Blogs

Traditional Building Raphael Awards

By Alison Karfeld posted 25 days ago
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In August 2025, Traditional Building held its third annual Raphael Awards. Named in honor of Raffaello Sanzio da Urbina (1483-1520), a leading painter of the Italian Renaissance who was a renowned draftsman as well, the Raphael Awards are an architectural drawing competition. The Raphael Awards seek to encourage the study of classical and neoclassical architecture through the practice of drawing and painting by hand. The inaugural Raphael Awards took place in 2023. This year’s entries were judged by designer Christie Franck, architect Steve Rugo of Rugo Raff, and Traditional Building art director Mary Connolly. Nine entries were chosen as winners—see illustrations ...
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Peterson Prize Winners Announced

By Alison Karfeld posted 25 days ago
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The AIA Historic Resources Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Charles E. Peterson Prize Competition. A student competition of measured drawings, the Charles E. Peterson Prize is presented jointly by the Heritage Documentation Programs (Historic American Buildings Survey / Historic American Engineering Record / Historic American Landscapes Survey), a division of the National Park Service, by the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, by the American Institute of Architects, and by the Association for Preservation Technology. The annual competition, currently in its 42nd year, honors Charles E. Peterson, FAIA (1906-2004), a founder of the HABS program, ...
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October 2025 AIA Corporate Partners HRC Newsletter Article: Marvin

By Ellie Falcon posted 09-10-2025
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Helping a campus landmark rediscover its purpose Learn how a redesign helped Lehigh University’s most famous building find its way again. Exterior of Lehigh University’s Packer Hall, Bethlehem, PA. Set high on the north slope of South Mountain overlooking downtown Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Lehigh University’s Packer Hall strikes an imposing form. Made up of a heavy stone mass and a stately bell tower, the building is part Victorian gothic, a little French Second Empire, a dash Moorish, and as it stands now — at more than 150 years old — iconically Lehigh. As the first building constructed on campus, completed in 1868, the building ...
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AIA25: Don't Miss Out on Historic Resources Committee events and More at Boston's Architecture conference

By Luz Angela Toro Acuna, Intl. Assoc. AIA posted 02-28-2025
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Save hundreds with early bird—now through April 9! Calling all AIA25 attendees! Boston. is gearing up for a landmark event in architecture and design, and you won't want to miss it. This year's AIA Conference on Architecture & Design (AIA25) is bringing together the brightest minds in AEC for four power-packed days (June 4-7) Be sure to mark your calendar for the official HRC event, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. AIA25 boasts a lineup of incredible sessions designed to inspire, educate, and connect you with the future of design. HRC events Landmarks and Our Future: Lunch at The Boston Public Library with Historic Resources Committee ...
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U.S. Climate Heritage Policy Conference

By Alison Karfeld posted 12-06-2024
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On October 4, 2024, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) held an in-person and virtual one-day conference, U.S. Climate Heritage in the International Context. Co-convened by ACHP Chair Sara C. Bronin and Georgetown Law Professor J. Peter Byrne, the event was co-sponsored by the American Institute of Architects, the Georgetown University Law Center, Georgetown Climate Center, Cornell Law School, and Cornell Center for Social Sciences, and featured leaders who addressed domestic and international climate heritage. In light of the first multi-agency (ACHP) U.S. federal policy statements on Climate Change and Historic Preservation and ...
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National Park Service News: New NPS Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, Resilience & Historic Buildings Webpage

By Alison Karfeld posted 12-06-2024
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Historic properties can be made more sustainable, energy-efficient, and resilient, improving their performance and use while also preserving their historic character. Doing so not only improves their efficiency and livability but helps to ensure their long-term preservation. The NPS has been providing guidance and technical preservation information on these issues for decades. Visit their new Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, Resilience & Historic Buildings Webpage for links to current NPS guidance and information and for easy access to further explore these topics. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/sustainability-energy-efficiency-resilience ...
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National Park Service News: Technical Preservation Services 2025 Work Plan Available

