Archival Layers and Public Interpretation for Heritage BIM: Two Atlanta Case Studies

Abstract

Advancements in technology make it possible to bring history to life in ways previously unimagined. Through rigorous and accurate historic interpretation that features diverse perspectives, including the narratives of historically marginalized populations, institutional research efforts have the incredible responsibility of drawing attention to the people, places, and stories of America, especially its darker and hidden histories, to cultivate new generations of well-informed citizens. As interpretive immersion technologies advance through digital archives, collections, and databases, so do options for layered, interactive models that can advance the potential of heritage BIM (building information modeling). Incorporating these innovative interpretative methodologies for documentation and public outreach, this project will explore two important, but rapidly deteriorating sites in Atlanta related to the ongoing struggle for civil rights: the English Avenue Elementary School (1911) and Paschal’s Motor Hotel and Restaurant (1957) (Figures 1-5). Both sites are abandoned and structurally compromised, and although an array of plans in the last decade have proposed restoration and adaptive reuse projects, the immediate future of both sites is uncertain. Therefore, this project will leverage an existing digital documentation and research initiatives to build interactive heritage BIM models of both sites to be hosted on a public-facing website. Using student research assistants and building upon content within a spring semester seminar, this project will pilot workflows for translating rich and complex point clouds into tools for recording and safely studying perilous historic structures, amalgamating archival content to enliven history, and actively using digital documentation for preservation planning and adaptive reuse efforts.

Personnel

Danielle Willkens Assoc. AIA, FRSA, LEED AP BD+C is a practicing designer, researcher, and FAA Certified Remote Pilot who is particularly interested in bringing architectural engagement to diverse audiences through interactive projects. Her experiences in practice 10 and research include design/build projects, public installations, and on-site investigations as well as extensive archival work in several countries. As an avid photographer and illustrator, her work has been recognized in the American Institute of Architects National Photography Competition and she has contributed graphics to several exhibitions and publications. She was the 2015 recipient of the Society of Architectural Historians' H. Allen Brooks Travelling Fellowship and her research into transatlantic design exchange has been supported by the Sir John Soane’s Museum Foundation, the International Center for Jefferson Studies, and an American Philosophical Society Franklin Research Grant. She is the co-PI on a Historic Structures Report for the Edmund Pettus Bridge, funded by a 2019 National Park Service African American Civil Rights Grant. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Atlanta Preservation Center, and a member of the Education Committee for the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art’s Southeast chapter.