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Founded in 1985, BKSK is a multidisciplinary, holistic architecture firm based in New York City with over 100 projects. Its 40-person team is currently led by partners Todd Poisson, George Schieferdecker, Harry Kendall, Joan Krevlin, David Kubrik, and Julie Nelson. The firm specializes in projects centered on sustainability, historic preservation, community engagement, and urban planning.

History
The firm’s founders –Stephen Byrns, Harry Kendall, and George Schieferdecker– shared origins in the Columbia University School of Architecture’s class of 1981, brought them together with a shared purpose and diverse, original vision. Founding Byrns, Kendall & Schieferdecker in 1985, the blend of knowledge and approach between Byrns’ “traditionalist” and Schieferdecker’s “Modernist” expertises and Kendall’s sense for “deft design diplomacy” were noted early in the firm’s career and reflected their various influences from Michael Graves and Robert A.M. Stern, to Hendrik Berlage, Otto Wagner, Erik Gunnar Asplund, Andrea Palladio, and Robert Adam. Launching from 330 Group, a collaborative work space in midtown Manhattan, the firm prioritized socially engaging, contextually appropriate and environmentally conscious design and a close, collaborative relationship with clientele. Joining the firm as a partner in 1992, Joan Krevlin would bring her additional vision to BKSK and its plan for the creation of iconic public spaces in New York City. Among these successes over the firm’s 37 years include original works to Queens Botanical Garden Society, New York Mercantile Library, New York Law School, Tammany Hall Building, and One Madison.

Notable Works
The 2007 opening of the Queens Botanical Garden's new Visitor & Administration Building, designed by BKSK Architects was the first building in New York City to achieve the "Platinum" LEED rating, the highest energy-efficiency rating possible. The new building was the first phase of their renovated garden to open. The project also included the construction of an environmentally friendly parking lot on the garden's north side, which was shaped around the surrounding land contours and contains a meadow that was designed to accommodate additional parking. In addition, an artificial wetland and "cleansing biotope" were constructed to convert much of the garden into a landscaped green space surrounding a watercourse, as well as add sustainable energy features that would allow the garden to retain all of the rainwater that it collected. The momentous $50 million renovation of Tammany Hall begun in July 2016 by BKSK was substantially completed by October 2020, with the opening of the new 44 Union Square. The project won an award for "excellence in safety" from the Engineering News-Record's New York City division[6] and notably preserved two landmark New York facades while adding a free-form, three-storey glass and steel dome. Inspired by origin stories of the Lenape, the project meaningfully referenced the building’s original iconic namesake and heritage, whilst creating a new iconic landscape in New York’s Union Square.

Sustainability
BKSK was responsible for the design of the first civic building in NYC to earn a LEED Platinum certification, the first new Passive House project approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and for creating educational environments that grow the next generation of environmental citizens.

Preservation
On BKSK's website, the firm's philosophy is described thus: "We are students of architectural and cultural heritage, and our design work adds an interpretive narrative. Our body of work, in and outside of historic districts, is often contextually surprising – yet is always reverent. / To do this, we research, restore, and re-imagine historic fabric, as part of a larger creative approach that yields relevance. We tell compelling stories that emerge as a dialogue between old and new. We interpret traditional materials in contemporary form. / We recognize the cultural and ecological value of historic buildings. We seek creative solutions to adapt and reuse, taking advantage of the inherent embodied energy and carbon while preserving the fabric of our neighborhoods."

2022
Congregation Habonim Faith and Form Award, 2022, Unbuilt Work

2021
44 Union Square Architizer A+ Awards, Architecture + Collaboration Jury Winner Architizer A+ Awards, Architecture + Collaboration Popular Choice Winner Retrofit Magazine’s Metamorphosis, Addition Award Society of American Registered Architects National, Design Award of Honor in the Renovation, Restoration, and Adaptive Re-use category COVID-19 Rapid Response: Morrisania Health Center COVID Testing Lab ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards, Building/Technology Systems Platinum Award BKSK Architects Architizer’s 3rd Annual A+ List, 161 Architecture and Design Firms to Watch

