3 big 2011 projects in Youngstown win historic recognition

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Three high-profile Youngstown projects are winners of the 2012 Historic Preservation Awards.

The awards, sponsored by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, honor people who preserve historic buildings, sites and districts.

The rebirth of the Federal Building in downtown Youngstown, the restoration of the pipe organ at Stambaugh Auditorium and the renovation of the YWCA building on Rayen Avenue are this year’s winners.

The winners will be honored at the MVHS’s annual meeting June 19 at the soon-to-open Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center on West Federal Street, downtown. Members of the MVHS will get their first opportunity to view progress on the History Center at the meeting, and new members are welcome to attend. Contact the society for information at 330-743-2589 or go to www.mahoninghistory.org.

The Federal Building, on the corner of West Federal and North Phelps streets, received the Commercial Revitalization Award.

Built between 1898-99, the four-story building exhibits elements of both the Neo-Classical Revival and Commercial styles.

Renovations included removal of non-historic walls, drop ceilings and paneling and the renovations of the Federal Street and several Phelps Street storefronts into the V2 Restaurant.

In the rest of the building, the terrazzo tile was cleaned and polished; original trims and corridor transoms were restored; replacement windows were installed in the original window profiles; the fire escape was wire-brushed and painted; and the original neon “Federal Bldg” sign was repaired. The project was nominated by Bill Lawson, president of the MVHS.

The award will go to the Gatta Co., which owns the building. The project was done by DSV Builders.

The restoration of the historic and massive Skinner pipe organ at Stambaugh Auditorium, and the renovation of the YWCA building on Rayen Avenue won Community Revitalization awards.

Installed in 1926 when Stambaugh Auditorium was built, the pipe organ is one of the largest in the nation with four manuals, 67 stops, 58 ranks and 3,905 pipes.

It was damaged soon after its installation by water that came from a leaky roof.

The organ saw limited use until the full restoration in 2011 by A. Thompson-Allen Co. of New Haven, Conn. Unlike many organ refurbishing projects, the Stambaugh project used exactly the same materials and equipment used 85 years ago. The project was nominated by Bill Conti, president of the Stambaugh Auditorium board of directors. The Stambaugh Auditorium Association will accept the award.

A master plan was developed last year to reprogram the YWCA building into new living spaces, educational spaces, empowerment spaces, administrative offices and the historic restoration of the original main lobby, historic gym and all historic corridors.

The exterior work consisted of the demolition of the 1951 pool addition and the creation of a new handicapped accessible west entrance, a window replacement, masonry restoration and the replication of the missing stone cornice.

The YWCA building on West Rayen Avenue was built in 1911. The project was nominated by BSHM Architects. The YWCA will receive the award.