Newsletter of the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University
Speakers at “Building on Green: Preservation and Sustainability,” the 2009 Center for Heritage Conservation’s 10th Annual Historic Preservation Symposium, discussed how to implement the “greening” of historical structures at the two-day symposium, which took place Feb. 27-28 in Preston Geren Auditorium at Texas A&M’s Langford Architecture Center.
Donovan Rypkema, principal of Washington D.C.-based PlaceEconomics, kicked off the symposium with a Feb. 27 public lecture in the Preston Geren Auditorium.
Rypkema’s firm specializes in providing services to public and nonprofit sector clients involved in the reuse of historic structures and the revitalization of downtown and neighborhood commercial districts.
The symposium continued Feb. 28 at Geren Auditorium with lectures from more national leaders from education and practice in the field of preservation and sustainability.
The second day of the conference included Carl Elefante, a principal with Quinn Evans Architects Washington D.C. office.
Gene Hopkins, FAIA, of Hopkins Burns Design Studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan, also spoke to conference attendees. Hopkins, the official architect of the capitol of Michigan, has contributed to the restoration and adaptive reuse of many historic Michigan structures such as the 1915 Detroit Athletic Club, the Christman Company’s 1928 Mutual Building in Lansing and the 1887 Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
Elaine Adams, a senior consultant on the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Built Environment Team, also lectured. Adams applies her specialized knowledge of passive solar design and the rehabilitation of existing buildings to her broad knowledge of historic preservation, energy conservation and green operations. She also lectures frequently throughout the United States, promoting building reuse and low-tech green building.
Another featured speaker, Robert Young, is an associate professor of architecture at the University of Utah who specializes in the stewardship of the built environment through the synthesis of historic preservation, sustainability, and community revitalization. He’s the author of “Historic Preservation Technology: A Primer,” an introduction to the processes and materials for historic preservation. The book supplies the novice with technical information to plan and execute a restoration project.
Ronald Staley, senior vice-president at The Christman Company, where he founded the Lansing, Michigan-based firm’s historic preservation group in 1992, wrapped up the second day of the conference’s lectures. He has directed multiple, high-profile preservation projects to their completion, winning national, state and local awards for teamwork, unique delivery methods and quality. He’s been honored by AIA Michigan as an honorary affiliate member and in 2005 was appointed as a Fellow with the Association of Preservation Technology International.
