteworthy merger of historic character, modern finishes and industrial accents.

The Washington is one of the most significant buildings in the Ninth Square District, incorporating imaginative detail and historical precedent while serving commercial business purposes. For these reasons, it is deserving of Landmark status.

Photo: Ian Christman

2020 Margaret Flint Award

Robert and Susan Frew

Robert Frew is from Chapelton, Scotland; he received his doctorate from the University of Waterloo, Canada and in 1969, he came to New Haven.

He taught at the Yale School of Architecture for 30 years. He was in fact the Architecture School’s first teacher in the use of computer technology. He also was a leader in environmental education for architecture students, along with Don Watson, in reaction to the 1970’s energy crisis.

Everything developed a new focus for Robert a little over 30 years ago when he met Susan and secured the funding for his first renovation project. A New Haven area native, born and raised in the local area, Susan holds a master’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University and also attended Temple University.

Beginning in the 1980s, Robert and Susan focused their energy on the revitalization of Upper State Street. In addition to renovating dozens of storefronts and apartments in the solid but unheralded brick and frame buildings in the State Street area, they created a renewed neighborhood spirit. Their mutual mission accelerated into a full-time profession when he retired from teaching in 1999. Robert Frew designed more than 100 housing units, predominately in the Upper State Street area, with the Frews also serving as the general contractor on those projects. More significantly, Robert and Susan were themselves the projects’ developers — that is, they bought each site and with tax-credit financing combined with the inventive resources, they created a desirable new place in an old urban space.