Culinary Institute of America, Farquharson Hall |
The new year is a time for growth, a time for change, and a time to set yourself on the path to achieving your goals. Growth comes with knowledge, whether that be formal learning at a school, or life lessons learned day-to-day; and what better place to expand your horizons than at a historic college or university? John Canning & Co. has worked on the restoration of many historic educational institutions and continues to take on new projects at academic institutes across the nation.
When it comes to historic educational institutions, maintaining the impression of tradition and respect is of the utmost importance. Historic building upkeep and restoration at colleges and universities is necessary to ensure the preservation of their history. We are glad to be a part of the upkeep and restoration for academic institutions across the United States. The educational market sector is a large part of our project portfolio as specialty contractors, and includes conservation and restoration services ranging from stone restoration and mural conservation to decorative painting, gilding, wood restoration, and plaster restoration. Besides our trades services, consulting and pre-construction services are usually a part of these projects and can include historic building condition assessments, historic paint analysis and plaster condition surveys. We provide service and support for all stages of a project even when it is an emergency situation. When it comes to emergency relief and disaster assessments of historic finishes, murals/artwork and decorative elements, we are called upon by academic institutions and other industries because time is of the essence so conditions can be identified with a professional assessment, preventative measures to reduce further damage can be taken and a plan of action can be made for restoration and recovery.
Our crew is trained in all aspects of historic preservation, and has used this expertise on many academic institutions over the years. One such institution is the Culinary Institute of America, shown above, where we acted as a specialty general contractor, managing, designing, and overseeing the installation of custom carpeting, chandeliers, and an entirely new HVAC system. We also performed historic paint analysis and paint exposures, then restored the decorative elements throughout Farquharson Hall to adapt the space for secular events and student dining. We have also completed projects at other major academic institutions such as Yale University, the University of Virginia, Boston College, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Michigan.
These projects at such beautiful and historic academic institutions have helped shape our company into the industry leader that it is today. With the experience gained from working on such exquisitely crafted buildings at the nation’s most prestigious academic establishments, our team has opened many doors to new projects and continues to promote the restoration of these historically important colleges and universities. To learn more about what goes into the preservation of historic educational institutions, including the restoration services, visit the links below.
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Latest Articles & Announcements
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5 Before & After Decorative Painting Transformations at Educational Institutions |
John Canning & Co. excels at decorative painting restoration – and the stunning transformations from our projects speak for themselves. In our most recent blog, we continue the above discussion and take a look at five decorative painting projects at educational institutions and the incredible difference that a restoration project and skilled decorative painting can make. These before and after transformations at higher education institutions are a few of our favorites; each project has truly brought these historic places back to life.
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Common Historic Profiles of Wood Moldings |
The use of wood trims became an intrinsic part of American architecture during the 19th century. From colonial style buildings through modern-day construction, the design of a trim, known as a molding profile, has been in constant adaptation. Acting as both an ornament which gives dimension and design to a room and as a concealer for any transitory gaps in a building, a trim is able to elevate a project to the next level. This blog discusses the differences between trims and molds, and dives into the most common types of each.
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This year marks the 25th anniversary of the restoration of Grand Central Terminal in New York City. This project was a monumental one, both for our company and New York City as a whole. For the 20th anniversary in 2018, Architectural Digest wrote a wonderful article about the history of Grand Central, and John Canning’s team is featured with an image of our team member cleaning the dirt and grime off of the sky mural on the ceiling of the terminal. Our team is very grateful to have been a part of such a landmark project and continues to celebrate the restoration and revival of the terminal as a place for travelers and locals alike to take in the beauty of the historic architecture and decorative design. To read more about our project at Grand Central Terminal, including five myths we debunked while restoring the sky mural, check out our website, linked here.
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This month we are celebrating famed architect Whitney Warren’s birthday. Whitney Warren was born on January 29th, 1864, in New York City and founded the architecture firm Warren and Wetmore with Charles Delevan Wetmore. Together, their firm was responsible for the design of large hotel buildings across the United States. Among their most notable work is the design of the Old Steinway Building, shown here, and, in association with the architecture firm Reed and Stem, the construction of the Grand Central Terminal. John Canning & Co. has performed restoration work at both properties, having restored the architectural paint finishes throughout the Old Steinway Building and as mentioned above, the conservation and restoration of the renowned sky mural on the ceiling of Grand Central Terminal.
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Main Street America is holding their annual Main Street Now Conference from March 27th-29th 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The event will include educational workshops, field events, and networking opportunities. Main Street America is a program of the National Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Main Street America’s mission is to revitalize historic main streets and commercial districts across the country with the goal of creating vibrant and thriving communities. To learn more about the conference, including how to register, visit the conference website, linked here.
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The Association for Preservation Technology Northeast Chapter (APTNE) is hosting its 2023 annual meeting and symposium on March 3rd in Salem, Massachusetts. This year’s conference focuses on fired materials including brick, clay, terra cotta, art tile, and more, and how these materials have changed and shaped the cities and towns that we know today. The symposium will include tours, networking events, and presentations from industry professionals. This event is open to both members and non-members, and will include a virtual option for those who cannot attend in person. John Canning & Co. is proud to continue to be a sponsor for APTNE as well as APTI. To learn more about the event, including how to register, visit the APTNE website, linked here.
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The Historic Resources Committee, an AIA Knowledge Community, is hosting a conference this February at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Taliesin Colloquium 2023: The Evolution of Preservation Standards and Guidelines will take place on February 3rd & 4th and will cover the global issues that preservationists face today, as well as the Standards and Guidelines that are the backbone of the preservation practice. The Historic Resources Committee (HRC) was created with the mission of promoting the preservation of architectural heritage, both nationally and internationally, through the development of knowledge and information about the preservation field. John Canning & Co. is a sponsor of the HRC, and has been a supporter of the committee’s mission for many years. If you would like to learn more about the conference, including how to register, visit the event website linked here.
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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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Colleges and Universities run deep in the roots of American History – as discussed above, these cathedrals of learning are the legacy of a country committed to education and the preservation of the historic fabric of these campus buildings. When it comes to historic educational institutions, the first impression of tradition and respect when someone walks into one of these buildings is of the utmost importance. Historic building upkeep and restoration at Colleges and Universities is necessary to ensure the preservation of their history. To learn more about some of our restoration projects at academic institutions, check out our Higher Education Restoration Guide.
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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. |
| | 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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