With this semester-in-review, we celebrate the collective accomplishments of the Historic Preservation Program during the Fall of 2020. The extraordinary quality of the work produced by students and faculty would be noteworthy on any given year, but this year it is all the more remarkable because of the adverse conditions under which the work was generated: a global pandemic that restricted our movements and kept us apart, an economy that strained everyone’s budgets, racial injustices that led to demonstrations around the world, and an unusually bitter election that tested the strength of our democracy. These external circumstances burdened everyone’s mental and physical capacities. Spread across time zones, many of you tuned in to class at odd hours and, for those of you in Asia, in the middle of the night, defying sleep patterns. And yet, individually and collectively, we overcame adversity.

I am awe of our students, faculty and staff for how you not only rose above these challenges to carry out the core work of teaching and learning, but also seized them as an opportunity to carry out much needed change, starting within our own program and school, and aiming at the larger discipline and world. The fact that instead of shrinking in the face of adversity, we collectively expanded our actions and took on additional responsibilities speaks volumes about the character and grit of our academic community.

After a summer of hard work, spurred by our students’ and Black colleagues’ calls to action, this Fall semester we started to see the fruit of our collective labor to take action against structural racism in our program with some dramatic changes in our course content. All required first year courses were revised to address anti-black racism, and we established cross-course workshops that examined how racial bias operates in academe and in professional practice. This broad effort found sharp focus in the studios. The first-year students researched the significance of buildings in Harlem, uncovering important sites that contribute to the neighborhood’s African-American heritage. Second year students in Studio 3, taught jointly with architecture, designed reconstructions of missing buildings associated with under-represented narratives, experimenting with how to materialize social justice at the estate of John Jay, a Founder of American Democracy, and a paradoxical figure who was both an abolitionist and slave owner.

We also introduced new courses and faculty: Brent Leggs, Director of the African American Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, taught the “Power and Preservation” masterclass. In this course, students envisioned how to achieve an anti-racist preservation profession, and began what will be a year-long dialogue with peers at U Penn on this subject.

In parallel and with the aim of providing long term support for these important anti-racist efforts, we held a number of open meetings with students, faculty, staff and alumni to identify and prioritize further anti-racist actions that our program can take. Now a newly created HP Anti-Racism Task Force will take the baton to implement these actions during the coming Spring semester. I want to once again thank everyone that participated in this ongoing effort.

PhD students Shuyi Yin and Anna Gasha contributed to the vibrancy of our academic community by taking the initiative to start a new and insightful podcast mini-series on controversial monuments, preservation and their role in contemporary social justice movements. Make sure to tune in here. Congratulations to both of them on this feat.

As an academic community, we came together virtually on numerous occasions, both formal and informal, to sustain each other in our intellectual pursuits. The Big and Little program, and the Alumni Mentorship programs offered students important resources. I want to acknowledge Meredith’s key role in initiating and running those programs, and indeed keeping many other essential aspects of the Program running smoothly. Thanks to Mika’s diligent work, the Preservation Technology Lab was able to remain open, and served as a much needed “in person” research space for students. Thank you Meredith and Mika!

The Preservation Lecture Series offered us opportunities to listen to and debate the urgent ideas leading preservationists from around the world such as Richard Southwick (NY), Sarah Healy-Dilkes (London), Pavla Melkova (Prague), and Melissa Brown (Providence), Debra Laefer (NY), Brent Leggs (DC), and Katie McLaughlin-Friddle (Oklahoma). Videos of the events are archived here.

This semester was an important inflection point in the history of our program. We have set our aims on achieving a more just curriculum, one that better prepares our students to address the social, environmental and technological challenges of our time. In light of the strides we have made in this short time, we can say with modesty that our program is leading the way by example, and I have high hopes that we will get there together.

My heartfelt thank you to each of you for all the amazing work this semester. We have given each other the gift of knowledge. It’s one that no crisis can take away. Let’s treasure it.

I hope all of you will have the chance to get some well deserved rest hopefully in the (live or remote) company of loved ones. I wish you very Happy Holidays and every success in the coming year!

In community,
Jorge

PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGY LAB

This semester, the hands-on learning remained but in a socially distanced manner. This fall students utilized the lab for their Studio III projects, for the APT-PETC 2020 Design Build Competition, and for materials electives. Through the amazing work of Lab Manager, Mika Tal and Lab Technician, Preme Chaiyatham (MSHP ‘22), students were able to continue using the lab under their excellent supervision and guidance. A big thanks to Mika and Preme for their frontline work!

