The Construction History Society of America's 6th Biennial Conference will be hosted by the CHSA and the School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation at the University of Maryland from May 24-26, 2018.  

The 6th Biennial meeting of the Construction History Society of America will feature research and scholarship from a diverse range of academics and practitioners, focusing generally on the history of building design, fabrication, and construction throughout the Americas over the last five hundred years. Presenters will include scholars, engineers, architects, preservationists, and contractors, who will present on topics ranging from historic building materials to postwar engineering and building science. 

Keynotes will be presented by Carl Lounsbury, College of William and Mary, and Thomas E. Boothby, Pennsylvania State University. Three to four guided tours led by local expert historians are being organized in the Washington DC metro area with more information to follow. Abstract session themes include: Construction Education and Theory, Fabrication and Use of Materials, Materials and Methods in the United States: 19th Century / 20th Century, Bridge and Vault Construction, Construction of American Landscape Environments and Infrastructure, Management of Institutional Construction, Vernacular Construction Techniques in the Americas, Prefabrication in Mid-Twentieth Century America, Houses and Housing in the United States. 

On the evening of Thursday, May 24th, a special program celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Associated General Contractors will be presented with Kenneth D. Durr of History Associates giving the keynote address.

This conference brings together a diverse group of academics, practitioners, enthusiasts, and interested corporate and government representatives with an interest in this new field of research and follows successful meetings of the CHSA held in Seattle, WA (10^th Anniversary Members’ Meeting 2017),  and previous Biennial Meetings:  Austin, TX (5th Biennial 2016), Minneapolis MN (4th Biennial 2014), Cambridge MA (3rd Biennial 2012), Philadelphia PA (2nd Biennial 2010), and Atlanta GA (1st Biennial 2008).

More information and registration here.    

Please join APT DC for the second and final part of an exciting series on the masonry restoration techniques used at the Carnegie Library! 

Part two of the Carnegie Library Masonry Restoration Demonstration will focus on the sculptural masonry restoration including stone consolidation and dutchman repair. Restoration of the south façade with sculptural decorations by Philip Martiny is concluding, and this demonstration will provide an overview of the stone stabilization and restoration techniques used by the conservation team.

Background

Designed by the firm of Ackerman & Ross and dedicated in 1903, the Carnegie Library at Mount Vernon Square was the first building constructed to house the recently established D.C. Public Library System. Construction was funded by Andrew Carnegie as part of his nationwide library program to encourage free and public dissemination of knowledge. The building is clad in Vermont marble with sculptural decorations by Philip Martiny, and it features banks of columns on the north side to house the book stacks, a feature celebrated in the design of the New York Public Library from a few years later. The base of building is clad with Milford Pink Granite.

The building is currently undergoing a transformation to become a retail store with a public forum, gallery, and office space for the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. As part of the project, the masonry façade is being restored. Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects & Planners and Conservation Solutions, Inc. collaborated on the restoration design approach. Lorton Stone and Grunley Construction are the contractors for the restoration. 

1 LU (HSW) is available for this event. Photography will not be permitted. 

Join APT DC for our new Preservation Pioneers Lecture Series. Each quarter, we will bring a late-career professional to share stories from their career, the ways preservation has changed in their time, and their vision for the future of the field. GW's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences will host this lecture series at Smith Hall. Our inaugural speaker  is Willie Graham (bio below photo). If you'd like to nominate a speaker for our Preservation Pioneers Lecture Series, please email events@aptdc.org and put "Preservation Pioneers" in the subject line.

Willie Graham spent 35 years as curator of architecture for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. He now serves as a consultant on a variety of public and private historic building projects. He undertakes and advises on the research, design, administration and interpretation of traditional buildings, archaeological sites and museums in America, the British Caribbean, Bermuda and Great Britain. Willie specializes in building analysis and recording, restoration and reconstruction of structures and landscapes, and consults on some of the nation’s most important historic sites. These projects range from work on the statehouses in Maryland and South Carolina; established museum sites, including Mount Vernon, Monticello, Highland, and Montpelier; and National Historic Landmarks across the South and Mid-Atlantic States. His international portfolio includes work at a World Heritage site in Barbados; National Trust houses in Bermuda; Grade 1 listed buildings in England, Wales and Ireland; and court theaters in Western and Central Europe. 

An Associate Research Scholar at UMD, his Alma Mater, Willie has always sought improvement of professional standards in his chosen field and related disciplines. To that end, he created a new model of building analysis now adopted by many museums for historic structure report inquiry. He also convened a conference to establish standards for dendrochronological analysis of historic buildings; has proposed protocols for architectural finish analysis to an international body of architectural paint researchers; and developed new procedures for applying mortar and plaster analysis to building investigations. He is an accomplished architectural photographer. Willie has written extensively, including four recent pivotal essays on traditional building construction in the book, The Chesapeake House, on timber framing techniques, interior and exterior joinery and plasterwork, and an essay co-written with paint analyst Susan Buck on historic finishes.

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Parking in the area is limited, but the Foggy Bottom Metro Station is just a few blocks away! Follow the map and look for the signs once you're in the building. Light refreshments will be provided after the lecture. AIA/PDH credit (1) available.

Restoration Works International, a United States nonprofit that uses historic preservation as a tool for community renewal around the world, invites you to join a volunteer trip to the organization's project in Udaipur, India from July 2-13, 2018!

Volunteers will work alongside a local crew to complete hands-on restoration tasks, and they will also participate in community engagement activities... All while having the opportunity to travel and learn about the place and its people! The July trip will be led by APT DC member and Restoration Works board member, Melanie Lytle.

Bichli Haveli Project in India 

Through the Bichli Haveli Project, Restoration Works and its Indian partners are rehabilitating a 140-year old traditional courtyard house located in the old city of Udaipur, Rajasthan and are transforming it into a community and heritage resource center. The project aims to bring many benefits to the local community by providing skilled job training (especially for women), supporting local suppliers and services, and empowering residents to celebrate their heritage and improve their quality of life.

Restoration Works International

Restoration Works is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that helps communities around the world protect their cultural heritage and prosper through preservation and renewal of their historic structures. The organization has worked in Mongolia, Nepal, India, and the United States.

Interested in participating?

There are a number of informational webinars scheduled for April and May that will provide more information about the project and upcoming trip (register here). You can also visit Restoration Works' website or contact Melanie directly at melaniel@restorationworksinternational.org.