Interviews with our Board Members: Steven Smolyn

Steven at the 2023 New Jersey Historic Preservation Awards event in Berkley Heights.

Joining the Preservation New Jersey Board in 2024 is Steven Smolyn. A graduate of Summit High School, Steven holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University.  His professional experience includes preservation work at Architectural Heritage Consultants in Hoboken and serving as a Senior Associate Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates in New York.

Steven’s interest in historic preservation began during his college years in Ithaca, New York.  While living in the Cornell Heights Historic District, he collaborated with a community group and the local landmarks preservation commission to ensure proposed developments would preserve the historic character of the neighborhood.  By forging relationships with long-time residents, he witnessed firsthand the importance of balancing growth with preservation.  This experience inspired him to continue his dedication to historic preservation and led to his active involvement with the Hoboken Historic Preservation Commission.

Noting the importance of historic preservation connecting us to our past while maintaining the architectural and cultural heritage of our communities, Steven also highlights the promotion of sustainability by emphasizing that the most sustainable building is typically the one that already exists.  He believes that this “approach poses exciting challenges to owners and architects to adaptively reuse the built environment around us.”

In becoming a Trustee at Preservation New Jersey, Steven hopes to contribute to the organization’s mission to protect and promote historic places.  He will strive to raise awareness about the importance of historic preservation, advocate for stronger preservation policies, and support initiatives that ensure the sustainability and adaptive reuse of historic buildings.  A key goal is to streamline the development of preservation plans and design guidelines for New Jersey communities, particularly those with time-sensitive projects or limited resources, to make preservation more accessible and efficient.  Knowing there are challenges, Steven understands the issues of stretching limited public funding, navigating the complexities of property rights, and interfacing with government at all levels.

Steven notes that during his tenure at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates he was fortunate to work on the design and construction of the fifth-tallest building in the western hemisphere.  When not focused on work, he enjoys cross=country skiing, golfing, and raising a miniature dachshund with his wife Jennifer.