The month of April came from the Latin word Aprillis to mean to open. Some think it's really means opening up the clouds bringing rain showers. The rain showers might make some dream of the colorful spring flowers that the rain typically brings but often rain especially if heavy, can also bring headaches with leaks and flooding causing water damage to buildings. Water damage especially in historic buildings can cause issues, damage and ruin finishes such as plaster and decorative paint. This in turn may call for a conditions assessment and surveys and analysis of the plaster and paint to determine the extent of the restoration or repair necessary. The links below, you can learn more about plaster conditions surveys as well as how condition assessments can help you understand and document the current conditions of your historic building in order to anticipate and plan for conservation, restoration, and preservation needs.
Latest Articles & Announcements
Culinary Institute of America Restoration
We combined preservation research, restoration, and conservation to adapt the space for secular events and student dining in the Culinary Institute of America's Farquharson Hall. For a closer look into this restoration and conversion project, check out this blog.
Steps to Repair Exterior Gilding
When performing or repairing exterior gilding, there are an integrate number of complexities to the process & none can be overlooked. In this blog we take a closer look at the steps involved in exterior gilding process.
One of the projects getting recognized at the 2022 Connecticut Preservation Awards this year is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Campus in Hartford, CT. We are happy to be a part of the team for this restoration & renovation project that included JCJ Architecture and Downes Construction Company. Our work included window restoration in several spaces within the campus.
Besides this Merit Award, the project also received the Connecticut Building Congress (CBC) Merit Award.
MLK auditorium photo © Robert Benson Photography.
Preservation CT Awards ceremony is taking place May 4th at the New Haven Country Club.
As AIA Continuing Education Providers we understand the importance in sharing our expertise and knowledge in our field such as: decorative finishes, plaster, traditional materials and methods, historic paint investigations and plaster surveys. We not only offer these courses to Architectural firms but to contractors, engineers and groups that are interested in learning more about some of the knowledge we have to share.
Recently we had the privilege of being invited to participate in presenting some of our AIA CE courses at the AIA West Virginia Design Expo as well as for one of New York's Office of General Services monthly meetings.
To view our current course offerings or schedule a session go here.
This month we celebrate the birthday of the 3rd president of the USA, Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was also an architect and we have had the honor of performing the restoration and conservation of Virginia State Capitol, a Palladian style statehouse he designed. Work included restoration of the historic decorative painting and gilding in the Chamber of the House of Delegates, Senate Chamber and the Rotunda. We also performed work at the University of Virginia and Academical Village which were also designed by Thomas Jefferson. A variety of work including woodgraining, plaster, and painting was performed in various spaces that included the Pavilion, the Rotunda and Garrett Hall.
Architect, John Russell Pope who designed the US National Archives building, also celebrates a April birthday. For the National Archives, we worked on designing and implementing a new mural for a shallow dome in the new visitor orientation plaza of this classical revival style building. This project included decorative painting including the technique of illusionistic painting also known as trompe l'oeil.
The DC Preservation League has there 50th Anniversary Celebration coming up next month. They have a mission of preserving, protecting and enhancing the historic and built environment of Washington, DC through advocacy and education. If you are interested in celebrating with them on May 20th you can find more information here.
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!
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.
This Contractor's Checklist resource breaks down considerations, questions, and what to look for when evaluating and considering restoration contractors.
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
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.
The League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT) is a non-profit organization with the main purpose of sustaining historic theatres across North America for the benefit of their communities and future generations.
LHAT National Conference
July 10-13th
Cleveland, OH
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