Lecture #1: Re-Cladding St. John’s Church 1822 Bell Tower: A witness to history

Presenter: Sharon C. Park, FAIA, FAPT

St. John’s Bell Tower of 1822 is part of the National Historic Landmark, St. John’s Church, Lafayette Sq., Washington DC (Latrobe 1816). Due to the inaccessibility of the bell tower, it had not been adequately maintained since 1954 when major work was undertaken on the sanctuary. The most critical criteria used to evaluate the various materials, therefore, were durability and extended cycles between maintenance to avoid recurring scaffold costs. The selected material, a carbon resin-acrylic, has at least a 50 year life, has de-minimum expansion and contraction properties, can be milled like wood in long sections, and reduces the need for extensive caulking. The material fabrication can use laser scans to accurately replicate the historic materials and details. In addition, the paint warranty is for 30 years with a 3 coat Keim product. This far outpaces the other materials as will be demonstrated.  Freedom Gray is for all metal and flashings for long life and avoidances of staining.

Lecture #2: Revolutionary Preservation to Preserve a Coastal Revolutionary Monument

Presenters: James W. Shepherd, AIA LEED and Susan Pommerer, AIA Leed, SmithGroup

Dorchester Heights Monument is an iconic feature of Boston’s cultural landscape, commemorating the British evacuation of the city on March 17, 1776 and George Washington’s first victory in the American War for Independence. It is a designated National Historic Landmark and a contributing resource within the Dorchester Heights National Register Historic District. Following decades of deferred maintenance and ongoing challenges to manage water and avian infestation, and in preparation for the United States Semiquincentennial, the National Park Service is undertaking a comprehensive repair and rehabilitation.

Continuing Education: 2.0 LU AIA CES credits will be offered for this Tech Talk.

Please note: Video will be recorded.

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This program is part of our Tech Talk series:

Tech Talk #1: Digital Technologies 10/21
Tech Talk #2: Tower Restoration 11/04
Tech Talk #3 Stone Weathering 11/21
Tech Talk #4 Metals Preservation 12/05

Join us for our monthly meeting online via Zoom as we discuss APT DC business and plan for upcoming events! 

Mark your calendars for APTI's next upcoming conference already in the planning stages. Check here for more information.

Lecture #1: Advanced Weathering Testing for Stone at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Presenter: Taryn Williams, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, sited high on the wall of Puowaina Crater in Honolulu, HI, was completed by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) in 1964. As part of the evaluation of two types of limestone as replacement candidates, we conducted accelerated weathering testing to determine whether the color of the limestone samples would change perceptibly after cyclic exposure to moisture and ultraviolet (UV) light. Although there is no ASTM standard for accelerated weathering testing of stone specifically, we followed the general guidelines for accelerated weathering testers provided by ASTM G151 and G154 in developing our testing protocol.

Lecture #2: Weathering Time - Mount Greylock Memorial Tower’s Legacy for Past, Present and Future Generations

Presenters: Helena M. Currie, PE and Rachel M. Lynde, PE, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

This presentation tells the captivating restoration journey of the Mount Greylock War Memorial Tower, a historic beacon perched at the highest point in Massachusetts where it is subjected to a microclimate with relentless weather extremes. Following the principles of resiliency, adaptability, and ingenuity that underpin successful preservation efforts, this case study fosters dialogue at the intersection of traditional practices and progressive ideas in heritage conservation. We invite our audience to delve into the complexities of preserving historic landmarks when faced with adverse environments and tight project constraints, as well as highlight opportunities to convert many of these project challenges into community engagement and support.

Continuing Education: 2.0 LU AIA CES credits will be offered for this Tech Talk.

Please note: Video will be recorded.

_____________________________________

This program is part of our Tech Talk series:

Tech Talk #1: Digital Technologies 10/21
Tech Talk #2: Tower Restoration 11/04
Tech Talk #3 Stone Weathering 11/21
Tech Talk #4 Metals Preservation 12/05

Lecture #1: Beyond Rust: Innovative Solutions for Rehabilitating the Netherlands Carillon

Presenters: Anne Kopf, AIA, WELL AP (Quinn Evans), Nicole Ferran, PE (Matteo Ferran Structural Engineers)

The rehabilitation of this modernist bell tower has renewed a symbol of international gratitude.

Lecture #2: Monumental Aluminum of the New Deal and the Mysterious “Deplated” Finish

Presenter: Preston S. Hull, Building Conservation Associates

What color is aluminum? The word calls to mind the silvery metal of everyday objects such as aluminum foil and beer cans, whose tones are similar to those found on common aluminum building features such as flashings and window assemblies. However, this presentation will demonstrate that during the late 1920s and early 1930s, the color of aluminum was often counterintuitive. Indeed, during what might be described as the heyday of architectural metalwork—the Art Deco era—aluminum castings commonly received a finish so dark that it was almost black.

Continuing Education: 2.0 LU AIA CES credits will be offered for this Tech Talk.

Please note: Video will be recorded.

_____________________________________

This program is part of our Tech Talk series:

Tech Talk #1: Digital Technologies 10/21
Tech Talk #2: Tower Restoration 11/04
Tech Talk #3 Stone Weathering 11/21
Tech Talk #4 Metals Preservation 12/05