Critiquing end-of-semester juries at Pratt

 
 

On December 6th, Senior Associate Lloyd DesBrisay, AIA, served as a guest juror for two end-of-semester critiques at Pratt Institute, School of Design. The classes are part of Pratt's MFA Program in the Interior Design Department, led by visiting Assoc. Prof. Werner & Visiting Asst. Prof. Besen.

In the course, students undertake independent problems, creating design solutions of significant scope and complexity. The projects were evaluated on whether they demonstrate mature correlation between all phases of design and construction based on supportive research.

Celebrating 5 years of Reglazing Modernism!

 
 

Reglazing Modernism ― Intervention Strategies for 20th Century Icons was published in the fall of 2019, and since then, has been featured in numerous book talks, lectures, presentations, and published excerpts. Co-authored by AYON Studio Principal Angel Ayón, the book won the 2021 Lee Nelson Book Award from the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) for the most outstanding and influential book-length work on preservation technology in North America.

Highlighting the preservation of exterior glazed enclosures — one of the most character-defining features of Modern architecture — Reglazing Modernism has been hailed by practitioners and educators worldwide as a one-of-a-kind resource. The book’s detailed analyses of 20 global case studies offer unique insights for the restoration, rehabilitation, and replacement of steel-framed glazing assemblies in culturally-significant Modern architecture. Conceived as a critical assessment rather than a catalog or technical guide, the wide range of interventions explore best practices, as well as emerging high-performance technologies that respond to challenges posed by some of the case studies included, such as poor thermal performance, material decay and loss of integrity.

The book was greatly inspired by Angel’s career-defining experience leading the rehabilitation of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum nearly 20 years ago. After searching widely for resources, Angel surprisingly found few relevant to the condition of the windows. The impetus to generate his own solutions inspired him to create Reglazing Modernism for colleagues, scholars and students of the profession.

Elevating Angel Ayón as APT Recognized Professional (APT RP)

 
 

You may have recently noticed some additional letters after Principal Angel Ayón’s name. On November 18th, he was distinguished as one of 10 new Recognized Professionals at the annual Fall conference of the Association for Preservation Technology (APT), which he achieved earlier this year. An APT Recognized Professional (APT RP) has specialized knowledge in the use of preservation technology in conservation and stewardship of cultural heritage; conforms to accepted international technical and APT ethical standards; and works in accordance with the regulations and guidelines of the person’s specialty preservation field and the appropriate jurisdictions of their practice.

The APT and the APT College of Fellows established the program in 2018 to recognize the expert skill level of individuals in the various fields of preservation technology with a formal recognition of achievement. Angel’s dedication to the organization and its knowledge-sharing mission is unwavering. He has been involved in APT for over two decades, first presented at the annual conference in 2009, and has been published in the APT Bulletin twice, first in 2011 and 2014, then again in 2022 with an excerpt of the book he co-authored – Reglazing Modernism – after it won the 2021 Lee Nelson Book Award. Over the years, he has also served as a peer reviewer for a few APT publications and has adhered to APTi’s mentorship spirit by guiding not only the staff at AYON Studio, but also students at Columbia University, Pratt Institute, NYU, and The New School.

Highlighting Historic Preservation in Harlem at APT Montreal

 

The Association for Preservation Technology (APT), National Trust for Canada, and Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) presented a joint international conference on heritage conservation entitled “Building Bridges: Connecting Places, Cultures, and Practices.”

The inspiring event, focused on bridging the knowledge gap and gaining new insights upon the ongoing challenges in historic preservation, climate resiliency, and social equity, was held in Montreal – North America’s francophone cultural metropolis, a world-renowned heritage hub, and an industry, research, and practice hotspot.

On November 18th, Principal Angel Ayón shared his advocacy experience with Historic Preservation in Harlem, New York, as part of a Special Plenary – Transforming Heritage: Implementing Historic Preservation Change in a Time of Social Upheaval. Angel spoke with fellow panelists Aly Ndiaye, Di Gao, Eladia Smoke, and Patricia Kell.

