Spence Lower School

Project Description

The William Goadby Loew House was designed by Walker & Gillette and completed in 1932.  This individual New York City landmark exhibits a unique curved concave facade which uses traditional architectural detail in a non-traditional manner.  It is said to be one of the last true mansions ever built in New York City.

Higgins Quasebarth & Partners served as historic preservation consultants to the Spence School for the adaptive reuse of the former William Goadby Loew House.  Working with Platt Byard Dovell White Architects, HQ provided design consultation and guided the project through the Landmarks Preservation Commission approval process.  Through a skillfully executed partial rearrangement of the interior, a rooftop addition hidden beneath a sloped mansard roof and the creation of space below grade, Spence was able to drastically increase the usable space of the William Goadby Loew House.  The adaptive reuse of the William Goadby Loew House for the Spence Lower School received New York Construction Magazine’s Award of Merit – Institutional for 2003.