Services offered:  

* Existing Conditions Assessments * Materials Analyses * 

*Field Testing * Treatment Recommendations * Construction Documents * 

*Mock-Ups * Submittal Assistance * Historic Structures Reports *

*Construction Administration * Documentation * Archival Research *

*LPC Consultation & Permit Applications * CAP Building Assessments*

Several of the projects below were completed while I was employed at other firms. 

 Profile:

Joan C. Berkowitz, FAPT, has 30 years of experience in architectural preservation/conservation, working on renovation and restoration projects for a range of clients in the New York City area and nationwide. Joan regularly performs forensic investigations; prepares building conditions assessments; performs non-destructive investigations, writes project specific specifications, and leads projects through the New York City Landmarks compliance process. Joan is fully versed in the Federal standards for the treatment of historic properties and the 106-review process. Additional skills include project design and budgeting, project and staff management, and construction site administration.

Joan excels at providing project technical support to Architects, Owners and Contractors while planning for and executing building renovation and restoration projects. She is a specialist in materials deterioration and is experienced in designing agency compliant restoration projects for terra cotta, stone, concrete, brick, painted finishes and metal. Her clients have included the DDC, SCA, architects, engineers, property owners, developers, not- for-profits, universities, cultural institutions, and both local and Federal agencies. 

Joan has held positions as Senior Preservationist, Director of Conservation and Senior Project Manager at  A + E firms where she honed her project execution and management skills. Working within architectural firms has helped Joan to be a good consulting partner as she understands project needs from the perspective of the architect. For twelve years she was the President of Jablonski Berkowitz Conservation, Inc. (JBC) a Conservation consulting firm based in NYC. Early in her career Joan spent six years as a Building Conservator at the National Park Service documenting and restoring historic structures located in National Parks according to Federal treatment standards.

An Assistant Adjunct Professor at Columbia University's GSAPP for 14 years, Joan taught the courses "Concrete, Cast Stone and Mortar," and "The Conservation Workshop."

In 2017, Joan was inducted as a member of the College of Fellows of the Association for Preservation Technology International in recognition of her preservation work and work for the association.

Joan is an approved CAP Building Assessor. The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC), administers the CAP program via a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Joan is fully scaffold certified.

Since March of 2022 Joan has worked as an independent consulting conservator/preservationist as Joan Berkowitz Architectural Conservation.

Preservation Experience:

CANY Architects & Engineers, Technical Director, 2020 – 2021. 

Served on firm-wide management group, provided oversight of two studios, performed project management and construction site administration; performed building investigations; building conditions assessments; prepared technical specifications and cost estimates and provided technical support on materials conservation issues. 

Projects at CANY included: 

*501 Seventh Avenue, Exterior Terra Cotta and Brick Restoration, Consultant, New York, NY

*745 Fifth Avenue, Replacement of Two Roofs, Consultant, New York, NY

*35 West 4th Street, Exterior Restoration, Consultant, New York, NY

*100 Bleecker Street, Exterior Concrete Restoration Bulkhead, Project Manager, New York, NY

*110 Bleecker Street, Exterior Concrete Restoration Bulkhead, Project Manager, New York, NY

Howard L. Zimmerman Architects, Senior Preservationist, Senior Project Manager, 2015 – 2020. 

Provided project management, scoping, design oversight, bidding, and construction site administration; performed forensic and conditions investigations; prepared technical specifications; cost estimates for budgeting; coordinated HLZA’s SHPO and LPC compliance and provided firm-wide technical support on materials conservation issues and treatments. Negotiated contracts, reviewed bids, change orders, reviewed payment requisitions and all aspects of construction for clients. 

Projects at HLZA included: 

*20 Exchange Place, Exterior Restoration, Project Manager, New York, NY

*1060 Park Avenue, Exterior Restoration, Project Manager, New York, NY

*259 East 7th Street, Exterior Restoration, Project Manager, New York, NY

*New York Marble Cemetery, Masonry Restoration, Project Manager, New York, NY

*67- 63 Wall Street, Exterior Restoration, Project Manager, New York, NY

*Brooklyn Navy Yard Admiral’s Row, Conservator, New Wegemans, Brooklyn, NY

*867 Madison Avenue,  Exterior Conditions Assessment, Slate Roof Study, Project Manager, New York, NY

*7 East 84th Street, Conservator, Exterior Restoration, Project Manager, New York, NY

*New York City Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, Restoration, Project Manager, New York, NY

Vidaris, Inc./Israel Berger and Associates, Consultant, May 2014 – December 2014. 

