October, 2011
NEW YORK NEW WORK SUBWAY EXHIBIT
La Casa de Fuego y Agua is featured in the exhibit, New York New Work, sponsored by the AIANY as part of Archtober, the annual celebration of architecture. Located in the West 4th Street subway station, the exhibit highlights new architecture by New York City architects.

August 29, 2011
CELEBRATE SUNNYWOOD APARTMENTS
On Monday, August 29th, the Board of Directors of Woodysun, HDFC, an innovative partnership between Sunnyside Community Services and Woodside on the Move, Inc. hosted a reception to celebrate the preservation of affordable senior housing at Sunnywood Apartments in Woodside as well as to announce a major renovation of the 78 unit apartment building. Designed by Laura Heim, the extensive renovation of the building and grounds, which emphasizes sustainable and accessible features, begins construction this October. Read more...

March 5, 2011
Historic Districts Council's 17th Annual Presevation Conference
SUNNYSIDE GARDENS: A PRESERVATION CAMPAIGN IN QUEENS
Laura Heim, immediate past president of AIA Queens, and Jeffrey Kroessler, historian, discussed the preservation campaign to designate Sunnyside Gardens and how it was ultimately successful. Laura Heim highlighted a series of recent projects her firm has completed in the historic district ranging from historic porch restorations to complete interior moderizations.

January 20, 2011
First Prize - Excellence in Design Award 2010
Q-Care Affordable Medical Care Office received a first prize in design from the Queens Chamber of Commerce in the category of rehabilitation, health related facilities. Read more...

December 2, 2010
2010 QBBA Building Awards
The Queens & Bronx Building Association honored Q-Care Affordable Medical Care Office , by Laura Heim Architect PPLC, with a design excellence award in the category of rehabilitation, alteration or addition (interior & exterior).

November 15, 2010
Canstructions 2010
Joining celebrity chefs and designers, Laura Heim was an invited guest juror for the 18th annual Canstruction competition held at the World Financial Center. Architects and engineers designed and built giant structures made entirely from full cans of food. At the close of the competition all of the food from the New York City competition was donated to City Harvest.

October 15, 2010
2010 AIANYS Award of Merit for Design
The American Institute of Architects New York State honored Sunnyside Gardens Residence, by Laura Heim Architect PLLC, with an 2010 Award of Merit in Design in the category of adaptive reuse at the AIANYS Convention held in Buffalo, NY. This sensitive renovation project, located in historic Sunnyside Gardens, restored an enclosed front porch to re-create a light filled entry as well as converted an original 1920's two family house into a single family dwelling. Over 400 architects from across New York State entered this prestigious awards program. See article Queens AIA President Wins Award.

October 9, 2010
The Open House New York (OHNY) Sunnyside Gardens walking tour began at the office of Laura Heim Architect with an exhibit of historical plans, photos and documents of the 1920's planned community followed by a tour of a recently completed award winning residential renovation project, Sunnyside Gardens Residence, by Laura Heim Architect located on Skillman Avenue.

October 1, 2010
Laura Heim's letter to the editor, Greening St. Paul's , was posted in the Garden City News. The letter emphasized the environmental importance of saving the beautiful 1880's St Paul's School located in Garden City, NY.

September 13, 2010
Proposing alterations and new construction in historic neighborhoods is a complex process which has to account for a variety of concerns. As part of their series Monday Morning Coffee Talks , the Historic Districts Council invited Laura Heim to present several examples of her recent projects approved by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission. She discussed the proper ways in which to present proposals at the Landmarks Preservation Commission as well as to local community boards.

June 13, 2010
Sunnyside artists exhibited their work at the third annual Queen of Angels Art Fair. Laura Heim displayed landscape watercolors from Sunnyside, Maine and Vermont. In addtion, there was a juried art show, Portrait of the Exquisite where Lights of the Season was selected for exhibiton. In addition, Laura Heim Architect hosted an exhibit, The Art of Architecture, in the storefront office with historical images and maps of Sunnyside Gardens as well as orginal watercolors of Sunnyside Gardens streetscapes by Laura Heim

June 11, 2010
Sunnyside Architect Laura Heim, President of the Queens Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and Kevin Wolfe, an architect practicing in Douglaston, presented Sustainable Suburbs: Preserving Planned Communities in Queens - Douglas Manor and Sunnyside Gardens at the American Institute of Architects National Convention in Miami, Florida on June 11, 2010.

March, 2010
Laura Heim Architect PLLC begins the design for the renovation of a 1980's seven story, 78 unit, senior affordable housing apartment building in Woodside, NY. The project, Sunnywood Apartments , includes a new ground plane design with paving and landscape as well as a new lobby, elevators, refurbished public corridors, meeting room, offices and dramatic terrace. In addition, a typical dwelling unit has been redesigned and completed as a prototype and fifteen more are scheduled for renovation. Sustainable features are being proposed throughout including permeable pavers, recycled materials, and dual flush toilets. Many accessible features are being enhanced as well.

