Meeting the Baxter: Welcome to Preservation Leadership Training

Posted on: June 25th, 2008 by National Trust for Historic Preservation

 

PLT Participants looking at the back of the Baxter Building - Image by Alison HinchmanSunday was the first day of Preservation Leadership Training 2008 and this year we are in beautiful Portland, Maine where the weather is nice, the air smells great, and the fog rolls in whenever it pleases creating an eerie view from Top of the East, the restaurant at the top of our hotel. On Sunday morning thirty-four travel-worn participants made their way into the Longfellow Room to start an intensive one-week program that will make them laugh, and maybe, just maybe, tear their hair out. In the end though, all of them will walk way with a strong network of fellow preservationists and knowledge that will help them lead the preservation movement in their local communities and reach across state lines to work on those issues that require us to work together.

Preservation Leadership Training (PLT) is an intensive one-week experience tailored to respond to the needs of state and local preservation organizations and agencies. It emphasizes providing a participatory experience in leadership and organizational development techniques and the most up-to-date and effective information and training in current preservation practices, issues and action strategies. In addition to the classroom work these participants will work on a team project that has relevance and connection to the host community.

First a few stats—this year's group comes from 18 states and serves as executive directors, board members, volunteers and in one case a newbie to preservation having only been introduced to the field six months ago. After a rigorous application process they finally arrive ready to share and ready to jump right in and become official participants in what we call “Preservation Boot Camp.”

Rachael, a native of Portland, exclaimed that she “is so psyched about being here. It is so great to be with a group of people and it is nice to work on a project that is outside the norm and you are able to concentrate on developing your own skills while simultaneously hearing about other people's passions as well as about different resources across the country.”

... Read More →

Charles Stevens Dilbeck: The Tulsa Homes (exposed!)

Posted on: June 24th, 2008 by National Trust for Historic Preservation 1 Comment

 

Dilbeck designed homeDon’t miss this opportunity to discover the delightful works of Charles Stevens Dilbeck. Led by John Brooks Walton, a local architect, artist, and author, we traveled through a number of Tulsa’s residential neighborhoods. It seems as though Tulsa is peppered with the cozy, playful works of Dilbeck. By the end of the day I was pointing out homes I thought were “Dilbecks” in the hopes of being let into this fan club.

Dilbeck residential detailDilbeck moved to Tulsa as a child and some would say the he was a child prodigy of the architectural kind. By the age of 10 he was assisting his father by drafting plans for building projects. Incredibly by 11 Dilbeck had designed the Baptist Church and supervised its building. By the age of 15 Dilbeck was hired by a local lumber yard where he drew plans and made alterations to client’s projects and at 16 he was recruited by a competitor to head the architectural department. Already quite established (this is where I kind of started having a complex!)

Dilbeck decided to study architecture and attended Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Oklahoma State University). After 2 years he dropped out to start his own practice. Who can blame him? It seems as though he was already on a brilliant path. During the next three or fours years Dilbeck was busy designing homes for some of Tulsa’s wealthiest. The crash of ’29 impacted his business here in Tulsa, so Dilbeck moved on to Dallas where he spent the remainder of his career.

Dilbeck - one my favorites!John has great stories and anecdotes to share about Dilbeck and his works. Be sure to ask about the “tented house” and the "free" crinkle brick. I will let you in on a little secret – John lives in a Dilbeck and is graciously opening it up for this session. So be sure you sign up for this session. By the end I am sure that you will have picked a favorite one, or two, or maybe three… I have!

Preserving Modernism in a Green World

Posted on: June 24th, 2008 by Barbara Campagna

 

The National Building Museum is sponsoring a panel, Monday, June 30, 2008 at 6:30 pm on the intersection of Modern Heritage and Sustainability as part of its Modern Architecture series. They are offering the member rate ($12) for all National Trust staff and members. 

AIA Headquarters, Washington, DCLearn about when preservation and sustainability meet--or don't meet--in the preservation of buildings of the modern era. These structures tend to pose significant environmental challenges for those who are interested in preserving them for their significance, yet also want them to achieve better energy efficiency. Using the AIA’s 21st Century Workplace as a case study, panelists will consider whether new technologies and renovation strategies provide a plausible future for these often unloved buildings from the recent past.

Moderator:
Vernon Mays, Editor-at-Large, Architect magazine

Panelists:
Barbara A. Campagna, AIA, LEED® AP, Graham Gund Architect of the National Trust

Christopher Davis, LEED® AP, Assoc. AIA, LEED Certification Coordinator,
U.S. Green Building Council

James A. Gatsch, FAIA, Managing Director, 21st Century Workplace,
American Institute of Architects


Abram Goodrich, Associate Principal, STUDIOS Architecture

Bike Tulsa.

Posted on: June 23rd, 2008 by Lori Feinman

 

This picture does not do this house’s garden justice. Think pink. At least, think pink long enough to bike Tulsa. Tulsa has a public bike sharing program (and the bikes are pink) - just swipe your credit card and take a bike and you've got a full 24 hours to explore the city. Of course, you won't have to mess around with the credit card part of it when you bike with the Trust - the Parks department will bring us the bikes, but you'll see how it works at the starting point. Once there, the path follows the river, then veers off into town and into some wonderful residential neighborhoods. Amanda, your cruise director, tells stories and history of the different areas you'll encounter - Maple Ridge, Tracy Park, Riverside, Carson Park, Downtown. For the most part the trail is flat, there are one or two slight hills, but nothing difficult. All in all, a really nice overview of the city with some behind-the-scenes house gossip, AND you burn some calories to assuage any guilt from chicken fried steak or what have you.

bike pathClick here to see all my photos from the trip, and be sure to register and choose this session soon - there are only two opportunities to Bike Tulsa, and the bike tours always fill up early.

Sharing Places That Matter

Posted on: June 20th, 2008 by Sarah Heffern

 

Back in May, in celebration of Preservation Month, we launched a campaign called This Place Matters, and asked preservationists around the country to share photos and stories of the places that matter to them. We've gotten more than 200 to date, but are still accepting submissions, so if you happen to visit a great place this weekend, make sure to take a picture and post it on the This Place Matters site.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, however, is not the only organization talking about places that matter. In fact, we got the idea for our initiative from two groups in New York: City Lore and the Municipal Art Society. Earlier this month, they celebrated the 10th anniversary of their Place Matters program by honoring 10 places selected from a list of nearly 650 places nominated by New Yorkers as part of their census.

They've produced a great YouTube video of their honorees. I've visited New York City countless times, and I have to say each of them was new to me -- and each seems to be a special, local gem.