Historic Resources Committee

 View Only

Community HTML

Renaissance Schallaburg Figures in a facade

Quick Links

Who we are

The mission of the Historic Resources Committee (HRC) is to identify, understand, and preserve architectural heritage, both nationally and internationally. HRC 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.

  • 1.  Preserving the Recent Past 3 - Call for Presentation Abstracts Deadline September 15

    Posted 08-10-2018 10:17 AM
      |   view attached

    PRP3 Call for Presentation Abstracts

    The Preserving the Recent Past 3 Conference Call for Presentation Abstracts is now open. On March 13-16, 2019, in Los Angeles, PRP3 will offer a national forum to share the latest strategies for identifying, protecting, and conserving significant structures and sites from the post-World War II era. Consider submitting a 250 word proposal for a presentation related to recent past preservation. Deadline is September 15, 2018. Additional information and a submission form can be found at: https://www.prp3.org/proposals



    ------------------------------
    Chad Randl
    Project Director
    Historic Preservation Education Foundation
    Albany NY
    ------------------------------
    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 2.  RE: Preserving the Recent Past 3 - Call for Presentation Abstracts Deadline September 15

    Posted 08-14-2018 01:12 AM
    Hi, Folks

    That conference sounds very tempting, especially since I've just "freed-up" my March, by giving-up a long-standing annual commitment in March.

    For decades, I've been fighting the up-hill battle of advocating for the "recent past".  Early this year, I "lost" a mid-'60s service station.  Remember "service"?

    The building was the classic type, with the all-glass office on one end, with its low, flat roof with the wide cantilevers (and, not drooping!).  Behind that was the pair of cute little, miniature "rest rooms", entered from outside-only.  Next to the office were 2 moderate-height service bays, and beyond those was a clearly added-on high-bay.  And finally, the gas-island (w/o pumps) was still there!

    The owner was absolutely not interested in the building's history or its existing appearance.  From another Architect, who confirmed he was off that project, there was a sketch-elevation of the front.  It was a tall, straight wall across the front, with champfered corners at its ends.  I called it the "Western front".

    Since this location was subject to Historic Commission approval, through a sign-off by the local neighborhood group, I went to make my pitch at the local meeting, with a "gallery" of 6-8 people.  It was the area I grew-up in; they'd been defending history for decades.

    My pitch was that '60s contemporary buildings are still in the "Rodney Dangerfield" phase of their lives; "Can't get no respect!"  I said, remember when the only good things you could do with Victorian buildings were, "modernize" 'em or tear-'em down?  Now they're vigorously defended, cherished, with the "landlord white" painted-over in 8-or-12 colors...  Well, this is a handsome, intact example of a '60s (I even said the buzzy "mid-century" a couple of times) service station, now one of the last ones in the whole area.  [We do have an intact, well-maintained gable-on-gable Texaco station, w/ retail tenants.]  They were once built "every few blocks", right when auto manufactures were improving fluids-management, extending oil changes from 200 miles to 500 or more, etc., resulting in a surplus of service stations, also at the time when labor started to have higher overhead, leading to reductions in staff.  Remember, I think it was the opening scene in "Back to the Future", where the car drives-up to the pump at a Texaco station ("You can trust your car to the man with the star".), over the bell-cord ("ding-ding!"), and 4 guys come swarming out, w/ Squeegee, wiping-rags, etc...?  Well, the most-common elements of one period tend to become the rarest, later on; "We've got plenty / too many, of those."...  "Who's gonna miss one more?!"

    Due to the small site's odd shape, and parking requirements for retail, the gas island did have to go.

    Clueless, just clueless.  The building had been empty for many years, so its butchering was approved, and is now nearly done.  It's an innocuous blob, w/ generic gridded storefront glazing.

    Oh well, I tried...  After that "historic" sign-off, for the above + other issues, I left this project.  At that time, its volume was a bit-under the 35,000 cubic foot volume which triggers the legal requirement to have an Architect involved...  So, they went ahead, and there it is.

    Better luck next time, yes?
    Bill



    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 3.  RE: Preserving the Recent Past 3 - Call for Presentation Abstracts Deadline September 15

    Posted 08-20-2018 10:14 AM
    Bill,

    Thanks for your thoughts on preserving recent past resources. We hope you consider attending the conference.

    Chad

    ------------------------------
    Chad Randl
    Project Director
    Historic Preservation Education Foundation
    Albany NY
    ------------------------------

    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 4.  RE: Preserving the Recent Past 3 - Call for Presentation Abstracts Deadline September 15

    Posted 08-21-2018 07:59 PM
    Hi Chad,
    I'm in LA and my firm specializes in Adaptive Reuse Buildings, I would love to present, but our buildings are all <g class="gr_ gr_115 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="115" data-gr-id="115">pre </g><g class="gr_ gr_124 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="124" data-gr-id="124"><g class="gr_ gr_115 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="115" data-gr-id="115">post</g> WWII</g>.  I'm assuming you are working with the LA Conservancy, correct?  They have been super integral to getting awareness out there about <g class="gr_ gr_361 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling multiReplace" id="361" data-gr-id="361">post WWII</g> buildings.  They are a wealth of knowledge and leadership.  I will definitely attend the conference - as will many from our office.

    ------------------------------
    Karin Liljegren AIA
    Principal
    Omgivning
    Los Angeles CA
    ------------------------------

    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 5.  RE: Preserving the Recent Past 3 - Call for Presentation Abstracts Deadline September 15

    Posted 08-22-2018 05:23 AM
      |   view attached
    Hello Karin,

    Thanks for your interest in the Preserving the Recent Past 3 conference. The term "recent past" has always been interpreted fairly broadly (and moves forward 
    with us in time). The first preservation publications and events included discussions of interwar resources. Many streamline and early modern buildings, and porcelain enamel and structural glass installations dating from the 1930s are still at risk today. So the PRP3 conference will look broadly at recent past subjects from moderne to post-modern and beyond. We are working with the Los Angeles Conservancy and other cooperating organizations in LA and around the country to ensure a well rounded program. We look forward to seeing you in March 2019.

    A reminder to all that less than a month remains before the PRP3 call for presentation abstracts deadline. We hope you consider submitting a proposal. www.prp3.org/proposals

    Best wishes,

    Chad

    ------------------------------
    Chad Randl
    Project Director
    Historic Preservation Education Foundation
    Albany NY
    ------------------------------

    2024 HRC Taliesin West