Saving Our Future by Building on Our Past

Summary: Welcome to the “Preservation of Modern Buildings” edition of AIArchitect. This marks the second time that we have built an entire issue around one theme, and this one was selected—by a clear majority—via a readers’ poll. It’s small wonder that preservation of Modern buildings greatly concerns architects now, as building-by-building our stock of a certain age is staring down the fundamental question of “restore or replace.” And as that question arises, “What do you save?” soon follows. We are lucky to have an excerpt from the new book, Preservation of Modern Architecture, by Theodore H.M. Prudon, FAIA, (to be released this spring by John Wiley and Sons) as a guidepost to some answers. We have heard it said that Modern architecture is the concepts it embodies, not the physicality. Does that give us more freedom in how we define the character of our Modern buildings or is that, in the end, just a cop out?

As the 35-year-old AIA headquarters building—brilliantly designed by The Architects Collaborative as part of a campus that embraces the historic Octagon House—embarks on its own journey of restoration, the enormity has hit home for the Institute of society-wide issues that we now see are the constant companions to restoration. This edition reflects on many of these issues, as they in turn fittingly reflect the three strategic initiatives of the Institute today: sustainability, diversity, and integrated practice.

Sustainability and green concerns form part and parcel of the soul of historic preservation. As preservation architect James Kienle, FAIA, pointed out in his article “That Old Building May Be the Greenest on the Block” in the February 8 AIArchitect: “Architects must understand that new green buildings are but one of the factors along with historic and natural resource integration that provides the full answer to a sustainable built environment.” In this issue, Pfeiffer Architects explains their mission to renovate Washington State University’s Compton Union Building and preserve its character while achieving LEED® certification. Going back further in time, Henry Wright’s Ramirez Solar House, under the watchful eye of the National Park Service, shows us that sustainability and green-architecture roots extend back to back to the earliest days of the Modern Movement.

Diversity, a second AIA strategic initiative, is reflected in the selection of projects in this issue. They are large and small, residential and commercial, East Coast and West Coast, and some in-between. They represent the range of approaches to reviving Modern buildings, from strict preservation of form and materials for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian Houses to moving a Neutra building to a more amenable site. You can see that we have the works of Modern masters, including Louis Kahn, as well as that of Raymond Bales and Morris Schechter, architects we didn’t know (but probably should have). Theory-wise, we have articles from well-repected experts Prudon and David Fixler, FAIA, and from Seth Tinkham, who just completed his master’s thesis at the University of Heidelberg.

Despite the diversity, this issue comes nowhere close to being the be-all or end-all word on saving Modern buildings. It merely offers a snapshot in time.

Integrated practice, the third Institute strategic initiative, typically refers to a process that emphasizes early and ongoing contributions of knowledge and experience from all team members as well as use of building information modeling. It is a priority for the restoration of the AIA headquarters building and seems tailor-made for preservation projects. Robert Pfaffmann, AIA, invites brainstorming from everyone to reshape Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena. As a tool, we see building information modeling as the next frontier for restoration. If you are using it, let us know, and we’ll share your process with our readers in a future issue.

The spirit of integrated practice is alive and well in the saving of Modern buildings. Where would the state-of-the-art stand without the guiding hands and hearts of the:

• AIA Historic Resources Committee, the oldest committee within the Institute
• National Trust for Historic Preservation
• U.S. National Park Service
• International Working Party for the Documentation and Conservation of Buildings and Neighborhoods of the Modern Movement (DOCOMOMO).

These people work hard, care long, and contribute much. We dedicate this edition to them. Thanks to all who contributed to the issue; we received more great material than we could publish.

Let us know what you think.

—The Editors.