SAH webinar November 7: "Managing Change: Preservation and New Additions for Historic Government Buildings"
Join the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) for a virtual program on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 1 p.m. CST. This event is open to the public.
REGISTER: Webinar Registration - Zoom
The recent demolition of White House East Wing and Colonnade has sparked intense debate and discussion. The SAH Heritage Conservation Committee issued a public statement in October that expressed concern about the proposed ballroom addition, called for "a rigorous and deliberate design and review process," and urged the administration "to be transparent and carefully consider the scope, scale and extent of all demolition and new construction." A few days later, as the complete demolition of the East Wing and Colonnade unfolded, the statement and related comments were widely cited to communicate preservation concerns. The public, including our members, have questions about process, procedures, and oversight regarding changes to significant historic buildings such as the White House. We have gathered a panel of experts who have worked on such buildings and can help provide context for the recent events and reflect on broader future impacts. How do preservation processes work (or not) on projects like the White House, but also on countless other historic buildings across the nation?
Panelists:
· (Moderator) Priya Jain, AIA, Chair of the SAH Heritage Conservation Committee, Associate Professor, Texas A&M University
· Jean Carroon, FAIA, FAPT, LEED Fellow, Principal Emerita, Goody Clancy Architects
· David Fixler, FAIA, FAPT, Principal, David Fixler Architecture Planning Preservation, Lecturer, Harvard University
· Deborah Slaton, FAPT, Principal, Wiss Janney Elster
· Edward Lengel, Ph.D., Independent Historian and Author, Former Chief Historian, White House Historical Association
· Bryan Clark Green, Ph.D., Visiting Associate Professor of Practice, Virginia Tech. Former member of the National Capitol Planning Commission (NCPC).
Posted on October 31, 2025 by SAH News
------------------------------
Joan Pomaranc
AIA Chicago
Chicago IL
------------------------------