As an emerging professional in the field of architectural preservation, I’m constantly seeking opportunities to learn from and engage with fellow preservation and conservation professionals. The APTi conference provides just that; a forum for students, emerging professionals, experts, and educators to come together and speak on the unique experiences that make preservation such a meaningful and exciting field. As the recipient of APT DC’s 2023 Emerging Professional Sponsorship Program, I’d like to start by thanking the DC chapter and its members for supporting my professional trajectory and sponsoring my attendance at this year’s APTI conference in Seattle, Washington.

With this year’s conference in the coastal northwest it was appropriate that the primary theme of the conference was ‘The Future of TECH - Technology, Environment, and Cultural Heritage’. An early acknowledgment of the land on which the conference took place — the ancestral land of the Duwamish, Stillaguamish, Muckleshoot, and Suquamish peoples — provided an apt reminder to all preservation professionals that where and what we work to preserve goes beyond bricks and mortar; just as there are tangible histories, there are intangible histories. There are difficult histories behind the development of our cities and as the built environment grows rapidly, we as professionals have a responsibility to acknowledge and contextualize the full history of people and place. The topic of cultural heritage and land use remained a constant theme throughout the conference, from the opening keynote by David B. Williams (Too High and Too Steep: Reshaping Seattle’s Topography) to the College of Fellows keynote by architect Dr. Yasmeen Lari (Lessons from Global South: Community Engagement for Decolonization and Decarbonization of the Built Environment).

In addition to topics of cultural heritage and land use, learning tracks in technology and environment were supported by field sessions, seminars, and symposiums related to climate change, resilience, seismic retrofits, material conservation, envelop upgrades, and other topics — far too many to list here. With my professional experience working on cultural projects, and personal research related to resilience, I took advantage of sessions related to technology and the changing environment.

The first of these was a field session which explored Seattle’s historic theatres, the goal of which was to introduce our multidisciplinary group to the ins-and-outs of how these cultural centers have been adapted to meet the needs of contemporary productions, modern codes, and increasing threats of climate and tectonic activity. During this field session we had an opportunity to explore The Moore Theatre (1907) - originally a vaudeville house and one of Seattle’s oldest theatres, The Paramount (1928) - a grand movie palace that now hosts large scale theatrical tours and music acts, and the Martin Cinerama (1962) - a mid-century movie theatre restored with a mix of retro and modern technologies. The care taken in adapting the theatres to meet contemporary production needs, while still maintaining the original historic fabric, was tasteful and inspiring. Hidden seismic stabilization, upgrades for rigging and production support, and retractable orchestra level seating were presented as necessary upgrades that, while sometimes visible, ensured the theatres stayed economically viable. This economic viability is important to maintain that the historic theatres remain open, preserved, and cared after for generations to come. Preservation of such theatres not only provides a stage for ticketed shows but they have become community hubs to support local performing arts and youth programs, their preservation providing an added societal benefit.

For the breakout sessions I was thrilled to see the number of presentations related to the environment and climate, highlighting the importance of climate preparedness, adaptation, resilience (coastal and inland), embodied carbon, and cultural protections related to environment and landscape. The resounding theme of these presentations was the participatory component, describing the means and methods of communicating with local stakeholders to identify what is deemed historically or culturally important, and should a natural disaster occur, which sites should be prioritized for the restoration of community and place. Another noteworthy topic was that of embodied carbon. The adage “the greenest building is the one that’s already built” was emphasized by presenting advancements on measurement tools and data analysis that can fairly accurately compare the carbon already embodied in an existing structure with that required to construct a new structure (CARE tool). 

Overall, APT 2023 was an unforgettable experience that brought further meaning to the work we perform in preserving historic and aging sites, buildings, and artifacts. The conference provided a forum to learn, network, and share our common and unique experiences, supporting knowledge and best practices that will result in more equitable, responsive, sustainable, and lasting preservation results.

The conference was great, the overarching theme was 'Preservation Beyond Politics,' and was hosted by the DC Chapter, which made all the lectures and paper discussions very applicable to the projects I’m working on around the DMV Region. Attending the conference very much had common themes that I come across while working on those projects. Having recently located from Charlotte, NC to DC at the beginning of the project, this conference provided me a lot of insight of the challenges the project encounters.

