September means the arrival of autumn, and with autumn comes cooler weather and the changing colors of the trees. The reds, oranges, and yellows of the changing leaves are nature’s gift for the new season. We have worked on projects across the country and have seen some pretty amazing sights, many of which are especially beautiful in the autumn season. From restoring incredible interior spaces like the Luzerne County Courthouse, War Memorial Opera House and the Cosmos Club in DC, to exterior work on national landmarks such as the gilding at the Prometheus Statue in Rockefeller Center, San Francisco City Hall and the West Virginia State Capitol, Canning has seen some spectacular views through the changing seasons. The decorative element that exterior gilding, with the luster that gold leaf brings, can add another level to the beauty that nature offers through the changing seasons. One example of that is the West Virginia Capitol Dome restoration project, which included stripping and removing all coatings on the gilded ornament before applying new coatings and gold leaf, which resulted in an especially beautiful view. Being experts in the use of traditional gold leaf and gilding methods and materials, the result of our craftsmen’s work was remarkable, and the new gold leaf contrasting with the autumnal colors of the trees makes for an even more extraordinary picture. We are proud to use our over 45 years of experience preserving, restoring and recreating gilding on buildings of all types and styles across the United States and helping to make some of nature’s sights shine brighter through the seasons. To read more about this project, as well as the process of exterior and architectural gilding, visit the resources linked below.
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Latest Articles & Announcements
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How to Identify Historic Stone and Marble
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Identifying historic stone and marble is important in order to take proper care of it through restoration, conservation, and cleaning. Although the varieties and sub varieties of stone are numerous, possibly the most popular types of stone used in historic construction are marble, granite, limestone, and sandstone. In this blog we take a look at the distinguishing characteristics of these different types of stone that help us to correctly identify the stone that we are working with.
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How to Conduct a Facility Condition Assessment at a Historic University
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To continue our conversation about returning to school for the year, our next featured blog is about conducting facility assessments at historic universities. In this blog we take a look at the process behind conducting historic university facility condition assessments, as well as what needs to be included in these reports. Although each university is different, there are a handful of key elements that are crucial parts of a comprehensive facility condition assessment.
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The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art is a nonprofit organization that works through advocacy, education, and publication to further the classical tradition in urbanism, architecture, and the allied arts. The New England chapter’s Bulfinch Awards are bestowed upon architects, designers, and industry professionals of superior merit for notable projects each year. Being awarded is a prestigious honor, and we are so proud to have been a part of the teams of two of the projects from the educational sector receiving awards this year; Robert A.M. Stern Architect's project at Yale University’s Schwarzman Center for the Historic Preservation Award, and Harrison Design’s project at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Chapel at Thomas Aquinas College for the Ecclesiastic Award.
Canning provided architectural conservation treatment services for the ornamental plaster, masonry, metal, and wood at the Schwarzman Center, and provided the new decorative scheme and installation of the color palette and decoration at Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
We want to extend Congratulations to the exceptional architectural firms of Robert A.M. Stern Architects and Harrison Design. It was a pleasure to work with and be part of such talented project teams and we look forward to continue to do even more amazing work together.
Congrats to all the Bulfinch 2022 award winners and the teams involved in those projects. We look forward to seeing you at the Bulfinch Awards Gala, October 29th in Boston.
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This month we take a look at our project at Union Station in Washington, DC in celebration of the original architect’s birthday. Daniel Burnham was born on September 4th, 1846 in New York. Burnham designed Union Station in 1907 with the influence of many classical styles, notably the Beaux-Arts style for which he was well known. Canning was hired to conserve and restore the stone and plaster Legionnaire statues throughout the station. Following the AIC Guidelines and Code of Ethics, each statue was documented before, during, and after treatment. We are honored to continue to work on this magnificent landmark, and look forward to sharing more about future projects as we continue to restore this National Historic Landmark station.
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Protecting and improving the quality of architectural heritage in Boston and around the country is important to John Canning & Co. We continue our ongoing support of the Boston Preservation Alliance with our corporate membership and are proud to be a sponsor for the 2022 Annual Preservation Achievement Awards. The Preservation Awards will be held this year on October 20th at the Garage B at the Charles River Speedway. These awards honor outstanding achievements in historic preservation and compatible new construction in Boston. The Boston Preservation Alliance is a nonprofit organization that brings people and organizations together through advocacy and education to influence the future of Boston’s historic buildings, landscapes, and communities. Learn more about the Boston Preservation Alliance and their work here.
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The International Conference on Architectural Quality, hosted by the Escuela Tecnica Superior de Arquitectura – Universidad de Navarra, is happening virtually on October 8th-9th & 15th-16th. The conference is free to attend, and will focus on what defines architectural quality, and how the definition may differ for architects, critics, and historians. Following the 2021 International Conference on Architectural Criticism, this conference will explore the opposite end of the ideological spectrum. For more information and to register, visit the conference website, linked here.
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The Facade Tectonics 2022 World Congress is taking place this year on October 12th & 13th in Los Angeles, California. The Facade Tectonics Institute is an international member organization based at the University of Southern California School of Architecture. The institute aims to research and educate about innovative building facade technology. The conference will discuss advancements in the work of building design and sustainable delivery of the building facade. All professionals in the domestic and international building communities are invited to register and attend. Learn more about registration here.
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Check out the Canning 45th Anniversary Retrospective...
All last year we continued to share and expand this page to celebrate our 45th Anniversary, with project highlights, fun facts, stories, photos and more. If you haven't had a chance yet, check it out!
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We understand the importance in sharing our expertise and knowledge in our field. Besides the monthly newsletter and blogs we post, we also develop and share downloadable resources to help guide you in your conservation, preservation and restoration projects. Check out the Resources page and see if any of the resources can help answer some of your questions and provide a better understanding of some of the intricacies in the preservation field.
Check out our Featured Downloadable Resource below.
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It is important to make sure your restoration contractor not only has the skills and reputation for innovation in solving difficult design & restoration problems but they also have a commitment that will ensure the success for your projects. With our Contractor Checklist you will be able to evaluate and compare qualifications and certifications, understand key areas to consider when selecting a contractor, and obtain a clear understanding of the experience and skill that each contractor holds.
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The Association for Preservation Technology (APT) is the premier cross-disciplinary organization dedicated to promoting the best technology for conserving historic structure and their settings.
APT 2022 Conference
November 7–12th
Detroit, MI
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As a national nonprofit preservation organization, the National Trust for Historic Preservation works to save America's historic places and is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more or get involved.
PastForward 2022 Conference
November 1–4th
Virtual
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The American Institute for Conservation and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation work together to promote the preservation and protection of cultural heritage. Partner with us to further that mission.
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JOIN THE CONVERSATION
#PerfectingPreservation #jcanningcrew
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