NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, October 9, 2020, BKSK Architects
LLP along with Reading International, Inc. hosted the Blessing
of Tammany Hall conducted by Co-Directors of the Lenape
Center at the newly reimagined, 44 Union Square. On the
northeast corner of Union Square at 17th Street and Park
Avenue South two of the Co-Directors of the Lenape Center, Hadrien
Coumans and Joe Baker, performed a
Blessing Ceremony acknowledging the past, present and future
occupants of the site and shared, "Nulelintamuhena eli paekw
Lenapehoking. Kulawsihemo enta ahpiekw. We are glad because
you people came to Lenapehoking. Live well while you are here."
The ceremony began with opening remarks from Reading
International's Executive Vice President, Margaret Cotter, followed by a Lenape Prayer of
wellbeing and an honor song, with a blessing of cedar in front of
the original front door of the historic Tammany Society known as
Tammany Hall.
Margaret Cotter, Executive Vice
President-Real Estate Management and Development-NYC for Reading
International, Inc. said, "It was an honor to have founding members
of the Lenape Center perform a sacred blessing ceremony of the
newly revamped 44 Union Square. Bringing the landmarked property
into the 21st century, required a dedicated team and years of
careful planning to preserve the historic façades and add an iconic
tortoise-shaped glass dome that is a wonderful homage to the deep
relationship between the Lenape people and the original Tammany
Hall."
The blessing ceremony continued inside the glass dome addition
with closing remarks from BKSK Architects' Partner in charge of the
project, Todd Poisson. Mr.
Poisson shared, "We thank the Lenape Center for their guidance
and support of the use of Lenape imagery of a rising turtle to
inspire Tammany Hall's new crowning dome. We hope Tammany's new
glass dome appears forever frozen at the very moment that the
turtle is breaking through the surface of the sea, shedding water
from its shell. Because it is at this moment that anything is
possible."
The original 1928 building has a storied past as the former home
of the corrupt political organization that came to be known as
Tammany Hall. In 2015, The NYC Landmarks Preservation
Commission unanimously approved BKSK Architects' design to
reimagine this landmark into a 72,000sf commercial and retail
building with two preserved facades and a new 3-story glass and
steel dome. The dome's undulating design is inspired by the
Lenape creation story of a turtle rising from the sea to form land
and hints at Tammany Hall's original namesake, the legendary Lenape
turtle clan leader Chief Tamanend, whose terra cotta portrait still
presides over the north façade.
Bringing together Architect, Owner, and design inspiration
through the members of the Lenape Community to mark the
occasion of the project's completion was a symbolic, joyful event
for all of those involved and present. Guests included
Reading International, Inc. executives, members of the design and
construction teams, representatives from the Union Square BID,
Newmark (the current leasing agent), a documentary film crew,
members of The Greene Space who streamed the event and select
press. Accounting for occupancy restrictions and to maximize
physical distance among guests and participants the event was open
to a small group of selected invitees. "Union Square is a true 24/7
mixed-use neighborhood with a robust network of transportation
options, our world-class Greenmarket, and an existing retail and
culinary mix that continues to drive foot traffic to the area,"
said Jennifer Falk, executive
director of Union Square Partnership. "44 Union Square's
spectacular new office and retail spaces are iconic new additions
to our thriving community, showcasing the history and promise of
the neighborhood."
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SOURCE BKSK Architects