The virtual field survey titled 'Washington National Cathedral: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Hands-on Masonry Repair and Restoration' discussed the affects of the 2011 earthquake, that impacted many local historic structures including the one I am working on. Learning about the Washington National Cathedral’s masonry repair, restoration and seismic upgrade approaches provided me a deeper understand of approaches our team is investigating ourselves.

Other topics from envelope performance of historic structures to complying with accessibility code standards of historic handrails were also discussed which directly relate my job.

I feel very fortunate to have been selected to receive the scholarship and attend the conference, worked in tandem with my project.

APT DC added some in-person field sessions following the conference and I was able to attend a few of the sessions to complete the conference experience. One session, titled "Wonderland of Fun - the Preservation and Management of Glen Echo Park," particularly stood out.

"I learned about the importance of community and how this ensures the preservation of places — and how the programs offered at an historic site help ensure its place in the future," Danielle said. "The unique relationship between the National Parks Service and the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, allows them to continue their mission of liberal and hands-on education which started the park in 1891 by the National Chautauqua Assembly. The Assembly taught the sciences, arts, languages, and literature, but then turned the site into an amusement park during the Art Deco period.

NPS owns and operates the site, but the year-round cultural and recreational activities essential to the spirit of Glen Echo Park are provided by the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. Glen Echo Park offers a variety of classes that engages the public to visit the site. Classes include dance, glass blowing, and pottery which continues community engagement in the spirit of its original intent."

The APTI Conference in Detroit this year provided a sneak peak of the historic places in Detroit, opportunities to meet other historic preservation enthusiasts from around the world, and a focused crash course like no other.

There were several types of events throughout the week, and I took advantage of two field sessions, several paper sessions, and networking events. Field sessions were trips to different preservation-related projects and historic landmarks/places around Detroit. I enjoyed learning about the building-wide infrastructure modernization project of the historic Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse, or as the team called it, Detroit’s largest “Rubik’s” cube.  During this field session, the project team detailed the complex technical and coordination challenges they took on to upgrade MEP systems and new code-compliant stair well while maintaining a fully operational courthouse and not disturbing court sessions. We took a trip to the roof to see the new stair tower from inside the courtyard, and we got a beautiful view of the city (and Canada across the river). The attention to detail on this project was immaculate, and it was inspiring to learn about the dedication and creativity of the team. Later that day, I joined the group for the field session around Belle Isle, an island park in the Detroit River, that combines nature, history, and activity. Our tour guides discussed the history of several structures, site planning challenges, flood mitigation considerations, and the historic landscape of the park’s integration with the city. Among several stops was a trip to the aquarium which showed off unique architecture. The exterior of the aquarium has almost a cave-like appearance with stone carved resembling stalactites around the entry arch. The interior features green tile walls and domed ceilings with quite the array of sea-life.

The paper sessions offered numerous opportunities to learn about project case studies and a wide variety of topics. I particularly enjoyed learning about design considerations of flood mitigation strategies, including the idea of designing homes in high-flood risk areas to employ amphibious foundations and work with flood waters. I also spent one afternoon learning about music in the Midwest; each of the presenters engaged the audience with jazz, blues, and techno. These presentations explored sites in the Midwest associated with music heritage (e.g., Paradise Valley, the Muddy Waters MOJO Museum in Chicago, and techno in Detroit) and how music influenced several underrepresented communities. It’s not every day you get to attend a conference session that gets people dancing along in their seats; this was a great addition to the paper sessions.

APTI Detroit 2022 was a great first APT conference experience, and I am looking forward to attending the future conferences. The mix of topics, learning events, and networking opportunities provided a perfect blend to see preservation from many vantage points and get a glimpse at the extent of a community it takes to preserve our historic places.

The 2022 Association for Preservation Technology International conference took place in the historic city of Detroit, Michigan. This year’s conference was the first in-person conference since 2019’s conference and may have contributed to the large turn-out of over 670 attendees.

