2nd AIA/HRC/AIC Taliesin Colloquium: From Grime to Sublime: Standards for Cleaning Masonry Buildings

Starts:  Oct 10, 2014 12:00 AM (MT)
Ends:  Oct 12, 2014 11:59 PM (MT)
Associated with  Historic Resources Committee
Sponsored by the AIA Historic Resources Committee, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, and the Architectural Specialty Group of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works 
 
The maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of existing buildings often includes cleaning the exterior surfaces of stone, brick, terra cotta, and concrete. There are philosophical, aesthetic, technical, scientific, and economic factors that should be considered when specifying materials and methods for cleaning. What 
is the masonry material, and what is the cause and composition of soil? Is the soiling damaging the masonry material? What are the owner’s expectations? What is an appropriate aesthetic target for the character of the building? Is the patina character-­‐defining? Will a particular cleaning approach result in short term appeal and long term damage? Is the masonry best left alone? What is an optimum cycle for recleaning that balances the applicable factors? In summary, how do we characterize soiling, how should one clean a building, and ought one to clean a building, and what is the meaning of “clean?” 
 
The program will open with an outdoor desert terrace reception followed by the keynote lecture on Friday evening, October 10, 2014, and an evening tour of Taliesin West by staff, faculty, and students. The core of the program consists of presentations and discussion with the speakers on Saturday morning, October 
11, 2014. After a box lunch, attendees will meet in topical Saturday afternoon break-­‐out sessions for discussion and demonstrations, and report back in assembly to close the day. On Sunday, October 12, Richard Wolbers will present an optional all-­‐day advanced workshop. 
 
Richard Wolbers, is the Friday keynote lecturer and Sunday workshop leader. Wolbers has been a tenured professor in the Art Conservation department of the University of Delaware since 1989. In addition to teaching, and fine art restoration, he has worked on major architectural restoration projects that include the US Capitol, the Treasury Buildings, and the National Building
Museum in Washington D.C. In 2001 he published the best-­‐selling reference book Cleaning Paintings: Aqueous Methods.

Mary Oehrlein, FAIA, LEED AP, is the Historic Preservation Officer for the Architect of the Capitol of the United States. She oversees 17 million s.f. of existing buildings within the Capitol jurisdiction including the Capitol, Supreme Court, Botanical Gardens and all House and Senate office buildings. As founder and president of Mary Oehrlein & Associates in 1984, specializing in historic preservation, Oehrlein executed the restoration of many dozens of Washington and regional landmarks The firm oversaw the exterior restoration of the damaged wing of the Pentagon, and the stone conservation of the Washington Monument. She brings to the Federal staff a high level of knowledge in the stewardship and treatment of historic buildings.

Judy Jacob, is a Senior Conservator with the National Park Service, Northeast Region, in the New York City Field Office, providing support services for the preservation of buildings, structures, and monuments for National Park Service sites. Her responsibilities include administrating conservation projects, evaluating condition and history of condition for sites, executing conservation treatments, and providing training and guidance to other National Park Service employees and student interns. She has worked on the Washington Monument, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Governors Island National Monument, and numerous smaller monuments and gravestones throughout the Northeast United States.

Joshua Freedland is an Associate Principal at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. where he has worked for fourteen years. Joshua received his Master of Science in Historic Preservation and an Advanced Certificate in Architectural Conservation from the University of Pennsylvania. At WJE, Joshua has worked on the investigation, analysis, design and construction administration of projects throughout the country including cleaning and repair projects of traditional and modernist buildings. Facade cleaning projects have included Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., the Minnesota State Capitol, Hall of Justic in Los Angeles, and the Nebraska State Capitol, and the Yale Center for British Arts in New Haven, Connecticut. 

Learning units: it is anticipated that approximately 8 hours of continuing education units will be provided for AIA members who attend, contingent on review and approval of the final program by the AIA.

The American Institute of Architects counts 80,000 members, including 6,200 who belong to the Historic Resources Committee (HRC). The Committee, founded in 1890, is the oldest standing knowledge community of the AIA, and is engaged in promoting the role of the historic architect within the profession through the development of information and knowledge among members, allied professional organizations, and the public. The HRC publishes a quarterly newsletter with specific editorial themes for each issue, governs the Historic American Building Survey, alongside the National Park Service and the Library of Congress, advocates for historic preservation programs and funding in Congress through the AIA’s agenda, solicits and promotes programs in heritage conservation for the annual conventions, and advocates for selected site preservation issues that are significant at the national level.

Contact: Peyton Hall, FAIA, Chair, AIA Historic Resources Committee, peyton@historicla.com, 626.793.2400 x 107.


Location

Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd Scottsdale, AZ 85259
Scottsdale, AZ 85259
Event Image

Contact

Peyton Hall
(626)793-2400
peyton@historicla.com