Sharing Ideas

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a long-time preservationist with a passion for sharing my experience with younger people. Some of those young people already know they want to be involved in the preservation movement. Others are just curious. I’ve found that reading anything and everything that you can get your hands on, will broaden your perspective and enhance your understanding and appreciation for the preservation movement.

For more than 10 years, we have hosted architectural student interns at our firm, exposing them to the challenges facing preservation architects. They engage in the research and often offer worthwhile suggestions. Together we celebrate our successes.

During exit interviews with those interns, we asked for suggestions to improve the experience for future architectural student interns. A couple of years ago, one intern complimented the vast library but went on to say; “we interns don’t know what is in the library”. Since that moment of awakening, I have wanted to give book reports on books that interns and students may not have the knowledge of. Student interns can then go to the library themselves and pursue the catalogue.

Reflecting on this interaction, I think it’s time for me to use my platform to share book reports with all of you. Please feel free to critique my reports. That type of interaction will increase knowledge for both of us as well as other readers.

Each week, I will be posting a brief review of some publication that may be of interest to you. Books that I feel are important to read are labeled as “essential reading,” while others are noted as “references” for a particular material or construction technique.

I also want to take a moment and thank all of you who have chosen to purchase my merchandise over the year. The profits help support the APT Equity Scholarships.