For the general public, the conference kicked off with Field Sessions on Tuesday, November 7^th. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend two field sessions on the first day of conference activities. In the morning, I attended F3: From Brownfield to Beauty: How Preservation and Economic Redesign Saved the Ford Rogue Plant. This session included an exterior discussion and interior tour of the Historic Ford Rogue plant which was renovated in the early 2000s, becoming one of the largest green roofs in the country with more than 10 acres of sedum covering the current F-150 productive plant (Image 1).

Image 1: The (currently dormant) green-roof on the Ford Rogue Plant.

In the afternoon, I attended a second field session, F8: Detroit’s Signature Towers: the Guardian, Book, and Fisher. This field session was one of my favorite activities of the week-long conference.  In the Guardian building, an iconic feature of the downtown Detroit skyline, we discussed the building’s need for continuous renovation due to water intrusions through the load-bearing brick façade’s lack of cavity wall between itself and the steel structure. Even with its damage, the building maintains cultural significance in the city with its Art Deco detailing (Images 2 and 3).

Image 2: Inside the lobby atrium where Art Deco tile work mesmerizes building guests.

Image 3: Inside the original bank atrium where an Art Deco horse-hair plaster ceiling awes where it’s not cracking from water damage.

The Book Tower was actively under restorative construction and the field session received an in-depth tour of notable parts of the building. Due to its grand opening in late 2022, we were not able to take any interior pictures. The interior highlights include a beautifully intricate skylight and detailed painted ceilings, all restored to all known original conditions. The exterior was similarly challenging and the design and construction team work diligently to conform to SHPO requirements in order to receive both a Federal and Michigan State Historic Tax credit (Image 4 and 5).

Image 4: Across the street view of Book Tower.

Image 5: Close up of replicated “stone” detailing throughout façade.

The third building during the Three Towers Field session was the Fisher tower, originally designed with an unlimited budget by Detroit architect Albert Kahn (Image 6). The triple height concourse housed some of the building’s famous plaster painted murals which still need renovation after significant water damage (Image 7).

Image 6: Exterior view of the Detroit architect Albert Kahn’s Fisher Tower.

Image 7: Interior concourse hallway.

I attended 6 Paper Sessions and the Keynote speaker during the next three days in Detroit learning about various topics ranging from WWII-era plane crashes to renovating the Empire State Building satellite tower to building enclosure continuity best practices to renovation challenges of Detroit’s Michigan Central Station. Exploring various locations throughout Detroit throughout the week in tours, events, or paper session talks brought much first-hand knowledge to center stage regarding preservation and the future of the industry, especially in modernly decreased population cities like Detroit. I would highly recommend attending future APTI conferences and am hoping to be able to attend APTI 2023 in Seattle.

I was honored to have received the 2019 Emerging Professional Sponsorship to attend the Preservation Trade Network’s (PTN) International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) in Stirling, Scotland this September. The event took place at The Engine Shed, an adapted early 20^th-century goods transfer shed, which now serves as Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) central hub for building and conservation professionals and public discourse and learning (Figure 1). HES is the lead Scottish “public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment.”

Workshops covered fascinating topics, from familiar subjects such as historic brick masonry joint profiling, stone carving (Figure 2), carpentry, steel and leaded glass window restoration, traditional timber framing, and decorative wood finishes to more obscure specialized subjects such as traditional and modern scagliola, thatched roofing, and earthen construction. All presentations I attended included hands-on demonstrations.

Gerard Lynch, an animated mason from outside London, demonstrated several different traditional English mortar joint profiles, and explained that masons prior to the beginning of the 17th century “pencilled” crushed calcium carbonate (called “whiting”) onto their joint profile for an exaggerated aesthetic (Figure 3). Until the 19th century, masons also applied an ochre color wash to the brick and mortar on the primary facades of buildings which created a vibrant orange and consistent appearance. It was not until the 19th century when kiln technology advanced that bricks with relatively uniform color could be produced.

David Hayles offered modern and traditional scagliola demonstrations in between sharing anecdotes from his world-wide cycling trip. The modern technique includes placement of dyed silk and flowable pigmented plaster in a mold to create a marble column reproduction (Figure 4). The traditional technique involved a moldable pigmented plaster mix, where layers of pigmented plaster were folded and molded into a column plinth form.

