The New Jersey Chapter of the American Institute of Architects honored Trenton-based Historic Building Architects with a merit award for historic preservation.
HBA was awarded for the firm’s work on Iviswold Castle, a late 19th century mansion. The Castle has recently been reopened as the new Campus Center and the main administration building of Felician College in Rutherford.
When it was built and later enlarged, the mansion was given decorative features like lofty towers, clay-tile roofs, plaster reliefs and elaborate woodwork.
More than a century later, when Felician College acquired Iviswold Castle, it commissioned HBA to prepare a Historic Structure Report and lay the groundwork for a step-by-step restoration by successfully nominating the mansion for the National Registry of Historic Places.
The college then asked HBA to undertake a selective interior removal project to expose the original historic fabric concealed by many alterations. Later, it selected HBA to plan and manage the thorough restoration of the mansion’s exterior and interior.
HBA completed the 14-year, approximately $9-million restoration of the 18,000-square-foot, three-story mansion last year. Today, the mansion permits visitors to visit the historic building at set times.
Felician College and HBA were recently chosen for the top Preservation Award from the Victorian Society of America. The award recognizes the creative adaptation of the Iviswold Castle to serve students, faculty, and administrators well in the present age.
Founded in 1994, HBA specializes in historic preservation, restoration, and materials conservation, mostly in New Jersey.
The AIA-NJ Annual Design Awards program recognizes architectural projects that exhibit design excellence in one of four categories: Open (any building type), residential, historic preservation, and interior architecture. Projects are further designated as either “built” or “un-built.”
More information is online at hba-llc.com.
