Architecture students aid in design of new historical societies building

The Andover and Allegany County historical societies now have a new home, thanks to the support of many, including some Alfred State architecture students.

 

Earlier this month, the historical societies marked the “soft” opening of their new location at 11 E. Greenwood St. in Andover at the former Andover Hardware store building. Terry Palmiter, assistant professor in the Architecture and Design Department at Alfred State, noted that students in his historic preservation studio were involved in creating a design proposal for the building.

 

Palmiter and the students documented the existing structure and, based on the needs of the historical societies, created their proposal. Then, through posters, models, and discussion, they presented their concepts and solutions of the interior space and exterior façade to the members of the family of Teresa and Dick Joyce, who spearheaded the project, as well as interested community members.

 

The project, Palmiter said, has now “come full circle,” and that the results exhibit the students’ contribution to a successful civic engagement project.

 

“The students can be proud of the critical thinking and design concepts that they created,” he said. “Being involved with a community design project offers a serious edge to the educational experience of each student. For them, to see the results of their efforts completes the cycle.”

 

Students involved in the hardware project include Fernando Azevedo Satos, of Fortaleza, Brazil; Alexis Blair, of Clifton Springs; Steven Carpenter, of Tioga, PA; Leticia De Jesus Ribeiro, of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; Samuel Frauenhofer, of Endicott; Andrew Hammond, of Hornell; Brandon Holley, of Livonia; Sarah Latona, of Mount Morris; Ricardo Maragh, of Brooklyn; John Nickerson, of Brocton; Camilla Ribeiro de Abreu, of New York City; Brandon Stefanik, of Sauquoit; and Sayaka Takeda, of Chiba, Japan. All are members of the architectural technology Bachelor of Science program, except for Hammond and Holley, who are Bachelor of Architecture majors.

 

The successful adaptive re-use of the old structure came about through the efforts of many, Palmiter said, most notably the Joyces, who expressed their appreciation to everyone involved at the soft opening earlier this month. The grand opening of the building will be held in the fall.