NEW FACULTY

Brent Leggs, Executive Director of the National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and author of Preserving African American Historic Places taught a master class this fall called, “Power and Preservation”. On Saturday, November 14, Columbia University students enrolled in “Power and Preservation” presented their final paper topics and perspectives to University of Pennsylvania students studying historic preservation and public history. Brent also delivered a public lecture, titled, Out of Culture and Preservation, a Racial and Economic Justice Movement where he covered broad topics of: challenges facing African American cultural sites in the United States; how to expand awareness of such sites; and the role historic preservation plays in both supporting and combating widespread structural racism. Watch the lecture here.

M.S. PROGRAM

The M.S. program welcomed 14 first year students this semester. The cohort has diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to architecture, anthropology, geography, photography, and civil engineering.

Preme Chaiyatham
Jonathan Clemente
Christie Hotz
Jesse Kling
Chris Kumaradjaja
Steph LeBlanc
Isabella Libassi
Ziyu Liu
Lindsay Papke
Valerie Smith
Meghan Vonden Steinen
Ziming Wang
Jianing Wei
Luxi Yang

Jorge Otero-Pailos’ opened Watershed Moment on September 18, 2020 at the Lyndhurst Mansion in the swimming pool building. One of his largest works to date, Watershed Moment incorporates latex casts of the ruin, as well as a soundscape derived from recordings of New York waterways. The installation was reviewed in The Art Newspaper. Jorge gave a number of talks this semester including, one for The Glass House called “Glass House Presents: Watershed Moment”, one for the Columbia University School of the Arts called “Experimental Preservation”, and one for the Italian Academy’s Rising Venice series, called “Elemental Venice”. Additionally, the Spanish Arts and Culture recently interviewed Jorge for their digital project series called, Spanish Artists in New York. Watch it here.

Erica Avrami launched Building a Foundation for Action: Anti-Racist Historic Preservation Resources, an open-access, collaborative resource list for preservationists seeking to acknowledge the field’s structural racism and to take actions toward decentering Whiteness. Her article, “Creative Destruction and the Social [Re] Construction of Heritage,” was published in the International Journal of Cultural Property, and her chapter, “Sustainability, intergenerational equity, and pluralism: Can heritage conservation create alternative futures?” was included in the volume, Cultural Heritage and the Future, edited by Cornelius Holtorf and Anders Högberg. Erica spoke at the APT conference as part of the plenary panel, “Towards Inclusion in Heritage Conservation: Reconciling Attitudes, Policy, and Practice,” she gave a presentation at the Association of Critical Heritage Studies Conference, “Reconstruction, Spatial Reclamation, and Restorative Justice,” and she delivered a talk for the Inter-American Development Bank on “Urban Heritage Trade-offs: Negotiating Policy, Power, and Publics.”

Andrew Dolkart, while staying at home during our current crisis, has continued to give public lectures on Zoom, including several for the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project, a talk on early high-rise loft buildings for the Skyscraper Museum, and a lecture on the history of the Fifth Avenue mansion now home to the Neue Galerie. All are available for download on the sponsor organization’s websites.

Richard Pieper was featured in The New York Times’ Metropolitan Diary with a diary entry about “decluttering”. Read more about what passes for trash here.

Kate Reggev, launched a new historical column called, “In Ink” on Madame Architect. Read the column.

Mary Jablonski spoke at the APT Quebec Fenêtres traditionnelles en bois, peinture, finis et performances on September 24, 2020. Her talk was entitled, “Do You See What I See? Paint Color Research and What Can be Uncovered “.

Carol Clark, Director of DDC’s Public Art Program, led the program in receiving two awards for excellence in design from the City’s Public Design Commision (PDC) at the 38th annual awards program. The first for “Colorful Companions”
by Olalekan Jeyifous and the second for “Para Roberto” by Melissa Calderon.

Monty Freeman recently completed the restoration of the entry courts at 720-73 Fort Washington Avenue, a pair of 1939 cooperative apartment buildings designed by Jacob M. Felson, a prolific architect of apartment houses and movie theaters in Manhattan and along the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. Located at the entrance to Fort Tryon Park, the twin buildings are stand-out examples of the refined art deco architecture that characterizes their Hudson Heights neighborhood and for which Felson is renowned. Monty also had an article published titled, Post Castro in the Places Journal this month. In “Post-Castro,” Freeman examines contemporary Cuba, where “six decades after the revolution, Cubans envision a new society that blends the equities of socialism with the energies of capitalism.” Yet, the challenges are daunting — during the pandemic and beyond. Read it here.

Amanda Trienens co-authored an article for the Studies in Conservation journal titled, The Slurry Wall: Past, Present, and Future. Read it here.

