Preservation and Sustainability

Preservation and sustainability. What does one have to do with the other? If we examine these terms more closely, we can see that older buildings are inherently “green” or sustainable because of “embodied energy” (all of the energy used to build the building that would need to be expended to build something else). In fact, …

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Practical Preservation Podcast Featuring Craig Meyer of UNICO

Craig Meyer, of the UNICO System, joined the Practical Preservation podcast to discuss information about the company’s history and current business in HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). We covered a multitude of topics including: His background in marketing, business development, and engineering UNICO’s inception as a family-owned contracting business and American success-story with more …

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Historical Interiors: The inside counts, too

How often have we heard the phrase “It’s what’s on the inside that counts?” When it comes to historical homes and buildings, I’m sure those of us who are preservation-inclined would say it’s what’s on the outside and the inside that counts. And we’ve discussed the outside before: last week we shared our piece on …

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Practical Preservation Podcast Featuring Dan Godfrey of RLPS Architects

Dan Godfrey, of RLPS Architects, joined the Practical Preservation podcast to discuss information about the firm and the recent adaptive reuse project at the Wilbur Chocolate Factory in Lititz, PA. We covered a multitude of topics including: His background in architecture The wide geographical and type of project scope of RLPS How the adaptive reuse …

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Historical Facades: More Than Aesthetics

A façade. What is it? Most of us know that its most basic definition is “face.” In the case of architecture, this refers to the exterior side of the building, usually the front. Façades on buildings are often the first defining features we see. As times change, so do architectural design styles, and this is …

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Practical Preservation Podcast featuring Robert Chickey of Bespoke-Finish

Robert Chickey of Bespoke-Finish, his wood-finishing company, joined the Practical Preservation podcast to discuss information about his consulting business and his specialization in creating accurate, long-lasting wood-finishing work for restoration and preservation projects. We covered a multitude of topics including: His background in the construction industry and how dissatisfaction with modern techniques and finishes underscored …

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Labor Shortages and How They Affect Your Project

Choosing a contractor with the right mix of skills and experience to work on your historical building can be a daunting experience.  Especially considering the potential for permanent damage to the historical fabric of your building, you need to select a contractor who: is well-versed in historical products and materials; can identify and replicate the …

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Practical Preservation Podcast featuring Greg Huber of Eastern Barn Consultants

THIS IS A RE-POST OF A PODCAST INTERVIEW WE ORIGINALLY POSTED March 2019: Greg Huber from Eastern Barn Consultants and Past Perspectives joined the Practical Preservation podcast to discuss: How barn styles varied from region to region  What makes barn construction unique The type of barn Danielle had never heard of We also discussed the …

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Maintenance is Preservation

Well, it’s that time of year again. The weather is warming up a bit as we move into the Spring Season. In the 19th century, before vacuums came into common use, early spring was a time to open windows and sweep homes from “top to bottom” to herald the coming of warmer weather. Your spring …

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Practical Preservation Podcast featuring Jobie Hill of Saving Slave Houses

Jobie Hill, the founder of The Saving Slave Houses Project, joined the Practical Preservation podcast to discuss information about her project’s origins and ongoing projects, as well as future growth. We covered a multitude of topics including: Her background in multiple fields related to preservation and what triggered her interest in saving slave houses How …

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