Provided project management and site administration; performed investigations; building conditions assessments; specifications for projects; cost estimates for budget formulation; and provided technical support on materials conservation issues. 

Projects at Vidaris included: 

*Hearst Tower, Oversight of Re Restoration of the Cast Stone Base, New York, NY

*30 Rockefeller Center, Exterior Cleaning of Limestone Tower, Project Manager, New York, NY

*Irish Arts Center, Conditions Assessment and Technical Specifications for the Conversion, Consultant, New York, NY 

*Lighthouse Harbor Development, Existing Conditions Assessment & Restoration Scopes, Consultant, Staten Island, NY

EYP, Project Executive Historic for Preservation, Government Group, 2012 – 2014.

Brought leadership, management expertise, and creative thinking with years of specialized restoration experience to EYP Architecture and Engineering. Supported EYP’s preservation group, securing and running preservation projects. 

Projects at EYP included:

*Black Rock Building, Masonry Consultant, New York, NY

*New York Marble Cemetery, Masonry Conservation, New York, NY

*BellTel Building, Exterior Rehabilitation, Project Manager, Brooklyn, NY 

Superstructures Engineers + Architects, Director of Conservation, 2007 – 2012.

Established and ran conservation studio and laboratory; provided project management and construction site administration; performed forensic investigations; building materials analyses; conditions assessments; wrote specifications for stabilization, restoration, and rehabilitation projects; prepared cost estimates for budget formulation; and provided technical support on materials conservation issues company wide. Regularly coordinated NYC DPR/SHPO/Landmarks compliance. Clients included NYC SCA, NYC DDC, NYC DPR, MTA and DASNY. Established Envelope Commissioning group to provide GSA commissioning services for Duberstein Post Office and Bankruptcy Court project, Brooklyn, NY.

Projects at SSX included:

*Brooklyn General Post Office and Bankruptcy Court, Brooklyn, NY: Envelope Commissioning

*Jefferson Market Library, New York, NY: Exterior Rehabilitation

*The Police Museum, New York, NY: Exterior Rehabilitation

*South Street Seaport Museum; Old Hotel, New York, NY: Interior Stabilization Plan

*Appellate Court Murals, New York, NY: Conditions Assessment

*University of Montreal, Montreal, CN: Terra Cotta Conservation

*Eleven Battery Park Monuments, New York, NY: Specifications for Move and Restoration

*New York City Vietnam Veterans Memorial, New York, NY: Exterior Rehabilitation

*St. George's School Chapel, Newport, RI: Stone Study and Materials Testing

*Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York, NY: Stone Conservation

*Face School, Terra Cotta, Montreal, CN: Terra Cotta Conservation

*Castle Clinton National Memorial, New York, NY: Installation of Historic Battery Wall Exhibit

*PacBell Building, San Francisco, CA: Document Review

*Vassar College, Van Ingen Library: Finishes Investigation

*Historic Battery Wall Installation, (MTA Arts for Transit) South Ferry Subway Station, NY

Jablonski Berkowitz Conservation, Inc., President, and Architectural Conservator, 1995 – 2007.

Grew business from start-up to staff of seven, with responsibility for business development, customer satisfaction, proposals, project budgets, schedules and management. Technical expert in stone, brick, terra cotta, concrete, glass, wood and metal conservation, non-destructive investigations, writing technical specifications, conducted field tests and mock-ups, daily site management for the restoration of cultural, residential, commercial, school, institutional and park properties.

Projects at JBC included:

*PS116, PS9, 269K, 29K, PS15SI, Old Girls High (Exterior Rehabilitations), New York, NY

*455 CPW former NY Cancer Hospital Conversion/Restoration, New York, NY

*Documentation and Removal of Historic Battery Walls (MTA), New York, NY

*One Bryant Park Owners Rep. Former Henry Millers Theater (ESDC), New York, NY

*South Street Seaport Museum Interior Stabilization and Restoration, New York, NY

*Ellis Island Hospital Outbuilding Exterior Rehabilitation, New York, NY

*Federal Reserve Bank Interior Stone Cleaning, New York, NY

*Chrysler Building Exterior Masonry Restoration, New York, NY

*Lyndhurst Mansion Stone Conservation, Tarrytown, NY

*Bronx Community College Materials Investigation (Getty Grant), New York, NY

*The Cloister's Gothic and Sens Windows Stone Conservation, New York, NY

*New Haven City Hall Exterior Stone Restoration, New Haven, CT

*Ft. Ticonderoga Masonry Restoration/Replacement, Ticonderoga, NY

*Heinrich Heine Memorial Fountain Disassembly, Restoration and Reconstruction, Bronx, NY 