James Turner and Andrea Sevonty from Detroit (near my hometown) demonstrated the restoration of a steel window with leaded glass—a captivating program (Figure 5). They showed that two linear feet of rust on steel frame windows could be removed in roughly a minute using a “needle-scaler” followed by a grinder with a metal wire brush attachment and that dutchman repairs can be performed on leaded glass window panes. Sevonty also demonstrated a window pane replacement and polished the lead using calcium carbonate (“whiting”).

The most memorable feature of my time in Scotland was the scaffolding tour of Doune Castle (Figure 6), backdrop for Game of Thrones (Episode 1), Outlander, and Monty Python. HES masons gave guided tours of their ongoing masonry conservation work focusing on moisture infiltration from the head of the exterior masonry walls. HES methodology included mortar and stone analysis and installation of an NHL 5 (natural hydraulic lime) mortar at the top of the walls with an NHL 3.5 mortar several feet down. The idea is that the harder NHL 5 mortar will limit absorption of moisture at the top of the wall and slow moisture-related deterioration of the wall. 

IPTW concluded with a “Ceilidh” (Scottish social gathering) in the Great Hall of Stirling Castle (Figure 7), featuring an auction to support PTN, traditional Scottish fare (including haggis and tablet dessert), dancing, and music (complete with bagpipes). The kilt-wearers and whisky gave a rousing ending to a marvelous educational opportunity! I had the pleasure to sit next to two Scottish HES masons-turned-project managers and the head of the US-Scottish Consulate, so talk centered on Scottish traditions and the work ongoing to preserve cherished Scottish monuments. I loved every moment of this opportunity to meet and talk to tradespeople from all over the US and UK!

The sun-drenched Biscayne Bay served as the backdrop for this year’s APTI Conference in Downtown Miami. Hundreds of international preservationists congregated at the Intercontinental Miami Hotel to engage in workshops, view presentations, and connect with the global preservation community. The subtropical climate and turquoise ocean waters contrasted with some of the serious-minded conference themes this year, including climate change, sustainability, and the socio-economic challenges faced within the context of heritage sites. Heavy-handiness aside, the general vibe was upbeat as attendees explored Miami’s rich cultural history and global influence. Having never attended an APTI conference, or any conference for that matter, my arrival to Miami was met with nervousness and excitement. Not knowing what to expect, I began the conference with the mindset of meeting new people and learning from the experiences of others.

The first field session I attended was the Downtown Miami Historic Architecture Walking Tour guided by Cheryl Jacobs, Executive Vice President of AIA Miami and the Miami Center for Architecture & Design. We toured Miami’s collection of Art Deco, Neoclassical Revival, and Art Moderne styled buildings. I was most impressed by the second-floor lobby of the Alfred i. DuPont building. Brass adorned finishes with tropical motifs and an entire wood coffered ceiling with hand-painted depictions of the Seminole Tribe were the small details in a open space filled with natural light.

The second half of the conference was comprised of paper sessions typically structured with four presenters led by a session chair. I found myself checking the conference schedule and hopping between presentations of interest. The Zero Net Carbon Collaborative for Existing and Historic Buildings (ZNCC) Session led by Carl Elefante was both fascinating and shocking at the same time. Larry Strain (Siegel & Strain Associates) presented on building reuse and its role as a critical climate action strategy. He made a compelling point when he stated that any new net-zero buildings are not enough to combat climate change and if we are to make any significant progress, building reuse is the solution. This presentation changed my perspective on what it means to be a preservation engineer. I originally saw myself as structural engineer whose goal was to preserve the beauty and cultural significance of historic buildings. I now realize that I need to expand my career beyond just historic buildings and include transforming the more mundane building stock into something fresh and modern.            

I began the APTI conference seeking to connect with other preservationists and to learn more about preservation. I am leaving with a renewed energy and purpose in my career as a structural engineer. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the patrons of the APT DC Chapter who donated to make this experience a possibility for me.

Emily Garrison, one of this year's recipients of APT DC's Emerging Professionals Sponsorships, attended the 2018 IPTN Workshop in Frederick, Maryland. The following is her summary of the workshop.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the International Preservation Trades Workshop in Frederick Maryland through the Emerging Professionals Sponsorship Program. The workshop features craftsmen and women as well as other professionals in the preservation industry. The workshop included many demonstrations and hands-on sessions, ranging from how-to presentations of a specific repair/preservation method to presentations on projects and advocacy.  As a structural engineer it was a great opportunity to observe the aspects of preservation construction, as I am not on-site as structures are repaired.