2020
175 West 10th Street 2019 Brick in Architecture Award, Bronze Award- Residential - Multifamily Housing 44 Union Square AIANY Award, Award of Merit ENR New York’s 2020, Renovation/Restoration Best Project ENR New York’s 2020, Safety Best Project Society of America Registered Architects New York Council, Award of Merit Battery Playscape American Society of Landscape Architects, NY (ASLA-NY) 2020 Design Awards, Merit Award Center for Fiction AIA New York, Interiors Speed Presentation American Library Association / International Interior Design Association (ALA/IIDA), Library Interior Design Award Chicago Athenaeum, Green Good Design Award Congregation Habonim National Society of America Registered Architects, Award of Merit Henry Hall 2019 Brick in Architecture Award, Gold Award- Residential - Multifamily Housing 2019 Multifamily Executive Awards, Best Unit Design Lambaye Learning Center International Federation of Library Association (IFLA), Green Library Award Finalist Polhemus Memorial Building Design+ Construction, Reconstruction Award

2019
529 Broadway American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC), Gold Award - Category C: Structural Systems American Council of Engineering Companies of New York, 2019 Engineering Excellence Gold Award in the category C: Structural Systems Center for Fiction Society of American Registered Architects, Award of Honor The Architect’s Newspaper, Best of Design Award Honorable Mention - Institutional Interiors Ferry Point Park Comfort Station Society of American Registered Architects New York Council (SARA | NY), Award of Merit

2018
Interior Design Magazine, PowerGrid NYC 50 22 Bond Street AIANY Interiors Committee, Residential Review Charlotte of the Upper West Side | 470 Columbus Chicago Athenaeum & European Centre for Architecture, Green Good Design Award Society of American Registered Architects New York Council (SARA | NY), Design Award of Merit Ferry Point Park Comfort Station Architecture MasterPrize, Honorable Mention - Small Architecture Washington Square Park House Urban Land Institute New York (ULI NY), Excellence in Development - Excellence in Civic Space

2017
1 Great Jones Alley American Architecture Prize, Winner - Architectural Design / Residential Architecture Architizer A+ Awards, Special Mention, Residential - Unbuilt - Multi-Unit Housing (L > 10 Floors) 280 Park Avenue NYCxDesign Awards, Finalist, Workplace: Corporate 44 Union Square AIA QUAD 2017 Design Award, Honor Award - Unbuilt Architizer A+ Awards, Typology Winner, Commercial - Unbuilt 529 Broadway American Architecture Prize, Winner - Architectural Design / Commercial Architecture Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards, Branded Environments, Honorable Mention Society of American Registered Architects New York Council (SARA | NY), Design Award of Excellence Charlotte of the Upper West Side | 470 Columbus Driven x Design 2017 New York Design Awards, Silver Award, Architecture - Proposed Multi-Housing News, 2017 Excellence Award, Silver - Unbuilt: Mid-Rise Olmsted Center AIA Brooklyn + Queens Design Awards, Excellence Award (Additions/Renovations) AIA Brooklyn + Queens Design Awards, People's Choice Award (Additions/Renovations) The Jefferson Brick in Architecture Award, Gold Award (Residential - Multi-Family) Tribeca Loft AIANY Interiors Committee, 2017 Residential Review Washington Square Park House Chicago Athenaeum & European Centre for Architecture, Green Good Design Award West Village Townhouse American Architecture Prize, Winner - Interior Design / Houses Interior NYCxDesign Awards, Finalist, Residential: Townhouse Society of American Registered Architects New York Council (SARA | NY), Design Award of Merit BKSK Architects Architectural Record, 2017 Top 300 Architecture Firms Building Design + Construction, #102 Top Architecture Firms Building Design + Construction, #123 Top Green Architecture Firms Building Design + Construction, #143 Top Reconstruction Architecture Firms Building Design + Construction, #45 Top Multifamily Architecture Firms Building Design + Construction, #60 Top Retail Architecture Firms Interior Design Magazine, Power Grid NYC 100

2016
2 Lafayette Street Center for Active Design, Active Design Excellence Awards Battery Playscape American Architecture Prize, Architectural Design / Recreational Architecture - Honorable Mention Society of American Registered Architects (National), Design Award of Honor The Jefferson The New York Design Awards (design100), Silver Winner (Architecture - Residential - Constructed) Washington Square Park House AIANY COTE, Merit Award Re-thinking The Future Sustainability Awards, Second Award Society of American Registered Architects (National), Design Award of Excellence BKSK Architects Architect 50, #44 Ranking in Sustainability Building Design and Construction, #131 Green Building Design Building Design and Construction, #41 Multi-Family Residential Building Design and Construction, #94 Top Architecture Firms

