THE OPPORTUNITY

Due to decades of oceanfront weather exposure, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) and OVG360 sought to replace the Boardwalk storefronts of Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. The existing windows and doors, replaced in the early 1980s, have deteriorated significantly over time, with several instances of leaks and damaged hardware. In order to make the replacements possible, CRDA also hoped to pursue a capital grant application from the New Jersey Historic Trust.

THE CHALLENGE

Because Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is a National Historic Landmark, designs for the replacement windows need to adhere to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. As a public entity, CRDA’s project also requires an Application for Project Authorization under the New Jersey Register of Historic Places Act. In addition to being more durable than the existing windows, the proposed replacement will require approval from the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office.

THE PS&S SOLUTION

Working closely with the CRDA and NJHPO, PS&S architectural historians and architects are preparing new designs for replacement storefronts that are more compatible with the building’s original 1929 designs than the current 1980s units. PS&S has conducted extensive archival research in order to create a historically informed, appropriate solution that also meets the building’s needs of functionality and durability. PS&S has also prepared a New Jersey Historic Trust Capital Grant Application and New Jersey Register Act Application to help support the project. PS&S has assisted CRDA through the planning and grant application stages and looks forward to completion of the final design, register application and NJHPO review as well as construction administration and quality assurance components of this important preservation architecture project