Moderated by Tiffani Simple, the discussion explored the evolving work and significance of heritage conservation today, focusing on adjusting its mission and effectively implementing it amid rapid social change in response to a range of unprecedented challenges. The urgency to decolonize heritage processes and practices has become increasingly real, as our planet confronts catastrophic climate change and escalating social, class, and racial tensions.

 

Showcasing local projects with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce

 

Two of our recent Brooklyn projects — the Nitehawk Cinema Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Museum Education Center — were on public display last night at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s Best of Brooklyn Real Estate Showcase, held at The Refinery at Domino in Williamsburg! Both were featured in the Arts/Culture/Entertainment Category.

Principal Angel Ayón and Alicia Koledin had a fantastic time representing AYON Studio at the event, admiring all the other projects on display, and connecting with industry colleagues and new friends.

 

Joining NWBCCC in celebration of their 50th anniversary!

 

On October 18th, Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition held their 50th Anniversary Gala at Manhattan College. AYON Studio Project Manager Sanika Kulkarni and Marketing and Communications Manager Alicia Koledin joined NWBCCC, supporters, and all the esteemed 2024 honorees, in celebration of their continued mission for racial justice and economic democracy.

Founded in 1974 when the Bronx was literally burning due to disinvestment in the borough, the group unites diverse peoples and institutions through intergenerational community organizing to transform the Bronx and beyond. At the event, Executive Director Sandra Lobo announced that they are now going Bronx-wide —merging with the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI). As gentrification and climate change threaten to displace working families and communities of color who built the Bronx, this borough-wide force will champion smart and sustainable planning, community organizing, and economic development.

We commend the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition on 50 years of building the Bronx’s future and wholeheartedly congratulate all its honorees.

 

Opening the Nitehawk Cinema Prospect Park for a behind-the-scenes tour!

 

This past Friday, as part of the 22nd annual Open House New York Weekend, the general public was able to get up-on-the-roof and behind-the-scenes tours at one of our favorite AYON Studio projects, Nitehawk Cinema Prospect Park.

Principal Angel Ayón led visitors through the facility, talking about the installation of a replacement roof, a new roof-mounted photovoltaic array, exterior brick remediation, and the restoration of interior features. All of these improvements have come together to transform a dilapidated, underutilized asset into a comfortable, sustainable, 21st-century cinema and ensure its continuation as a neighborhood entertainment spot.

Owner Matthew Viragh, who saved the 1928 theater building from redevelopment, was also on hand to share the background, nuances, and specific challenges of the renovation, offering our guests a one-of-a-kind experience!

 

Presenting VIG as an alternative to window replacement at FTI’s 2024 World Congress

 

Glazing is a critical element of most building facades, offering interior occupants access to daylight—and in the case of windows, fresh air as well. They also contribute significantly to a building’s character. However, balancing historic character and cultural value with their historically poor energy performance has proven to be a pain point for preservationists, particularly when it comes to single-glazed windows. “Reglaze or Replace? VIG as an Alternative to Window Replacement,” the recent paper co-authored by Senior Associate Laura Boynton and Principal Angel Ayón, addresses this topic, in the context of a case study at 310 Riverside Drive in Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Also known locally as The Master Apartments, this 28-story designated Landmark built in 1929 is a unique example of the high-rise typology that came to define the NYC skyline during the first half of the 20th century. Its distinctive Art Deco design is rendered primarily in brick masonry of varying color and monumental steel windows above the ground floor entrances and marquees. Examining the restoration, rehabilitation and replacement options devised for the building’s steel windows and storefronts, the paper outlines the decision-making process that led to the retention of the original non-thermally broken steel window frames and the installation of replacement vacuum insulated glazing (VIG) within them, and the process of procuring custom-made VIG panes to replicate the textured blue glass at the side lites.

Although it’s not a new glazing technology, VIG only recently has become more affordable and more readily available in the US and may be able to help preservationists retain the historic frames while providing much higher energy performance and better interior comfort. The case study of the Master Building intervention indicated that the VIG panes provide a nearly four-factor improvement over the original single-pane glazing and offer a viable alternative to wholesale window replacement.

Angel presented the paper on October 10, 2024 at Facade Tectonics Institute's 2024 World Congress, part of FTI Facades Week at the University of Utah College of Architecture and Planning in Salt Lake City. Entitled “Face Time | Building Ecology: Facade Design for the Real World,” the biennial conference brought together the domestic and international building communities and the industry’s most influential leaders and academics.