Françoise Bollack published a new book, titled, Material Transfers: Metaphor, Craft and Place in Contemporary Architecture. You can purchase it here.

PRESRVATION ALUMNI

This fall, PA welcomed a new Board President, Julie Rosen. Julie is a 2012 graduate of Columbia’s Historic Preservation program and joined the PA board in 2014. During her time at Columbia, she received an Outstanding Thesis Award for her research on “Early Twentieth Century Face Brick as a National Industry.” Julie is currently an Associate at Higgins Quasebarth & Partners in New York City, where she consults on the design and appropriateness of a variety of rehabilitation, new design and preservation projects. Prior to this, Julie worked in facade restoration as a project manager. She has continued her research on face brick and has guest lectured on the topic at Columbia University. Julie has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Minor in Spanish Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

A big thanks for all of your help so far this semester Julie and also to Kate Reggev!

EVENTS

Speed Networking
In November, HP alumni and current students met virtually for the annual speed networking night. Alumni shared their career paths with the aim of providing students a clearer understanding of the diversity of careers in preservation. Industries covered included conservation, architecture, public sector, and consulting.

PA Show and Tell Happy Hour
In October, PA members and students participated in a virtual show and tell, where attendees shared collections of architectural artifacts and intriguing stories behind the objects.

Pushing Perspectives: Can We Make Preservation Relevant in Advancing Social Justice?
In an effort to address equity and diversity in our community and profession, PA launched a new lecture series: “Pushing Perspectives.“ This (currently) virtual series seeks to provide thoughtful conversations on the state of the preservation profession and explore methods that can be incorporated into our practice to address inclusivity and equity. The inaugural event titled, “Pushing Perspectives: Can We Make Preservation Relevant in Advancing Social Justice?” featured three former Fitch Thesis Grant Prize winners. They presented their theses, all of which address the lecture’s theme. Watch it here!

NEWS

James Churchill, MSHP ‘20, published a two part article in ASM International. Based on his award winning thesis titled, Decorative Monel: Historical Intent, Weathering and Analysis, part I of the article is about the history of the manufacturing and processes of Monel, and is accessible here. Historic Monel - Part 2: Testing and Analysis of Atmospheric Corrosion Products (November/December 2020 issue of Advanced Materials & Processes, Vol. 178 No. 8) goes into detail about the facts, findings and recommendations of James’ work carried out both at the Historic Preservation laboratory at Columbia and in the field. His thanks again to Mika Tal, Norman Weiss and Richard Pieper for all their assistance!” Read part II here.

Emily Junker, MSHP/UP ‘20 contributed to a report recently published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation called Preserving African American Places: Growing Preservation’s Path for Equity in collaboration with the Ford Foundation and The JPB Foundation.

Daniella Zamora and Aura Maria Jaramillo, MSHP ‘19 graduates and recipients of the 2019 Onera Prize, have released their final report for Cali Histórica. Cali Histórica is a user-friendly, location-based digital platform that centralizes archival photographic records of the city of Cali, Colombia, making this material readily accessible to the general public on the Web and through mobile applications that allows active engagement with archival material. The platform’s features, which include user-generated recreations and thematic stories, promote digital storytelling with the creation of content that highlights diverse narratives and extends the reach of cultural organizations to new audiences. This initiative was funded by Columbia University and the Onera Foundation, and was developed in partnership with the technology non-profit Urban Archive.

VISIT THE PLATFORM
READ THE REPORT

The Columbia GSAPP Historic Preservation Team, consisting of Bruno Elias, Anna Gasha, Katie Foster, Emily Kahn, Will McCallum, Tom Rice, Tucker Simmons, & Madison Story, made it to the finals of the APT-PETC 2020 Design Build Competition
 on the Timber Bridge! Despite challenges from the pandemic, they constructed and tested their bridge, based on the Beaverkill Covered Bridge in Sullivan County, NY.

Anna Gasha and Shuyi Yin, HP PhD students, curated an Historic Preservation Podcast, mini-series titled, Conversations on Monuments, Preservation, and Protest. The podcast focuses on the question of polemical monuments as recent focal points of protests following the murder of George Floyd and numerous other Black Americans in the United States. Listen to the episodes.

Rachel Ericksen and Tom Rice, MSHP ‘21, spent the summer working at the John Jay Estate in Rye, NY where they laser scanned and photographed the principal buildings to create 3D models. They also documented existing conditions and did some historical research on the property. Rachel Ericksen also came in 2nd place in the New York Preservation Archive Project Preservation History Database 2020 Competition. Read her entry on the architectural historian and preservation advocate Selma Rattner here.