By Alison Karfeld posted 12-06-2024
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Beginning in the upcoming fiscal year, (FY 2025: October 2024 through September 2025), NPS Technical Preservation Services will publish its annual guidance, training, and outreach work plan and offer the opportunity for the public to submit comments and suggestions for current and future plans. The FY 2025 work has been published on the NPS website Technical Preservation Services Annual Work Plan - Technical Preservation Services (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) The plan includes both in-progress/continuing—as well as new—guidance, training, and other technical preservation information that TPS intends to undertake in 2025. Comments and suggestions ...
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Peterson Prize Winners Announced

By Alison Karfeld posted 12-06-2024
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The Heritage Documentation Programs (Historic American Buildings Survey / Historic American Engineering Record / Historic American Landscapes Survey), a division of the National Park Service, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Charles E. Peterson Prize Competition. A student competition of measured drawings, the Charles E. Peterson Prize is presented jointly by HDP, by the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, by the American Institute of Architects, and by the Association for Preservation Technology. The annual competition, currently in its 41st year, honors Charles E. Peterson, FAIA (1906-2004), a founder of the HABS program, and is intended to heighten ...
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Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton Storm Disaster Response Updates

By Alison Karfeld posted 12-06-2024
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The U.S. Southeast is reeling from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton damage and loss. These storms have hit close to home and we stand with our preservation partners in this region. The AIA is actively working with state and local chapters to support impacted communities. For more information on the AIA resources, please visit https://www.aia.org/resource-center/aia-disaster-assistance-program-updates In addition, the Association for Preservation Technology International (APTI) is active in these efforts. The Disaster Response Initiative Task Group (DRI), formed in 2017 is a group spearheaded by the Preservation Engineering Technical Committee ...
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AIA Historic Resources Committee Luncheon Stewardship in the Monumental Core of Washington, D.C.

By Alison Karfeld posted 04-23-2024
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The AIA Historic Resources Committee is pleased to once again host our annual Knowledge Community Luncheon. Join us to network with your fellow preservation architects, get an update on what HRC is doing in 2024 and take away lessons for your practice while enjoying food and stimulating conversation! This year, our topic for discussion will be Stewardship in the Monumental Core of Washington, D.C. The monumental core of Washington, D.C. is a rich tapestry and cultural landscape of iconic museums, memorials, and public spaces that belong to and are enjoyed by visitors and residents year-round. What does it take for the owners of these precious public resources ...
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Review of 2024 TALIESIN WEST COLLOQUIUM: Adaptation in Preservation: Concepts, Contrasts and Collaboration

By Alison Karfeld posted 04-23-2024
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An intimate group of 37 Architects, State Preservation Officers, and other preservation industry professionals met April 5-6 at Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece Taliesin West to take a deep dive into the topic of how historic buildings and properties might adapt to the dynamic and critically important issues of climate, equity, and resiliency. Day one We began at the macro level of strategies that organizations are using, and continued into the micro level of informative and inspirational case studies illustrating a range of projects that have successfully integrated such adaptations. Focused panel discussions and plenty of networking time with peers ...
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AIA24: Don't Miss Out on Historic Resources Committee events and More at Washington D.C.'s Architecture conference

By Luz Angela Toro Acuna, Intl. Assoc. AIA posted 04-09-2024
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Calling all AIA24 attendees! Washington D.C. is gearing up for a landmark event in architecture and design, and you won't want to miss it. This year's AIA Conference on Architecture & Design (AIA24) is bringing together the brightest minds in AEC for four power-packed days (June 5-8) Be sure to mark your calendar for the official HRC event, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. AIA24 boasts a lineup of incredible sessions designed to inspire, educate, and connect you with the future of design. This is your chance to dive deep into the latest trends, network with industry leaders, and discover innovative solutions to today's most pressing challenges. ...
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Traditional Building Conference Series

By Alison Karfeld posted 03-05-2024
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The Traditional Building Conference Series delivers focused, relevant education and training for architects, contractors, craftspeople, designers, building owners and facilities managers in a time efficient format for AIA Continuing Education Credits. Featuring industry experts and practitioners, the Traditional Building Conference Series faculty present a mix of hands-on construction techniques, methods and materials, classical design, urban planning, and sustainable building practice for updating and preserving traditional and historic buildings of all types. The next conference will take place March 26-27, 2024 at the historic University ...
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AIA International Spring Conference 2024 Decarbonizing Construction: From Material Production to Preservative Adaptive Reuse

