Approximately 80 participants took part in “Conserving Modernism,” the ninth annual historic preservation symposium sponsored by the Center for Heritage Conservation at the Texas A&M College of Architecture. The two-day event, held Feb. 29 and March 1 at various venues around Bryan/College Station, focused on the significance and preservation of modern architecture.
The conference began at the A&M United Methodist Church Annex, which was designed by Ernest Langford, who headed the Texas A&M architecture program from 1929-56 and is the namesake for the facility housing today’s Texas A&M College of Architecture.
Robert Silman, structural engineer for the newly renovated Guggenheim Museum in New York City, spoke at the church about the interplay between historic preservation and technology.
Silman’s talk was followed by a formal dinner at Astin Mansion in Bryan, a Georgian Revival-style structure built in 1924 that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
On Saturday, the event moved to the College of Architecture’s Preston Geren auditorium where participants were treated to a full day of preservation presentations.
Robert Johnson, director of the College of Architecture’s CRS Center for Leadership and Management in the Design and Construction Industry and professor of architecture at Texas A&M, presented “The Architecture of Caudill Rowlett Scott: Lean and Clean.”
“CRS often used the term ‘lean and clean’ to describe the design of their buildings,” said Johnson. His presentation examined the lean and clean philosophy design of CRS and compared and contrasted that with a Modernist philosophy.
Johnson also talked about the current state of CRS-designed buildings.
“Many have been lost due to demolition, neglect or insensitive alterations,” said Johnson. On the other hand, “many have also been sensitively renovated and remain fully functional as originally intended.”
The CRS Center was established at Texas A&M in 1990 through a generous endowment by Caudill Rowlett Scott. In less than a decade after its founding in 1946, CRS gained national prominence for its pioneering work in educational facility design and innovative approaches to architectural programming. CRS was honored as the “Firm of the Century” by the College of Architecture at its 2005 centennial anniversary gala.
Other presentations on the CHC symposium’s Saturday agenda included:
A lecture by Gunny Harboe of Harboe Architects, PC Chicago, titled “When ‘Less’ Was Not Always Enough: The Challenges of Restoring Mies.” One of the most influential architects of the 20th century, Mies van der Rohe designed buildings stunning in their simplicity that, unfortunately, have not always weathered very well. Harboe has worked on a number of van der Rohe’s buildings in Chicago including S.R. Crown Hall, the Commons, Bailey Hall, as well as his iconic 860-880 Lake Shore Drive Apartments. His lecture looked at the challenges faced when trying to restore the work of a master who played by his own set of rules.
Donna Carter, of Austin’s Carter Design Associates, presented “Modernism, Marginalism and The Mundane.” She is interested in the definition and meaning of icons within the context of diverse communities.
“How,” she asked, “does the relationship of a diverse, changing community’s historical timeline alter the perception of modernism, icons, and preservation?”
William Dupont, holder of the San Antonio Conservation Society Endowed Professorship at the University of Texas at San Antonio, presented “The Wallpaper Keeps Changing: Defining Conservation Objectives for Glass Box Homes.”
Another presentation, by Nancy McCoy, of Quimby-McCoy Architects in Dallas, was titled “A Texanic Task: Preserving a Fantasy World.”
William Dupont discusses the preservation of Philip Johnson’s Glass House in New Canaan, Conn. Dupont is a San Antonio Conservation Society Endowed Professor at the University of Texas-San Antonio.