I went to one session on the process of a dutchman repair. The mason presenter, from the National Park Service, who apart from detailing the process of dutchman repair, shared some of the repairs he conducted in the national parks. One such example was repairing a monument which was struck by a car. It was illuminating being walked through the process of fitting pieces of stone together to minimize the transition from old to new. Had it not been for the difference in color of the two pieces of the stone from age and weathering, it would have been hard to see the dutchman repairs. After explaining the process for a dutchman repair, he demonstrated varies parts of the process on a spare stone, identified his tools, and gave us the opportunity to experiment.  I carved a piece of the stone and eventually got somewhat comfortable using the air chisel, after first carving out a very wavy line of stone.

Perhaps the brick mason keynote speaker, Dr. Gerard Lynch, was the best. On the first day of the workshop I walked by Dr. Lynch’s area as he was setting it up to give a presentation.  Later, while heading to another session, I stopped as a large crowd was congregated waiting for the presentation to start. The workshop program didn’t include an explanation of the session, so it was not on my list I intended to attend.   Witnessing half the workshop attendees were gathered around Dr. Lynch, I decided to stay.  His session was a demonstration of tuck-pointing a masonry wall, interwoven with stories from his decades as a mason. He explained the history of tuck-pointing, and took everyone step by step through the process, explaining both tools and techniques.

Dr. Lynch explaining the process of tuck pointing before beginning the demonstration

Beginning the demonstration by grouting the joints

Tuck pointing the joints

Later, during his keynote address, he stressed the importance of apprenticeships and preservation training, emphasizing that modern training regimes often don’t equip craftsmen and women with the knowledge or skills to repair historic structures, as the materials and techniques can differ significantly from modern practices.

Overall, the workshop was a great opportunity to learn about preservation trades with which I don’t have regular contact.  I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate

Rebecca Domingue, one of this year's recipients of APT DC's Emerging Professionals Sponsorships, attended the 2018 APTI Conference in Buffalo, New York. The following is her summary of the conference.

The 2018 Association for Preservation Technology International conference in Buffalo, New York offered a unique educational and cultural experience. The conference officially kicked off with the all-conference keynote on Sunday September 23rd. Set in the Ashbury Hall of Babeville (Figure 1) the conference was off to a great start.

Figure 1: Ashbury Hall served as the location of the Opening Keynote, located in Babeville, a 19th century gothic revival style church structure repurposed into an event space

The keynote speaker, Alex Wilson, focused his presentation on resilience. He spoke about ways existing buildings could be modified, or new buildings constructed, to better withstand the changing environment. This theme of resilience was then continued throughout the rest of conference. In many cases the theme emerged in the case studies of buildings that were abandoned, and in some cases on the verge of demolition, and how they were revitalized through preservation efforts.

The morning after the keynote my coworker, Nicole Ferran, and I presented a case study that closely followed the theme of the night before. Hoen, an industrial complex in Baltimore, Maryland has sat abandoned since the early 1980s. Our case study discussed the balance between preservation approaches and the importance of inhabitation. Work included both repair and localized reconstruction. The finished product preserves the rich history of the complex and will serve as a focal point of the revitalization of the East Baltimore neighborhood. Hoen has demonstrated resilient behavior- the complex had been over run and heavily damaged by nature, but the strength of the original construction persevered.

The paper sessions I attended were captivating; enriching and broadening my insight into preservation techniques and practices. The case studies presented in Track 1 “Decline vs. Revival: Tempering the Impulse to Tear Down and Start Over” drew my attention and continued with the overall theme of resilience. One session, “Innovated or Unusual Reuse” described deconstruction and monitored collapse as two different approaches to preservation. Both were intriguing new ideas I had never considered before. The same paper session introduced me to baltimorebrickbybrick.com, a website that catalogs the deconstruction processes of Baltimore, Maryland’s abandoned buildings.