By Alison Karfeld posted 03-05-2024
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The construction industry is a significant emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs), from the production of materials to the heating, cooling and maintenance of existing buildings and infrastructure. To achieve emission reduction targets by 2050, new low carbon technologies and tools are needed to support further advancements in the construction sector. New solutions will support these requirements, including lifecycle performance of buildings and infrastructure, digitalization, construction practices and materials. From a regulatory perspective, there are multiple paths to achieve net zero. This provides an opportunity to advocate for careful system upgrades ...
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AIA HRC Preservation Standards Task Force

By Alison Karfeld posted 03-05-2024
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Building upon the tremendous success of the 2023 Taliesin Colloquium, the HRC Task Force has been meeting quarterly to continue our conversations about the SOI Standards, challenging topics regarding context, interpretation and how we might each adapt to a changing world view. The latest virtual meeting was held February 7, 2024, which focused on training and education. Among the training opportunities currently offered are programs in place through the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC) www.napcommissions.org/camp . And the North Carolina Department of Cultural and Natural Resources SHPO CLG Training - YouTube .
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Join your peers at the AIA24 Historic Resources Committee Luncheon “Stewardship in the Monumental Core of Washington, DC"

By Alison Karfeld posted 03-05-2024
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AIA24 HRC Luncheon EV215 | June 6 | 1 2 –   2 pm | The Marriott Marquis Washington, DC | Cost: $115 The monumental core of Washington, DC is a rich tapestry and cultural landscape of iconic museums, memorials, and public spaces that belong to and are enjoyed by visitors and local residents year round . What does it take for the owners of these precious public resources to be stewards of these significant places ? Join the AIA Historic Resources Committee (HRC) for a lively conversation about stewardship in the monumental core of Washington, DC with some of the leading professional charged with their ...
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March 2024 Letter from the Chair

By Alison Karfeld posted 03-04-2024
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By Lorraine Minatoishi, AIA Dear HRC members, Welcome to Spring 2024! Our committee has been working diligently to ensure that we provide engaging seminars and luncheons, legislative direction, and task force member engagement. Our goals set for 2023 were the following: Provide value and tangible benefits to our membership through shared knowledge and advocacy Promote networks and partnerships with preservation groups as well as other KCs to support climate action, justice, and equity Actively engage/advise with AIA overall on preservation related items Provide various educational opportunities ...
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AIA Federal Relations and Advocacy Report

By Alison Karfeld posted 10-18-2023
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A top policy priority for the preservation community is reauthorizing the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). In recent AIA HRC monthly meetings and Specs on the Union updates (next and final of 2023 will occur Nov. 1), AIA Federal Relations staff have informed the knowledge community of the need to reauthorize the HPF before its September 30 expiration. AIA supports legislation, which remains without a Senate companion, that will increase the authorized amount of funding for the HPF and extend its authorization for ten years – fundamental updates for this well-established and successful program. The AIA Federal Relations team is continuing to work diligently with ...
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Peterson Prize Winners

By Alison Karfeld posted 10-17-2023
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HDP Announces Peterson Prize Winners The Heritage Documentation Programs (Historic American Buildings Survey / Historic American Engineering Record / Historic American Landscapes Survey), a division of the National Park Service, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Charles E. Peterson Prize Competition. A student competition of measured drawings, the Charles E. Peterson Prize is presented jointly by HDP, the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, the American Institute of Architects, and the Association for Preservation Technology. The annual competition, currently in its 40th year, honors Charles E. Peterson, FAIA (1906-2004), a founder of ...
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PastForward 2023 Conference

By Alison Karfeld posted 10-17-2023
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PastForward 2023 will take place November 8-10, 2023, in Washington, DC. Come celebrate the power of place and join fellow preservationists and preservation lovers at the nation’s premier conference for those who work to save, sustain, and interpret historic places. At PastForward 2023, attendees will be empowered with effective tools and inspiring perspectives. PastForward itself is a community, a powerful network of preservationists and allies that we strengthen when we gather, celebrate, and learn together. Connecting with a broad, diverse range of colleagues from across the country, PastForward 2023 attendees will come together in our nation’s ...
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