*Newark Airport Historic Administration Building, Newark, NJ

*Six Concrete Bridges of the Merritt Parkway, Study and Restoration, CT

*Park Avenue Bridge, Conservator, Weequahic Bridge, Branch Brook and  Weequahic Park, NJ

*San Dionesio Church (Altagracia) Conditions Assessment, Higuey, Dominican Republic

*Morgan Library Museum Expansion (Renzo Piano) and Mansion Exterior Restoration, New York, NY

*Lower East Side Tenement Museum Interior Restoration, New York, NY 

National Park Service, Northeast Region, Building Conservation Branch, Architectural Conservator, 1989 – 1995.

Conducted research and prepared documentation; performed architectural investigations; analyzed paint and masonry materials; prepared historic structure reports (HSR); carried out conditions assessments; wrote specifications for stabilization, restoration, and rehabilitation projects; prepared cost estimates; daily supervision of construction and technical support for historic structures cared for by the NPS and other cooperating governmental agencies.

Projects at the NPS included:

*General Grant National Memorial Exterior Rehabilitation, Grant’s Tomb, New York, NY

*The White Bridge, Concrete Restoration, Vanderbilt Mansion, Hyde Park, NY

*St. Paul’s National Historic Site, Cemetery, Burial Vaults and Exterior Masonry Rest., Mt. Vernon, NY

*El Morro and San Cristobal Forts, Historic Structures Reports, Old San Juan, PR

*Former Women’s Gymnasium, National Center for Preservation, wrote HSR, Natchitoches, LA

*Gateway National Recreation Area, Jacob Riis Park Main Bathhouse, HSR, Queens, NY

*Gateway National Recreation Area, Exterior Rehabilitation, Ryan Visitors Center, Queens, NY

*Hamilton Grange National Memorial, Standing Seam Copper Roof Replacement, New York, NY

*Federal Hall National Memorial Restoration of Front Steps and Rails, New York, NY

*Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Old Orchard Mansion, New Red Slate Roof, Oyster Bay, NY

The Center for Preservation Research, Columbia University GSAPP, Staff Conservator, 1986 – 1989. 

Conducted research; performed investigations and conditions assessments; analyzed paint and masonry materials; prepared historic structure reports (HSR). 

Projects at the CPR included: 

*El Morro Castle and City Walls, San Juan National Historic Site (NPS), Historic Structure Report, Old San Juan, PR. 

*San Cristobal Fortress San Juan National Historic Site (NPS), Historic Structure Report, Old San Juan, PR.

Education:

• Columbia University, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, & Preservation, attended Master of Science in Historic Preservation Program, studies focused on Architectural Conservation, 1984-86, New York, NY

• Boston University, part-time Graduate Studies in Historic Preservation, non-degree, academic year 1983-1984, Boston, MA

• Vassar College, A.B. Environmental Science, graduated 1982, Poughkeepsie, NY

• King’s College University of London, School of Human Environmental Studies, Junior year abroad, academic year 1980-81, London, UK

Select Awards:

• Building Design + Construction (BD+C) magazine recognized the Conrad B. Duberstein U.S. Bankruptcy Court project in Brooklyn, NY with a Silver 2013 Reconstruction Award. The six-year, $61.7 million project included the replication terra cotta units, granite restoration and the replacement of slate roofs and gutters. As a member of the Construction Management team, participated as Project Manager for 4 years. This project also received a Design Excellence Award from the GSA – Citation in Preservation in 2016.

• 16 New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Lucy G. Moses Awards for: Conrad B. Duberstein U.S. Bankruptcy Court, McIntyre Building, the Convent of the Sacred Heart, the exterior of Our Lady of the Rosary Mission, Shrine of St. Elizabeth Seton, Three Historic Armories in Brooklyn and the Bronx, the Jefferson Market Library, the Jamaica Performing Arts Center (2008), 240 Central Park South (2006), the Parachute Jump (2006), Historic Front Street Project, South Street Seaport (2006), the Former New York Cancer Hospital (2004), South Street Seaport Museum (2003), Kehila Kadosha Janina Synagogue (2003), Hunts Point Regional Library Façade restoration(2002), Prince George Hotel Ballroom, and Lower East Side Tenement Museum (1999).

• New Jersey Historic Preservation Award for the Restoration of Newark Airport's Central Administration Building. Served as Project Conservator.

