Lisa Sasser, National Park Service Architect, kicked-off the Conference by answering the question: Historic Preservation? What does it have to do with my job? She introduced participants to the principles of historic preservation as they relate to National Historic Landmarks still in institutional use.

Lisa Kolakowsky Smith, Architectural Historian, National Park Service and  Julianne Polanco, Senior Preservation Specialist, Presidio Trust continued on the theme. Lisa helped attendees understand the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and guidance on levels of treatment as they relate to routine maintenance. She used concrete examples from National Historic Landmarks located primarily in the Northeast to make the written Standards 'real'. Julianne completed the the morning's presentation using the Presidio as a case study in applying the Standards. Participants were treated to rich and diverse examples of historic presentation applied to buildings adapted to a myriad of uses at the Presidio of San Francisco.

All three speakers were mindful of the realities of most institutions; they are all too often starved for cash and have a primary institutional mission that is not historic preservation. The speakers focused on the possible and practical applications of the Secretary's Standards.

Examples of institutions addressing historic preservation issues in National Historic Landmarks range from retail and office space in the Arcade, in Cleveland (top left) to this Ukranian Church in Pittsburgh (top right) to the train station in Gettysburg PA (bottom left) to the University of Washington campus in Seattle (bottom right).

The Secretary of Interiors Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, 1995 are available online through the National Park Service's Links to the Past website:

http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/secstan1.htm

For you convenience you can also download them in sections as .pdf files below: Please note, the files are large.

Contents and Credits (588KB)
Introduction (1076KB)
Preservation (958KB)
Rehabilitation (1238KB)
Restoration (1067KB)
Reconstruction (769KB)

For an introduction to the four treatment approaches, go to:

http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/standguide/overview/choose_treat.htm

For a discussion of the Standard for Rehabilitation, the most commonly applicable Standard for institutional use, go to:

http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/standguide/rehab/rehab_standards.htm and

http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/standguide/rehab/rehab_approach.htm

Lisa Kolakowsky's Powerpoint

Getting Ready to Work: Defining Character and
understanding the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (as online slide show)

Getting Ready to Work: Defining Character and
understanding the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (downloadable as as large powerpoint file)