January 28 - 31, 2010
In the process of designing a new guest house in an eco-friendly community, The Haciendas at Las Fincas, just south of San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua, Laura Heim traveled there to sensitively site the house respecting views (1) and appropriate solar and wind orientation. The location will also minimize the disruption of existing vegetation. The house will collect rainwater with a dramatic winged roof to be stored in a cistern as well as use solar panels for power. The approach view of the site (2) looking south includes vegetation and distant mountains on the horizon and to the north a dramatic mountain view (3). The site slopes to the southern edge and is bounded by a river (4). The "T" form of the house, La Casa de Fuego y Agua, connects the public and private space which is organized along an axis linking fire and water.

January 1, 2010
Laura Heim, AIA LEED AP begins her second term as President of AIA Queens, the Queens chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Greening Queens is the chapter theme for 2010. She is also serving on the Board of Directors for AIA New York State.

December 5, 2009
2009 QBBA Building Awards
The Queens & Bronx Building Association honored Astoria Park Residence, by Laura Heim Architect PPLC, with a design excellence award in the category of rehabilitation, alteration or addition (interior & exterior) to a two-family residence.

November 29, 2009
The New York Times Habitats column of the Sunday Real Estate section featured a Sunnyside Gardens renovation project by Laura Heim Architect PLLC. As shown in the photos from the article, the open kitchen design and details create a modern interpretation of a traditional black and white kitchen which is suited to this 1920's historic house.

October 22, 2009
Astoria Line, Fall 2009, an original watercolor by Laura Heim, was included in the annual benefit silent auction to support the work of the Sunnyside Community Services.

October 7, 2009
The Garden City Historical Society held its second Saint Paul's Forum, "The Real Costs of Demolition," and Laura Heim, AIA LEED AP participated on the panel presenting the green and sustainable benefits of preserving Saint Paul's School located in Garden City and constructed between 1877 and 1883.

January 1, 2009
Heim - President AIA Queens
Laura Heim, AIA begins her two year term as President of the Queens chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Connecting Queens: Fabric and Future is the chapter theme for 2009.

December 6, 2008
2008 QBBA Building Awards
The Queens & Bronx Building Association honors the Astoria Row House Renovation, by Laura Heim Architect PPLC, with a design rehabilitation award in the category of interior of a single residence, one- or two-family attached.

December 3, 2008
First Prize - Excellence in Design Award
Astoria Row House Renovation receives a first prize in design from the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

October 23, 2008
Sunday Morning 2008, a watercolor by Laura Heim, was auctioned off at the Fifth Annual Sunnyside Community Services' Benefit Art Auction.

October 19, 2008
Sunnyside artists exhibited their work at the Queen of Angels Old Church Meeting Hall. Laura Heim displayed landscape watercolors from Sunnyside, Maine and Vermont.

June 29, 2008
The New York Times Real Estate section featured an article, complete with dramatic photos, of a Sunnyside Gardens attic renovation designed by Laura Heim.

June 24, 2008
Laura Heim, principal of Laura Heim Architect PLLC, received a 2008 Partnership in Education Award from The International High School (IHS) at La Guardia Community College at the graduation ceremony on June 24, 2008. This award recognizes mentors who provide exemplary internship opportunities to IHS students during the school year.

April 30, 2008
Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award 2007
Roosevelt Island Trolley Center and Visitor Kiosk
The design work of Laura Heim Architect on the Roosevelt Island Trolley Center and Visitor Kiosk was recognized by the The New York Landmark Conservancy which bestowed a prestigious Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award for the work on Kiosk Visitors Center.The Lucy G. Moses Award is the highest honor for excellence in historic preservation.
Read more in the official program...

October 18, 2007
Laura Heim's watercolor 7 Local, 2007 was exhibited and, after spirited bidding, auctioned off at the Fourth Annual Sunnyside Community Services' Benefit Art Auction.
Read more...

October 6, 2007
Laura Heim and Jeffrey Kroessler lead the tour, Sunnyside Gardens: Becoming a NYC Historic District, as part of the American Institute of Architects 2007 New York State Convention: Past as Prologue.

September 10, 2007
At the Queens Museum of Art, the American Institute of Architects Queens Chapter awarded Laura Heim, AIA with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of her dedication and leadership to the architectural profession by working with the community towards the designation of the Sunnyside Gardens Historic District by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.

August 2007
The first two projects approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in the new Sunnyside Gardens Historic District were designed by Laura Heim Architect PLLC.
Read more...

July 29, 2007
Official Opening of the Roosevelt Island Visitors Kiosk
The Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) had hired architect Laura Heim to assist in the coordination of the work of the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and their contractors during the site work phase of this project as well as to prepare a interior furnishings package for the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.

Laura Heim Architect redesigned the kiosk entry sequence resulting in an elegant curving pathway leading to a terraced entry. Read the RIHS newsletter (pdf).

July 18, 2007
The Historic Districts Council sponsored a panel discussion focusing on recently calendared or designated historic districts in NYC. Laura Heim participated on the panel representing Sunnyside Gardens.
Read more...

July 26 - September 23, 2006
NEW PRACTICES NEW YORK
Laura Heim's portfolio of work is on exhibit at the American Institute of Architects - AIANY Chapter Center for Architecture
536 LaGuardia Place, NYC

May - August 2006
Intimate Landscapes: Maine, Vermont, Florida & Queens
Watercolor Exhibit by Laura Heim