• The Preservation League of New York State’s award for the Bedford/Atlantic, Park Slope and Franklin Avenue Armory Projects for Preservation Excellence. Served as Project Conservator.

• Conservator for the Towers aka 455 Central Park West which received the New York Construction News Adaptive Reuse Project of the year in 2004.

• Conservator on the Pierpont Morgan Library Expansion winner of New York Construction News Cultural Project of the year in 2005. Conservator on the South Ferry Terminal Project which received ENR’s Transportation Project of the year in 2009.

• Conservator for Madison Railroad Station Historic Rehabilitation: New Jersey Historic Preservation Award.

• Conservator for New Jersey Transit Morris and Essex line Station Improvements:  South Orange, East Orange, NJ: The New Jersey Chapter of the American Concrete Institute and the New Jersey Concrete and Aggregate Association, Merit Award - Repair and Restoration.

Boards/Volunteer:

• Association for Preservation Technology International. Current, College of Fellows(CoF) 2021-2022 representative to the Board of Directors, past Administrative Chair CoF, Association President 2011-2013, past Chair of Nominating and Student Scholarship Committees. Member Board of Directors 2005-2015, Search Committee for new Executive Director and Rome Prize Committee 2021. 

• NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project, Advisory Committee Member 2017 - Present 

• Association for Preservation Technology, Northeast Chapter, Board Member 2014 – 2016

• American Academy in Rome, Invited Juror for Rome Prize in Conservation 2009

• New York City Fine Arts Federation, Board Member 2005 - 2007

• Historic Preservation Commission, Member, Town of Rochester, Accord, NY 2005 - 2007

• Preservation Alumni Inc., Columbia University, Vice President 1989 -1990, Board Member 1987 - 1990

• Victorian Society in America, Metropolitan Chapter, Board Member 1991 - 1995

• Vassar Club of New York, Board Member and Program Chair 1990 – 1992

Selected University Teaching:

• Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Assistant Adjunct Instructor 2009 – 2016.

Concrete, Cast Stone, and Mortar. 2009-2016, Lecture course + field trips. Core course on architectural materials for students focusing on conservation issues.

• Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Associate Adjunct Instructor 2002 – 2009.

Conservation Workshop. Investigative techniques using historic sites. Taught treatment ethics, documentation, sampling, materials analysis, synthesis of information, and how to prepare recommendations for compliant conservation treatments.

Selected Lectures/Publications:

• "Replacement Options for Architectural Terra Cotta," CANY webinar, New York, NY, 08/2021.

• “Deteriorating Buildings, Ticking Timebombs,” Panelist, AIA’18 National Conference on Architecture, New York, NY, 06/2018.

• “Reflections on 35 years of façade inspections. General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen Landmark Lecture in Partnership with New York Landmarks Conservancy. NY, NY, 05/2018.

• “Historic Terra Cotta: Stabilize, Restore or Replace?” Invited panelist, Center for Architecture NYC AIA. New York, NY, 05/2018.

• "Restoration of the Former Plaza Hotel: The Public Nature of the Project Leads to a Unique Netting Solution," at APT International’s 2015 Conference, Kansas City, MO, 10/2015.

• “Fixing the Fix,” Building Envelope Academy (Brick Association), New York, NY, 06/2012.

• “Diagnosing and Solving Masonry Problems,” Building Envelope Academy, NY, NY, 10/2010.

• “Diagnosing and Solving Masonry Failures: Early Testing Helps with Effective Project Design,” presented at the Traditional Building Show, Boston, MA, 03/2009.

• “Conservators; What do they do and why you should care,” International Concrete Repair Institute, NY Chapter, NY, NY, 10/2008.

• “New York’s Latest Reconstruction Challenge: The Recently Discovered Battery Walls,” James Marston Fitch Colloquium, Columbia University, NY, NY, 04/2006.

• “Pay Now or Pay Later: Masonry Testing for Efficient Project Design.” Presented paper at the 2005 Association for Preservation Technology (APT) Conference, 9/2005, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

• “Saving Fragile Fabric for Another Day: The Lower East Side Tenement Museum,” Presented paper at APTNE Annual Meeting, Cooper Union, NY, NY, 03/2005.

• “The Use of color by architect William Lescaze. Uncovering a modern color palette, Edward A. Norman House, NYC, 1940 – 41,” 8th Int. DOCOMOMO Conf., 10/ 2004, NY, NY.

• “The Merritt Parkway Bridges: A Methodology for the Analysis and Replication of Historic Concrete” Paper presented at APTI Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, September 1997.

www.joanberkowitzconservation.com