Mount Morris Fire Watchtower
In October 2019, AYON Studio joined the Harlem community in celebrating the re-opening of the Mount Morris Fire Watchtower in Marcus Garvey Park. Originally designed by Julius Kroehl and constructed in 1857, this cast iron structure is the last surviving tower of its kind in New York City. Since 2000, Principal Angel Ayón has been advising all stakeholders in the fight to save and restore this beloved neighborhood landmark.
Reglazing Modernism
Co-authored by AYON Studio Principal Angel Ayón, Reglazing Modernism: Intervention Strategies for 20th Century Icons (Birkhäuser, 2019) has been featured in numerous book talks, lectures, presentations, and published excerpts.
This comprehensive study looks at the deterioration of curtain and window walls in modern architecture and outlines various intervention approaches.
Presented in an easy-to-read format with 20 case studies, it won the 2021 Lee Nelson Book Award from APT for the most outstanding and influential book-length work on preservation technology in North America.
What our Clients Say
“We really appreciate all that the AYON Studio team has done for us at 15 Broad Street. We know that there are other team members behind the scenes as well, and under Angel’s leadership, they always go above and beyond for us.”
— Stephen Clare, Executive Chef, Soigne
“AYON Studio should be so proud of the fine work they did at 190 Bowery. It really wouldn’t have happened without Angel’s dedication and clever handling of the expeditor and Department of Buildings.”
— Louisa St.Pierre, Global Head, Art + Design + Experiential, Great Bowery
"Working with AYON Studio exceeded our expectations! What makes them shine brighter than the average firm is their outstanding team culture, economical savviness, and genuine commitment toward their client’s success. Their industry-leading approach to the field of preservation and the construction oversight they provide is phenomenal. Because of the relationship we have developed over the years, we can truly say we have an Architect in our family."
— Derrick Johnson, Deacon Board Chairman, New Bethel Way of the Cross Church of Christ
“When I decided to open a pilates studio, I had the concept in mind and knew the “feeling” I wanted to create but had no idea how to attain it. Angel’s expertise and acute sense of space, design, aesthetic, and function transformed a plain room in great need of repair into an elegant studio reflecting my values and my mission. The end result was something far greater than anything I could have imagined.”
— Ms. Janine Flasschoen, Founder, The Fifth Line
Read our latest Newsletter
Recapping recent preservation, advocacy and knowledge sharing! Our staff has been busy with celebrating and advancing historic preservation through advocacy and education, including reimagining the historic headquarters of the Amsterdam News, honoring contributions of individuals and organizations who are driving historic preservation forward across New York City, and sharing our knowledge with Carnegie Mellon University and The New School. We also took a moment to sit down with Sisto Martello for Episode #109 of the Sisto Says podcast.
An ABC Localish micro-documentary featuring the reimagining of Amsterdam News, has been nominated for an Emmy in the Informational / Instructional category for Short or Long Form Content. The short spotlights the historic Harlem headquarters as a future national center celebrating the impact of the Black press, journalists, and publishers on American history.
AYON Studio attended the Save Harlem Now! 3rd Annual Gene Norman Preservation Awards Gala at The Riverside Church in May 2026. The evening honored individuals and organizations whose contributions to Harlem's architectural and cultural legacy have left a lasting impact on the community. As Vice President of the board for Save Harlem Now!, Angel delivered the closing remarks.
Angel Ayón, AYON Studio Principal, recently visited Yale's School of Architecture to present on AYON Studio's work and share his perspective on preservation advocacy as a form of professional practice. As part of the school's "Historic Preservation in the 21st Century" seminar, Angel's talk followed his path from architecture school in Havana through founding his own NYC-based firm.