 

Wecoming Lloyd DesBrisay to AYON Studio!

 
 

AYON Studio is privileged to have experienced Architect Lloyd DesBrisay join our team as a Senior Associate. A licensed architect for over 35 years, he has extensive experience on historic renovation, cultural, institutional, commercial, and residential projects worldwide and is driven by the quest for unique, practical, and effective solutions to complex architectural and interior design problems.

Prior to AYON Studio, Lloyd was on staff at other esteemed New-York City-based firms and was also a private practitioner for some time. Notable commissions, including the restoration of Louis I. Kahn’s influential Yale University Art Gallery museum building, won awards and were featured in international publications. Lloyd himself penned a 2018 article in DOCOMOMO Journal entitled “What Decides ‘Heritage’?: Lessons from a Comparison of Louis Kahn’s Commercial and Institutional Projects,” as well as the article “Yale University Art Gallery: Louis Kahn – Challenges for the Rehabilitation of Modern Museum Buildings,” published by Conservation of Modern Architecture, Routledge (formerly Donhead) in 2007.  He has also worked on architectural projects for Harvard, Princeton, UPenn and St. John’s University, as well as Brooklyn Museum and Friedman Theatre.

Lloyd earned a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from University of California Berkeley, where he was awarded a Departmental Citation. He is also a proud Eagle Scout.

Welcome aboard, Lloyd!

Joyously celebrating 10 years of success!

 

On August 1st, AYON Studio marked a significant milestone — our 10th Anniversary — with a memorable outdoor celebration in the courtyard of 122 CC. The festivities brought together our staff, clients, colleagues, and friends in an evening filled with laughter, recognition, and cheer.

Principal Angel Ayón delivered a heartfelt speech that described his start, and acknowledged his mentors and supporters, including his family. “I’m glad I did it,” he said, referring to the Studio’s inception. “It freed me up to follow my own vision and allows me to spend time doing things that I’m passionate about — preservation advocacy and working with non-profits — and that has given great meaning to my life.”

He also noted the Studio’s current growth trajectory and recognized the dedication of its employees — most notably Project Manager Sanika Kulkarni, whose 7+ years with us garnered a special gift of appreciation. “I’m very grateful for my staff,” he said, calling them all to the front.

Our team members, in turn, mingled with guests, sharing stories of our growth and the many challenges overcome to reach this special moment. Throughout the evening, everyone enjoyed a delicious spread of traditional favorites from Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine, while DJ Randy Lawrence kept the party going with Latin and Caribbean beats, themed to honor our founder’s unique cultural heritage.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made the celebration a memorable one. As we look back on the past decade, we are grateful for the support and trust of our amazing community. Cheers to many more years of prosperity, collaboration, and success!

Special note: The venue, 122 Cultural Center (122 CC), is also home to Movement Research, one of the world’s leading laboratories for the investigation of dance and movement-based forms. AYON Studio’s interior renovation project for Movement Research at 122 CC includes two new dance studios, performance and support spaces, and office space, and will open later this fall.

 

Recognizing public participation in preservation at HDC’s Grassroots Preservation Awards

 

The Historic Districts Council (HDC) presented its 24th annual Grassroots Preservation Awards at Saint Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery on the evening of June 18th. Several AYON Studio staff members attended, along with Principal Angel Ayón, who delivered a charming introduction to one of the esteemed honorees, Ann-Isabel Friedman.

 The recipient of the Mickey Murphy Lifetime Achievement Award, Ann is the Sacred Sites Director for the New York Landmarks Conservancy (NYLC),* and is affectionately known as the “Jewish Church Lady.” Her unwavering efforts over 23 year career include guiding congregations through their complex building issues. Her long-standing relationships with a remarkable number of institutions that received Sacred Sites grants from NYLC landed her the deserving reputation of a self-described “yenta,” matchmaking congregations with skilled preservation professionals like AYON Studio. Ann’s knowledge, enthusiasm, and spirit have endeared her to countless colleagues and grant recipients and earned their admiration and respect.

