Snug Harbor Cultural Center
All Work | Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island, New York
Snug Harbor Cultural Center
Staten Island, New York
Scope
Sailor’s Snug Harbor was established in 1833 as America’s first charitable institution devoted to the care of retired seamen. When financial pressures forced Snug Harbor to relocate over a century later, the institution left behind a remarkable assemblage of Greek revival and Victorian buildings located on 130 verdant acres overlooking New York Harbor. The City of New York acquired the site in the 1970’s and established the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, providing artists’ studios, performance halls and exhibit spaces within the historic structures.
With many of Snug Harbor’s buildings in disrepair, the city’s Department of General Services commissioned JHPArchitects PC to produce construction documents for the stabilization and restoration of ten of the most seriously deteriorated buildings, including the gatehouses and former staff quarters. Work entailed the restoration of historic exterior masonry, the replacement in-kind of slate roofs and the replication of decorative woodwork and cast iron roof cresting.
More recently, JHPA, Inc. participated in the creation of a Master Plan for the Snug Harbor Cultural Center. We completed conditions assessments of 28 historic buildings, as well as producing periodic maintenance manuals for the long-term care of each historic structure.