Elise Johnson-Schmidt Leads Award-Winning Reynold’s Way Project, Secures Excellence in Historic Preservation Award

Elise Johnson-Schmidt, the owner and principal architect of Johnson-Schmidt & Associates, Architects, has again led an innovative venture that further cements her legacy in the field. The Reynold’s Way project, for which she advocated, won this year’s highly coveted Excellence in Historic Preservation Award. It won amid strong competition, with over 40 applicants vying for the honor. This accolade, which will be presented by the Preservation League of New York State on November 15, recognizes the state’s best in historic preservation projects.  

Johnson-Schmidt, the winner of the NYS Senate Woman of Distinction Award in 2007, has over 40 years of experience in breathing new life into vacant or underutilized historic buildings. She has worked on many restoration projects, including New York’s Grand Central Terminal and Boston’s Trinity Church, and helped transform Corning’s downtown historic district.  

Her passion for architecture, community revitalization, and historic integrity is evident in every project she undertakes. This includes turning four long-abandoned buildings into 41 affordable housing units in Elmira, New York. The buildings were meticulously rehabilitated to preserve their historic charm while building quality living spaces.  

Each of the four buildings presented unique challenges that the project leader was able to navigate. Two of the structures, originally developed by Julia Reynolds over a century ago—a rare feat at the time—were restored to their early 20th-century appearance. Johnson-Schmidt and her team were careful to restore key architectural elements, such as porches with intricate terra cotta detailing. They also strategically inserted modern systems like fire suppression and storm windows to maintain the integrity of the building’s historical elements.  

One of the buildings was a former tobacco warehouse. It now serves as a residential space featuring a community room, and the original elevator equipment is preserved as a historical artifact. Meanwhile, the fourth building, a grand Italianate house, was sensitively converted into four one-bedroom apartments, with its elaborate fireplaces and original millwork retained. 

Reflecting on the project’s win, Johnson-Schmidt remarks, “We’re very happy that Elmira’s Reynold’s Way project is one of the recipients of the much-coveted Preservation League’s Excellence Awards. I’m very proud of our accomplishments as a team. We showed that it’s possible to build quality, affordable living spaces that respect a building’s history even when there are challenges like meeting preservation guidelines and environmental standards.” 

It’s significant to mention that this isn’t the first time Johnson-Schmidt has been recognized for her exceptional work. Her firm has won multiple awards, including the 2023 Excellence in Historic Preservation for the revitalization of Olean’s First National Bank and Siegel’s Shoes. It also received the 2021 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award for a series of rehabilitation projects in Elmira, including the transformation of three historic commercial buildings into artist housing and studios. The firm was also recognized nationally in 2017 with the National Trust Community Investment Corporation and Preservations Action’s Preservation’s Best National Award, one of six national awards given for historic preservation tax credit projects for Hawkes II Factory rehabilitation. 

Elise Johnson-Schmidt has once again proven her expertise in providing top-notch historic preservation services while addressing modern needs. This award will further solidify her legacy and position Johnson-Schmidt & Associates, Architects as a leading firm in preservation architecture. Johnson-Schmidt and her team look forward to continuing to deliver groundbreaking work by taking on more challenging projects.