 Throughout its history, HDC Historic Districts Council has honored more than 150 individuals, community groups, coalitions, elected officials, and press outlets for their achievements. Along with Ann, its 2024 ceremony also included the following awardees: The Cadman Park Conservancy, Friends of the Lower West Side, and Metro Area Governors Island Coalition (M.A.G.I.C.), as well as the inaugural awardees of the Jeffrey Kroessler Student Research Award: Weijie “Christina” Sun  from Columbia University, GSAPP, and William Dunsmore from Bard Graduate Center.

 * Update: Ann retired from her NYLC duties on October 1.

 

Presenting insights from Reglazing Modernism at Docomomo US

 

On May 31st, Reglazing Modernism co-author and Docomomo International Chair Uta Pottgiesser delivered the closing keynote at the 2024 Docomomo US Symposium at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. Her talk, entitled “Challenges of Modernity and their Impact on Modern Movement,” addressed global challenges like climate change, conflicts, and digitalization, which are, increasingly, issues facing Docomomo International and its members. Showcasing current projects, publications (including Reglazing Modernism), and cooperation related to documentation and conservation efforts internationally, Uta’s presentation offered a variety of examples from different continents, typologies and scales.

Docomomo champions the ideas and heritage of the Modern Movement and provides a platform to exchange knowledge relating to history, conservation technology, education, and training. This year’s conference theme, Streams of Modernity: Postwar to Postmodern, promoted a broader understanding of the accomplishments of postwar to Postmodern architecture and culture in South Florida, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The group explored Tropical Brutalism, Postwar campus planning in the (sub)tropics, LGBTQ+ Modernism, Postwar tourism, urban renewal and Interstate infrastructure, Modern architecture and popular culture in south Florida, polychrome Modern and the integration of the arts, and more.

Coincidentally, Uta arrived in Miami from Delft, Netherlands, the location of Docomomo’s original founding. There, she works as Professor of Heritage & Technology at TU Delft (Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment) in the Netherlands. Uta is also Professor of Building Construction and Materials at TH OWL. With more than twenty-seven years of experience as a practicing architect and research scientist concerned with the protection, reuse and improvement of the built heritage and environment, her academic focus is on sustainable building construction and the preservation of Modern heritage. Uta co-wrote the award-winning, full-length book, Reglazing Modernism ― Intervention Strategies for 20th Century Icons, with AYON Studio Principal Angel Ayón. Their collective effort won the 2021 Lee Nelson Book Award from APT International.

 

Honoring Harlem’s preservation icons at inaugural SNH! Awards Gala

 

On May 23rd, Studio Project Manager Sanika Kulkarni attended the Save Harlem Now! Gene Norman Preservation Awards Gala, along with Principal and Save Harlem Now! Vice President Angel Ayón, his wife Sarah, and their daughter.

The event honored the incredible achievements of Donna Mussenden Van Der Zee, State Senator Cordell Cleare, and Michael Henry Adams — individuals who have made significant contributions to preserving Harlem's architectural and cultural heritage.

Receiving tremendous support from the Harlem and preservation advocacy communities, the gala also helps Save Harlem Now! continue its mission to safeguard Harlem's irreplaceable landmarks and cultural treasures.

 

Celebrating PLNYS’s 50th Anniversary at the Pillars of NY Awards Gala

 

Studio Principal and PLNYS Vice Chair Angel Ayón and his wife Sarah attended the Preservation League of New York State’s Pillar of New York Awards on Thursday, March 14, at the iconic Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center. Congratulations to honorees Peggy King Jorde, Richard J. Moylan, and Melissa Auf der Maur & Tony Stone, who presented heartfelt and inspiring speeches. The evening’s festivities also included an auction in support of the newly launched Preservation Opportunity Fund, which will provide capital funding to New York State nonprofits that steward historic properties.

