HISTORIC STRUCTURE REPORTS HSR

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HISTORIC STRUCTURE REPORTS(HSR)

• Managing the Largest Artifact
• in Your Collection
• Jana Shafagoj
• Historic Preservation Consultant

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Buildings The Largest Artifacts in the
Collection?

• Conveys social history lifestyles more than any
  other single object within the collection.
• Unlike all other objects within the collection,
  the building is still in use.
• Continued Use Continued Maintenance
• Requires a thoughtful, documented approach to
  conservation that MUST be unique to the
  particular site.
• HSRs answer that need.

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What is a HSR?

• A HSR is a management tool that provides
  information regarding the historic and current
  condition of your building and guidelines on how
  to properly maintain and care for it.

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Three Main Components of HSRs

• History of the Property Focusing on the
  Construction and Alterations to the Buildings.
• Identification of Existing Conditions and
  Materials.
• 3. Recommendations for the Immediate and
  Long-Term Maintenance Conservation of the
  Building.

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Why is a HSR Useful?

• Provides information for the interpretation of
  the building.
• Identifies types and age of materials present in
  the building.
• Documents the history of the building and may
  reveal new information.
• Develops an approach to the conservation of the
  materials specific to your site.
• Determines best practices for the maintenance of
  your buildings.
• Produces accurate floor plans and elevations of
  your building.
• Documents existing conditions at the site prior
  to any large scale renovation.
• Will influence and guide restoration plans.

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When Should You Commission a HSR?

• To answer any outstanding questions related to
  the history of the site.
• To develop a comprehensive approach to the
  maintenance and preservation of the site.
• It is highly recommended prior to any large scale
  restoration project involving the removal
  (temporary or permanent) of architectural
  elements.

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HSR Consultants

• Architectural Historian
• Architectural Conservationist
• Engineers
• Archaeologist
• Paint Analyst
• Material Specialists
• Documentation Team

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Time Money

• One year or more to complete
• 65,000 - 100,000
• But there are other options..

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Identify Your Sites Needs

• How well do you understand
• the history of your site?

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Identify Your Sites Needs

• Are there any outstanding
• questions you need answered?

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Identify Your Sites Needs

• Is your period of significance
• well established and supported?

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Identify Your Sites Needs

• Do you understand how the buildings
• and site have been altered?

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Identify Your Sites Needs

• Do you know what elements are original
• and what has been altered?

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Identify Your Sites Needs

• Are there significant conservation
• problems that need to be diagnosed?

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Identify Your Sites Needs

• Do you know which materials should
• and should not be used in the
• repair and conservation of your building?

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Identify Your Sites Needs

• Do you have a record of all past repairs
  completed on the building?
• Do you know whether appropriate
• materials were used?

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Identify Your Sites Needs

• Do you want to restore your site
• to a particular period?

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HSR in Bite-Size Pieces

• Architectural Investigation Survey
• Identify visible alterations and original
  materials
• Develop a general time-line of building
  alterations.
• Identify current conservation problems and areas
  of potential problems
• Floor plans, photographs and a written report.

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HSR in Bite-Size Pieces

• Architectural Site History Report
• Builds on findings from architectural survey.
• Archival research to narrow dates of construction
  and alteration, historic room uses, significant
  people and events.
• If needed, can help define period of
  significance.

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HSR in Bite-Size Pieces

• Conservation Maintenance Guidelines
• Review of existing materials and conservation
  issues.
• Cyclical Maintenance Plan
• Recommendations for Resolving Active Conservation
  Issues.
• Policies Guidelines for all repair, maintenance
  and conservation.

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Keeping Costs Down

• Prior to Commissioning Architectural History
• Compile all known archival information regarding
  the buildings and site.
• Send volunteers or staff to local historical
  society to locate additional archival resources.
  
• Search state and national archives for additional
  sources of information.
• Keep a record of all sources checked.

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Keeping Costs Down

• Prior to Commissioning Conservation Maintenance
  Recommendations
• Compile all maintenance records use interns to
  create a searchable maintenance database.
• Note known conservation issues and possible
  causes. Photograph current issues.
• Require all contractors to submit scopes of work
  and material specifications for work completed on
  site.

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Keeping Costs Down

• DEFINE YOUR GOALS SCOPE OF WORK

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Recommendations

• Establish a relationship with an architectural
  historian conservationist.
• Develop Guidelines for all work completed on your
  site.
• Document, document, document.