2020 Taliesin Colloquium Agenda

This page will be updated as additional information is available

Friday, February 7

1:30pm - Registration 

2:15pm - Opening remarks and welcome
Peyton Hall, FAIA, Principal Architect, Historic Resources Group
Lauren Burge, AIA, 2019 Chair, AIA Historic Resources Committee
Fred Prozzillo, Vice President of Preservation, The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

3pm – Keynote
Marilyn E. Kaplan, FAPT, Principal, Preservation Architecture

Break

4pm - Session 2
Nick Artim, Principal, Heritage Protection Group
The Philosophy of Historic Building Fire Protection
In most instances modern fire and building codes are primarily written for new contemporary construction, and they generally serve this this purpose well. However when traditional buildings are renovated or rehabilitated, there frequently arise conflicts between what the modern building codes state and the construction materials, character defining features and aesthetic details that are present in the historic building. This can lead to harming these features that make the historic building enticing without necessarily improving the building’s safety. There are however viable approaches that can meet or exceed the fire safety objectives that form the essence of codes, while maintaining the desired character.

Certain codes, such as National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 914 Code for the Protection of Historic Structures, recognize that these buildings can best be protected by following an objective driven performance-based approach that designs the protection elements to the building rather than forcing the building to comply with an arbitrary set of guidelines. An important key to succeeding with a performance approach is to undertake the process relatively early in the design process and obtain buy in from the regulatory officials who themselves are often found in the position of needing to enforce a code but do not want to harm the building.

This discussion will discuss the performance-based process and describe some of the tools and techniques that can be utilized to achieve the desired preservation and fire safety objectives.

4:30pm - Discussion

Reception in Sculpture Garden

Twilight tour

Saturday, February 8

8am - Breakfast

9am - Opening remarks

9:15am - Session 3
Helen Kessler DiFate, AIA, 2019 AIA Codes Chair
When Historic Buildings Meet The Codes
This presentation will look at what happens when repair, alteration, relocation or change of occupancy occurs with an historic building. It will examine the relevant chapters in the 2018 International Existing Building Code – Chapter 12, Historic Buildings – and the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code [Commercial Energy] and [Residential Energy] – Chapter 5[CE] and Chapter 5[RE]. It will look ahead to where the codes are going – a more holistic definition of Health, Safety and Welfare incorporating resiliency and sustainability. The need for active involvement in code development and the opportunities available will be explored. This session will incorporate powerpoint, include case studies, and provide question/answer interaction.

10am - Session 4
Melvyn Green, Principal, Melvyn Green and Associates, Inc.
Structural Provisions Related to Historic Structures
This session will cover structural aspects of the IEBC, alterations, rehabilitation, and seismic retrofit. It will discuss triggers that may require additional work than anticipated. The session will cover examples of repair of damage from natural disasters. Examples will include masonry and timber buildings from the 18th Century through the 20th Century. Retrofit requirements for concrete and steel structures will also be covered.

Break

10:45am – Session 5
Amanda L. Webb, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering & Construction Management, University of Cincinnati
Energy efficiency in historic buildings in an era without exemption
Exemption for historic buildings has long been at the core of preservationists’ approach to energy codes. However, recent policy developments suggest that this position is no longer tenable. This presentation examines the key challenges and opportunities presented by an era of increasingly ambitious energy policy and narrowing exemptions for historic buildings. First, the treatment of historic buildings in recent energy policies is reviewed, with particular emphasis on developments at the state and municipal level. Then, the challenges brought forth by these new policies are identified. Finally, the presentation concludes with a discussion of opportunities for leveraging these new policies towards a more proactive approach to energy efficiency in historic buildings.

11:25am - Session 6
Sean Denniston, Sr. Project Manager, New Buildings Institute
Energy Codes and Historic Buildings:  Recent Changes and Future Trends
The landscape of energy codes and policy has undergone a significant shift in the last few years with an increasing focus on existing buildings.  In 2015 the International Energy Conservation Code was restructured so that it more clearly and effectively addressed existing buildings. This restructuring redefined what would be considered a “historic building” for purposes of the code and eliminated the IECC’s previous categorical exemption for historic buildings and replaced it with a much narrower, conditional exemption. The result is that historic buildings would be far more subject to the energy code than previously. Another manifestation of this shift is the advent of Building Performance Standards that regulate the actual energy consumption of buildings. However, early examples, such as Local Law 97 in New York City, do not always include robust protections for historic buildings. The trend toward greater regulation of energy performance in historic buildings could be a serious threat to them. It could also be a serious benefit. This presentation will cover recent shifts in energy codes and policy for historic buildings as well as potential future changes. It will then examine how the preservation community can use this shift as an opportunity to preserve historic buildings, or allow it to become a threat.

Lunch in the Sculpture Garden

1:15pm Panel Discussion with colloquium speakers
Moderator: Mike Jackson, FAIA, Visiting Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3pm - Closing remarks 
Mike Jackson, FAIA