2015
Convent of the Sacred Heart Athletics & Wellness Center Brick in Architecture Awards -Brick Industry Assoc., Silver Award Washington Square Park House AIA New York State, Citation for Design Traditional Building Magazine, Palladio Award for New Architecture, under 30,000 sf BKSK Architects Foundation for Landscape Studies, Place Maker Award

2014
Queens Botanical Garden Master Plan Beverly Willis Foundation “Built x Women NYC”, Winning Site Sephardic Community Center Beverly Willis Foundation “Built x Women NYC”, Winning Site Center for Active Design, Active Design Excellence Awards Washington Square Park House Engineering News-Record, Best Projects Merit Award 2012 and earlier Convent of the Sacred Heart Athletics & Wellness Center Faith & Form Magazine/IFRAA Art & Architecture, Religious Architecture Merit St. Hilda’s House Convent Faith & Form Magazine/IFRAA Art & Architecture, Religious Architecture Merit

2011
52nd Street Project US Institute of Theater Technology (USITT), Honor Award for Architecture Convent of the Sacred Heart Athletics & Wellness Center Brick in Home Building Awards -Brick Industry Assoc., Bronze Award Plainsboro Public Library AIA Westchester+Hudson Valley, High Honor Award for Design Excellence St. Hilda’s House Convent Brick Industry Association, Silver Award for House of Worship BKSK Architects Joan Krevlin – New York Society of Architects, Distinguished Service Award

2010
New York Law School Greater New York Construction User Council, Outstanding Project Award Northern Virginia AIA (submitted by SmithGroup), Merit Award, Institutional Architecture Virginia Society AIA (submitted by SmithGroup), Award for Excellence in Architecture BKSK Architects International Interior Design Assoc (IIDA), Mid-Atlantic Chapter (submitted by SmithGroup), Gold Award, Educational/Institutional

2009
25 Bond Street Coverings – Prism, Prism Award for Stonework Harsen House AIA Westchester/Mid-Hudson, Design Award for Mult-Family Residential Design Queens Botanical Garden Master Plan PM Engineer, Excellence in Design Western Red Cedar Lumber Assoc., Architectural Design Honor Award

2008
138 Reade Street Brick in Home Building Awards – Brick Industry Assoc., Bronze Award 25 Bond Street AIA National Housing Awards, Award for Multi-family Housing Design Marble Institute of America (MIA), Pinnacle Award for Stonework Multi-Housing News, Design Excellence Award New York Hall of Science Preschool Garden AIA New York, Education Facility Design Merit Queens Botanical Garden Master Plan AIA COTE, Top Green Projects AIA NYS, Award for Institutional Design AIA NYS, Best in New York State AIA New York, Sustainable Design/Cultural Honor Award (Building Types Awards) Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award BKSK Architects Washington University in St. Louis, Distinguished Alumnus Award

2007
124 Hudson Street Palladio Awards, Residential Design: Multi-unit category Queens Botanical Garden Master Plan Queens Chamber of Commerce, Building Award Riverdale House Palladio Awards, Palladio Award for Restoration & Renovation BKSK Architects Applied Arts Award, Design & Advertising Award

2005
114-116 Hudson Street AIA NY Housing Design Awards, Housing Design Citation East End Temple Faith & Form Magazine/IFRAA, Honor Award for Liturgical/Interior Design Faith & Form Magazine/IFRAA, Merit Award for Custom Lamp National AIA, Honor Award for Interior Architecture

2004
AIA New York, Award for Excellence in Design, Interior Design category FDNY Fire Zone AIA NYS, Citation for Design AIA New York, Award for Excellence in Design, Interior Design category Architectural Record/Business Week Design Competition, Finalist Queens Botanical Garden Master Plan NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection / US EPA, Green Design Competition winner

2003
BKSK Architects Preservation League of NY State, Excellence in Preservation Award

2002
New York Hall of Science Preschool Garden NYC Art Commission, Award for Design

1993
New York Hall of Science Kidpower! Playground AIA, Citation for Exemplary Learning Environment I.D. Annual Design Review, Award for Design Distinction, environment category BKSK Architects I.D. Annual Design Review, Award for Design Distinction, environment category

1990
Children’s Museum of Manhattan AIA NYS, AIA NYS