The League, founded in 1974, also premiered its 50th Anniversary video at the event, which featured an interview with Angel. “It must be more diverse. It must include other voices, other people who look different, who are more representative of the variety of stories, people, skin colors, accents, and backgrounds that really make up the people of New York,” he shares. (1:17)

In addition to diversity, the video also discusses how the Preservation League is poised to support local communities now and into the future, in the face of an affordable housing crisis and the increasing effects of climate change. He adds, “We need to have more in-depth conversations about how we treat historic properties and adapt them for a changing environment.” (2:12)

PLNYS President Jay DiLorenzo, Board Chair Anne Van Ingen, League Trustee Liz McEnaney,  and former Executive Director Diana Waite all join Angel in a collective call for preservation advocates to band together. “Upstate, downstate, New York City – bring all these people together and be the focus of a conversation about heritage, conservation, and preservation, and what it means in New York State,” says Angel. “It’s something that only the League has been able to do at that level.” (2:43).

 

Finding Relevancy for Today’s Facades in Heritage Case Studies

 

The Façade Tectonics Institute recently published “A Break From The Past: How the Guggenheim Renovation Made Thermally Broken Steel Windows a New Normal” in the March 2024 issue (#138) of its SKINS newsletter.

The article, written by AYON Studio Principal Angel Ayón, begins with a mid-century Modern context, comparing Frank Lloyd Wright’s façade design intentions for the 1959 Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City with the existing conditions found a half-century later in this landmarked building. The unprecedented, bespoke façade replacement solutions devised by the preservation team (for which Angel was the Project Architect, prior to founding AYON Studio), provided optimum performance, while maintaining preservation appropriateness. Although not commercially available at that time, more than 15 years later, the replacement glazing assembly market has been revolutionized, now offering new products and new technologies, as well as the invigoration of old ones. It all started with the interventions at the Guggenheim – which installed the first thermally-broken steel-frame window wall system in North America.

Be sure to read Angel’s entire article, as well as others, in the full March SKINS issue entitled  “Exploring Heritage: Building on the Past,” which examines the historical context in connection with today’s climate crisis, and was curated by guest editors from the Association of Preservation Technology’s (APT) Technical Committee on Modern Heritage (TC-MH), in collaboration with their Technical Committee on Sustainable Preservation (TC-SP).

Mic Patterson, FTI’s Ambassador of Innovation & Collaboration, who penned the issue’s foreword, highlighted Angel’s expertise and that of his preservation community colleagues, which “has profound relevance for the entire building industry and particularly for the design of new buildings and their façade systems, as well as the façade interventions that are a critical component of existing building renovations.”

 

Educating the next generation on activism in architecture

 

What does it really mean to be a values-based designer? Today’s architects in training are learning much earlier than those of previous generations that they can have a wider impact in their communities, beyond typical project opportunities. Principal Angel Ayón’s guest lecture at Yale University School of Architecture on February 21, 2024, entitled “Citizen Architect: Preservation Advocacy as Professional Practice,” gave students there a unique personal perspective on this topic. He delved into his architectural schooling and early professional life in Havana, Cuba, through his experience coming to the United States to continue his education and career in Washington, D.C. and New York City, and in running his own architecture firm today.

More importantly, the presentation led the students in great detail through the inception, political challenges, and ultimate success of his 20-year-long neighborhood advocacy campaign to save the 1857 Mount Morris Fire Watchtower, located in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park. This designated NYC landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the last of its kind and one of the oldest standalone cast-iron structures in an urban context. As a result of Angel’s preservation advocacy, the rehabilitated tower, completed in 2019, received numerous prestigious awards.

Angel’s presentation, part of the School’s “Historic Preservation in the 21st Century” seminar taught by Norma Barbacci, was delivered in Rudolph Hall, the famed Brutalist building that houses the School of Architecture.

 

Celebrating the opening of the renovated Brooklyn Museum Education Center

 

On January 27th, the Brooklyn Museum opened its new Toby Devan Lewis Education Center to a host of donors, dignitaries, and those most welcome—neighborhood families and their children!

 The brightly colored, kid-friendly space is brightly lit as well, due to AYON Studio’s efforts in replacing a large portion of the rear curtain wall of this national and NYC Landmark. Although the main museum building is a Beaux-Arts McKim, Mead & White masterpiece dating back to the late 19th century, the existing curtain wall was a stark Brutalist-style façade comprised primarily of windowless precast concrete panels, leaving the prior interior environment dark and dreary, with the only natural light coming through minimal skylights.