Valerie Smith, MSHP ‘22, had photography featured in an exhibition called Beyond The Frame: Image In Action. The exhibition was located at Mémoire de l'Avenir in Paris and aimed to pose questions about the roles and the responsibilities of images within today’s global society and their power of action, going beyond the space of presentation and representation. In Counterpoints, Valerie created a dialogue between landscapes, natural forms and choreography. She questions the influence of our contemplation as much as that of nature on human creativity.

Emily Kahn, MSHP ‘21, won the 2020 Cleo & James Marston Fitch Prize for her paper “Questions of Authenticity: The Restoration & Museification of the Eldridge Street Synagogue.” Named in honor of the founder of the Historic Preservation Program at Columbia, James Marston Fitch (1909-2000), and his wife, Cleo Rickman Fitch (1911-1995), a noted archaeologist, this prize is awarded annually for *an exceptional paper or project completed during the first year of studies.

Ziming Wang, MSHP ‘22, was featured in a Columbia News series titled, Postcards. Ziming discusses how he has made the most of his situation living and learning as a GSAPP student in Shanghai, China during the global pandemic. Read it here.

Luxi Yang, MSHP ‘22, created a vlog recording life as a GSAPP student studying at the Columbia Global Center’s WeWork space in Shanghai. Watch the video.

STUDIO I
Instructors: Andrew Dolkart and Kate Reggev
Study Area: Central Harlem


Studio I engaged first-year students in questions of preservation and its role in Central Harlem. It encouraged students to think about existing preservation tools, work with a variety of methods for exploring the field, and develop diverse potential outcomes. The studio offered models for approaching preservation questions and for considering the diverse roles of the preservationist in contemporary practice. Prior to working in Central Harlem, students documented, researched, and drew historic mausoleums at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx or a historic building in their current location.

STUDIO III: Historic Preservation/Architecture
Instructors: Mark Rakatansky and Jorge Otero-Pailos
Studio Title: Radical Re-construction: Materializing Social Justice at the Estate of John Jay, a Founder of American Democracy


This joint architecture and historic preservation studio proposed the design of a new interpretative education center, and a series of reconstructions of missing buildings associated with under-represented narratives at the John Jay Heritage site, engaging the crucial need today to expose and materialize the space of political, psychological, and social exclusions and inclusions at the root of the foundations of American democracy. The architectural and preservation question of the studio is how to materialize the matter of these entangled lives in their complex historical and current interrelations — how to reconstruct what is hidden or under-represented. Reconstruction has been traditionally understood as rebuilding a building “as it was, where it was.” What this studio proposes is that all construction is a form of re-construction, a reworking of pre-existing forms of social and political constructs. Today so many of those political pre-existing constructs need re-construction, as much now as during the period of American history right after the Civil War that was called the Reconstruction Era, the failures of which to redress racial inequalities then we are still living with today.

CLASS TRIPS

Due to the pandemic this fall, field trips were difficult to execute but some courses still found a way to get out and experience NYC with their classmates.

Historic Preservation Studio I did a walking tour of Central Harlem, which was the study area this semester.

Conservation of Architectural Metals visited Bethesda Terrace in Central Park to discuss the extraordinary cast iron support system for the ceiling tile and Bow Bridge to discuss the design of its wrought iron support system.

Advanced Studio III: HP/M.Arch toured the 1838 Peter Augustus Jay Mansion, the 1907 Van Norden Carriage House, and the 1917 Palmer Indoor Tennis House at the Jay Heritage Center.

EVENTS

Holiday Gathering
Historic Preservation students, faculty, and staff gathered with festive Zoom backgrounds to celebrate the end of the semester. We played an intense game of holiday bingo, which somehow turned into a karaoke event.

PRESERVATION LECTURE SERIES

Columbia GSAPP Historic Preservation hosted seven virtual lectures through the Fall 2020 Preservation Lecture Series.

Debra Laefer, “Historic Preservation through Advanced Remote Sensing Capabilities”, September 17, 2020

Brent Leggs, “Out of Culture and Preservation, a Racial and Economic Justice Movement”, October 9, 2020

Marisa Brown, “Preservation’s Existential Crisis”, October 15, 2020

Pavla Melková, “How to Bring a Monument to Speech”, October 29, 2020

Katie McLaughlin Friddle, “preserveokc: Oklahoma City’s Historic Preservation Plan”, November 12, 2020

Richard Southwick, “Saarinen’s TWA Flight Center: An Adaptive Reuse Case Study”, November 29, 2020

Sarah Healey-Dilkes, “An engineered iteration of the Trajan’s Column”, December 3, 2020