Historic Resources Committee

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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.

Taliesin Colloquium a Success: Summary, Links and How to Learn More

  • 1.  Taliesin Colloquium a Success: Summary, Links and How to Learn More

    Posted 03-03-2023 02:47 PM
    Edited by Luz Angela Toro Acuna Intl. Assoc. AIA 03-14-2023 12:36 PM

    Dear HRC Members –

    Our 2023 AIA HRC Taliesin Colloquium was a smashing success, and we thank all who attended, presented, and contributed to the conversation – especially Jill Gotthelf, AIA and HRC past chair, who led the planning of the event!

    Over 80 attendees dug into the complex topic of how the Standards and Guidelines should evolve to meet the needs of our practice today. Starting with a more holistic view of sustainability that includes social, cultural, and economic equity, the group took a closer look of whether the current Standards are inclusive or exclusive.

    Topics discussed included:

    •         Are the current policies and practices of historic preservation still valid or must they mature and evolve to meet the current challenges?  
    •         How can we respond to these challenges and prepare for the future?  
    •         Do policies and practices need to be open to change?

    Some say that the Standards as currently written provide the required flexibility and that that it is the interpretation that has become too rigid.   Others believe that we need additional standards to address issues of social and economic equity. The debate was lively, and the attendees were challenged! 

    The Colloquium opened on Friday with Ashley Wilson, AIA, Graham Gund Architect Emeritus, National Trust for Historic Preservation, interviewing W. Brown Morton III, Hon AIA, co-author of The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation Projects via video. The interview provided a rare look into the original thoughts and considerations of the drafters of the Standards and explore Brown's own ideas about where the Standards fit in the context of current society.

    Friday's Keynote Address was given by Erica Avrami, PhD, James Marston Fitch Assistant Professor of Historic Preservation at Columbia GSAAP and Director of the Urban Heritage, Sustainability and Social Inclusion Initiative. Dr. Avrami's talk inspired the room and set the tone for the conversations to follow. Dr. Avrami discussed how the Standards fit with contemporary goals sustainability and resilience, particularly regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how best to uncouple process from intent.  

    Richard Wagner, AIA, PhD, Principal at David H Gleason Associates, Inc., closed Friday's sessions by offering some thoughts on the impact of changing economic and environmental systems on the interpretation of the Standards and application of the Guidelines to historic buildings, districts and landscape.

    Saturday's sessions opened with Nicholas Vann, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, Washington State, who explored and developed a case for expanding The Secretary of Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties as a way to embrace the intangible elements of historic preservation, which would enable us to continue preserving or celebrating our history and heritage while simultaneously addressing contemporary needs related to climate change and resilience, code upgrades, equity and inclusion, and economic stability in older neighborhoods.

    Heather Payne, Associate Professor of Law, Seton Hall University School of Law, was next and presented her take on Adaptive Management, which is already familiar to many federal agencies. Professor Payne presented examples of where Adaptive Management has been used, how discretion for its use already exists within enabling and organic statutes and discussed the potential use and benefits of Adaptive Management in historic preservation, especially around climate change.

    Luis Hoyos, Professor of Architecture, College of Environmental Design at Cal Poly Pomona,  and former member of the National Park System Advisory Board of National Historic Landmarks Committee, reviewed current and past initiatives of diversifying the NHL and NR program to provide greater representation of all communities to correct the imbalance.

    Saturday morning's program ended with a lively roundtable discussion with speakers Avrami, Wagner, Vann, Hoyos and Payne as they delved into the synthesis and challenges covered of the presentations.

    Saturday afternoon's programs included break-out sessions among small groups as participants reviewed and debated the topics discussed, including specific individual actions to be taken as an outcome of the Colloquium which were reported back out to the general assembly.

    The Colloquium concluded with closing remarks by Brian Goeken, National Park Service Chief of Technical Preservation Services, who offered the NPS perspective on the topics and give an update on work currenlty underway.  

    To quote one attendee's feedback, "…a powerful way to promote the AIA's compelling priorities, engage those whose authority impacts our ability to practice effectively, and build a strong foundation for future collaboration."

    How you can get involved and learn more:

    The HRC plans to continue the conversation as a resource for our members, SHPO colleagues, NPS partners, and being a conduit of information and resources.  Currently, the AIA is helping lobby for increased funding for SHPOs and THPOs offices.

    We will also plan to give an update at our AIA23 Convention in San Francisco. Please consider joining us at the HRC luncheon on June 8th!

    ·         You can find a link to the presentations here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oJL9xGDxCxQRSdJ-UsEMQKIyyyz3I8fe

    ·         Attend our Dr. Erica Avrami's repeat presentation on 5/17/2023 through AIAU (look for a live link later this month to register)

    ·         Actively "push the bar" in your own work to promote the topics of equity and sustainability in preservation and share your ideas and successes on the AIA HRC Discussion Board https://network.aia.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer?communitykey=97be49ce-260b-4cbe-8635-511aa3e87715 

    Consider joining the AIA HRC Standards Evolution Task Force (you don't need to be an AIA member), please reach out to us:

    Luz Toro, AIA Staff HRC Liaison  luztoro@aia.org

    Liz Hallas, 2023 AIA HRC Chair elizabethhallas@andarch.com

    Let's continue this important conversation – check back often to find out what the HRC is doing!

    Thank you –

    Liz Hallas, AIA

    Anderson Hallas Architects / AIA HRC Chair 2023



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    Elizabeth Hallas AIA
    Anderson Hallas Architects, P.C.
    Golden CO
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    2024 HRC Taliesin West