 To bring significantly more daylight into the new Education Center, AYON Studio designed a glass and metal-panel curtain wall that fits seamlessly with the remaining portions of the existing wall. We carefully coordinated this exterior work to achieve necessary approvals from the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) at Public Hearing, down to the custom paint color of the metal panels. Because of our vast experience working closely with LPC, we were able to obtain their approval and successfully guide the project through completion.

 Another unique challenge for this façade replacement was to ensure wild bird protection, now mandated by the NYC Building Code, in compliance with Local Law 15 of 2020. Using a dot pattern on the glass that prevents birds from flying into the glass was especially critical given the Museum’s location, directly across the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prospect Park, which is home to 292 species of birds.

 

Hablando del Hotel Roosevelt en Telemundo

 

Talking about the Roosevelt Hotel on Telemundo

Often tapped for his knowledge of local historical buildings, Principal Angel Ayón was recently interviewed by Spanish language television station Noticias Telemundo in their report on the Roosevelt Hotel, which aired January 5, 2024.

As Angel explains in the news segment, The Roosevelt Hotel — which lies mere steps from another storied NYC building, Grand Central Terminal — has been a glamorous icon since its opening in 1924. Currently compared to Ellis Island, the building is being used by the City of New York as an intake center for the many thousands of migrants who arrive daily in the US via its southern border. Its grand lobby chandelier, which once illuminated international dignitaries and politicians, now serves as a beacon of hope for South Americans and other immigrants seeking a new life for themselves in the US.

The luxury hotel operator shuttered the building’s doors during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but they’ve now been reopened, ushering in over 85,000 people who have arrived in NYC in recent months. Once a lavish party palace, The Roosevelt Hotel now offers services such as documentation assistance and medical checkups, and acts as a storage and distribution facility for clothing, diapers, milk, and other basic necessities for the migrants and their children.

According to the Telemundo report, the migrant crisis has already cost the city over $200 million. However, as the report highlights, those arriving aren’t looking for handouts, but are rather coming with a “dream to work and aspire to bring their families” here, much like similar arrivals from the European continent did 100 years ago, when the hotel was built.

You can access the full report on the Noticias Telemundo website.

 

Making a cameo appearance at APTi's annual conference

 

The Association for Preservation Technology (APT)’s Annual Conference, entitled “The Future of TECH: Technology, Environment, Cultural Heritage,” took place in Seattle earlier this month.

During the meeting, Reglazing Modernism ― Intervention Strategies for 20th Century Icons appeared in the APT communications committee presentation. The book, co-authored by AYON Studio Principal Angel Ayón, won the the 2021 Lee Nelson Book Award from APT and was featured in the committee’s promotion of the forthcoming 2024 award cycle.

Conferred only every three years, the Lee Nelson Award was initially established by APT in 2000 to recognize outstanding and influential books in the field of preservation technology. It is a tribute to the late Lee Nelson (1927-1994), an outstanding preservationist, APT founder, and long-time editor of the APT Bulletin.

 

Participating in New York Climate Week talks at the Guggenheim

On September 20th, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, one of NYC's two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, convened a group of leaders from across the built environment, including AYON Studio Principal Angel Ayón, to openly discuss potential conservation solutions for the Museum in the face of a changing climate.

The iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building, like many cultural heritage sites, continues to be threatened by extreme weather events. This select, interdisciplinary group of experts identified that sustainability and climate resilience in heritage conservation is hindered by a lack of standardization, financial uncertainties, and the diverse needs of different heritage sites. They also discussed how innovators are devising ingenious solutions to preserving cultural heritage in the built environment, with implications for the Museum's future as both a landmark and as a key custodian of cultural heritage.

Angel’s research and technical expertise was instrumental in the award-winning 2009 rehabilitation of The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, one of the most recognizable buildings in the world and a National Historic Landmark. This initial building enhancement involved exterior façade repairs, MEP systems upgrades, and window and skylight replacements. Later, from 2013-2015, AYON Studio provided preservation planning for the rotunda skylight, as well as additional glazing and doors. These projects at the Museum had significant influence on Angel’s later work and served as inspiration and subject matter for his 2019 book, Reglazing Modernism ― Intervention Strategies for 20th Century Icons.