I am so pleased with the way our HRC events at AIA25 in Boston turned out. All three programs received such incredible support and positive feedback!
Our annual luncheon was held this year in the remarkable Guastavino Room at the Boston Public Library's McKim Building. With the title: "Landmarks and our Future: The Boston Public Library. Architecture, Vision, Advocacy," we were able to take an in-depth look at historic libraries and their important and critical place in contemporary society. Our speakers deserve all the praise, as David Leonard, President of the BPL, John Ochsendorf, MIT professor and Guastavino scholar, and Ann Beha, FAIA, noted Boston architect, presented their cases to a sellout crowd. You should have been there.
Of course, the BPL is this year's recipient of the "AIA Collaborative Achievement Award" for people-centered architecture and community engagement. A well-deserved honor to be sure.
Longtime friend of the HRC Peter Miller of Traditional Building magazine published a great review as well: https://www.traditionalbuilding.com/what-i-learned-at-the-aia-conference-june-2025
Friday's walking tour of the Fort Point Channel Landmark District (FPCLD) was also a sellout! Led by Preservation Planner Rachel Ericksen of the Boston Landmarks Commission, the FPCLD encompasses 55 acres across the Fort Point Channel from downtown Boston. Developed in the 1830s by the Boston Wharf Company and owned by the company until the early 2000s, the Fort Point Channel area is Boston's largest, most cohesive, and most significant collection of late 19th and early 20th century industrial loft buildings.
Fort Point Channel Landmark District | Boston.gov
Finally on Saturday, we hosted a half-day workshop: Boston's Resilient, Historic Buildings Design: Lessons Learned with Katherine Kottaridis, Director of Boston's Office of Historic Preservation, Jim Lindberg, Senior Policy Director at the National Trust, and five preservation planners at the Boston Landmarks Commission: Nick Armata, Gabriella Amore, Chelsea Blanchard, Rachel Ericksen, and Dorothy Clark. The workshop started with the presentation of the Design Guide and discussion of the Guide's larger implications and applicability to the resiliency of historic properties across the United States, followed by fascinating case studies in historic resiliency from the Boston area. Our program concluded with a lively workshop discussion of the case studies and other interactive topics on resiliency and historic structures.
resilient_historic_design_guide_updated.pdf
Thanks again to all our attendees for your presence and support.
Let's get ready for AIA26 in San Diego!
Oh, and don't forget that the HRC's Taliesin Colloquium will be returning to Frank Lloyd Wright's inspiring and intimate Taliesin West in 2026 with an exciting and timely program. Save the weekend of February 27 – 28, 2026 in your calendars and watch for more program information in the coming weeks.
Best wishes for a happy summer! Keep in touch.
R_B_
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Robert Burns, AIA
2025 Chair
Historic Resources Committee Advisory Group
Richmond, VA
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