In addition to paper sessions I attended the Preservation Engineering Technical Committee (PETC) Meeting. The PETC meeting offered me the opportunity to meet and connect with other professionals who share similar interests to my own from all over the world. The enthusiasm of this group of people encouraged me to become more involved and as a result I volunteered to help organize the 2019 Student Design Competition to be held at the Miami conference.

Buffalo thrived in the early 20th century as a key industrial American city and has an impressive architectural history as a result. With buildings and landscapes designed by some of America’s most well-known architects and designers, including H.H. Richardson (Figure 2), Louis Sullivan (Figure 3), Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Upjohn (Figure 4) and Frederick Olmsted. 

Figure 2: Originally a mental hospital, this heavy stone Richardson building was renovated recently into a boutique hotel.
Figure 3: Louis Sullivan's Guaranty Building in downtown Buffalo, NY.

Figure 4: Upjohn’s gothic revival style church in downtown Buffalo. The exterior is impressive but the interior is absolutely breathtaking!

Outside of scheduled conference activities, I had the opportunity to explore the city and experience these magnificent constructions. Within a few blocks of the conference hotel sat some of the most stunning early 20th century buildings. The beauty, history and culture of Buffalo surpassed all expectations and was an exceptional city to host the 50th APTI conference.

On March 19th, the Cosmos Club hosted APTDC and presentations on the preservation of the club were given by David Riccio of John Canning Preservation and Arthur Page of Page Conservation.  For those who missed the presentations below are some notes from the evening!

John Canning:

-Cheap repairs in the mid-centurn allowed the existing plaster to deteriorate along the exterior wall

-Molds taken from other areas of the room were used to replace the damaged areas

-Where furring strips worked loose of the joists, blocking pieces were used to fill the space between the joists and furring strips with the plaster then reinstalled over the assemblage

-The original gilding was actually three different techniques including water gilding and roman gilding

-Paint analysis determined the original color of the room was a warm grey.  Canning used two separate shades of gray to subtly enhance the ornamental plasterwork.

-To remove and restore the lunette panels above the doors, the door headers were carefully removed.  When replaced, the screws (which were covered after re-installation) were carefully mapped to aid future repair work.

Arthur Page:

-The lunettes over the doors were overpainted by a decorator in the early 20th century

-To determine how much overpainting was performed the paintings are viewed under a specific lightsource where the overpainting comes off as dull and dark.

-When the lunette canvases were remounted a larger sheet of muslin was attached to the canvas with modified wax to make future removal from the stretcher easier

-Additionally a new stretcher system was used which will expand and contract less than the original wood stretcher

Thanks to the Cosmos Club, John Canning, and Arthur Page for a great event!

Kimberly Robinson, Museum Curator with the National Park Service, and Bryan Fisher, AIA, Historic Preservation Specialist at GWWO Architects guided two groups of APT DC and AIA DC members and guests through Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, to provide an overview of preservation and rehabilitation efforts slated for construction beginning this spring and extending into next year. The project includes the restoration of the mansion house, dependencies, and grounds as well as the construction of a new structure to support the visitor experience.

• Exterior walkways will be paved with a bonded aggregate material to better define walkways and to prevent dust and grit from current stone fines (pea gravel) walkways from being tracked into the mansion, where it damages floors and artifacts.
• The National Park Service prepared a vast body of research before undertaking this project including historic structure reports, a cultural landscape report, an historic furnishing report, and a paint study. These documents were immensely helpful in guiding the restoration planning.
• Some compromises needed to be struck between a fully authentic restoration of the site to its early-1860s appearance and its modern-day visitation of nearly 600,000 per year. Most notably, ramps will be added at both the front and rear of the mansion to allow one-way flow of visitors through the house museum.
• Selected bricks across the basement foundation walls exhibited spalling and deterioration. It is likely these site-made historic bricks were not adequately fired when originally kiln baked. The deteriorated bricks will be selectively replaced with salvaged material and the remainder of the walls monitored for future spalling.
• The house has never had much electric lighting installed and the intention is to keep electric lighting at a minimum, only installed as necessary to illuminate spaces with inadequate daylighting.

Future tours are being planned to show progress during and after the  project.  Thank you to Kimberley and Bryan for hosting this great event!