Wednesday, April 27, 2011

So What Is Architectural Conservation Anyway?

One of Several Top-Drawer Architectural Conservation Services of TCi:
Historic Materials Testing and Analysis, Diagnostics


The Collaborative maintains one of the few private laboratories in the United States for the evaluation of historic mortar and plaster constituents, and the match of paint layers to the Munsell System of color notation. The firm has completed laboratory analysis of historic materials for private agencies, federal and state s, and historical societies, since 1979. Through this evaluation of historic materials, the firm is able to provide critical data for the specification of replacement materials that are historically appropriate, and unlikely to exacerbate the deterioration of historic materials.



Historic Materials Laboratory: The Mortar Analysis Section


For example, using a different mortar mixture from the original often causes accelerated deterioration of original masonry units. In some cases, materials analysis is used for the purposes of historic documentation; paint color sequences can indicate the order of additions to the original structure and replacement elements, for example, a non-original window.

In cases where the condition of building systems are concealed, a borescope is used for remote visual inspection. This offers the unusual combination of speed, accuracy and low cost in evaluating the condition of otherwise hidden building structural systems and materials. The interior of the wall, floor, and ceiling cavities can be examined for damage and deterioration without removing the finish materials. This information can be recorded by photographic and/or video equipment.


A Borescope Examination of Exterior Limestone on the Kansas State Capitol

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

About TCi
The Collaborative inc. (tCi) has been working on select diverse projects by a wide range of clients, principally governments: federal, state, and local—such as the National Park Service (NPS) and the General Services Administration (GSA). The most typical projects have been in historic preservation, building condition assessments, treatments/interventions, and the development of changes relative to the Secretary of Interior's Standards and in compliance with Section 106 requirements. In addition, changes to the highly significant historic structures, visitor centers, and appropriateness issues of redesign are all relevant to our experience with historic structures from all periods, their preservation, and harmonious additions (stand-alone or add-on) for similar projects in more than 40 states and U.S. territories.

Our success has been to provide seamless support and top-drawer historic preservation work to the all of our clients on projects nationwide. We bring to the table professionalism, expertise, and highly customized service levels to help the client complete of a wide range of preservation needs.

Professional Disciplines:
  • Historic Architecture
  • Architectural Conservation
  • Materials Conservation
  • Architectural Historian
  • Historian
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Planning
  • Economist
  • Preservation Services:
  • Conditions Evaluations (BER, HSR, HSA, HPP, etc.)
  • Existing Buildings Documentation
  • Feasibility Analysis
  • Heritage Tourism Development & Planning
  • Historic Materials Analysis
  • Laboratory Analysis of Historic Materials
  • Preservation Tax Credits Coordination
  • Maintenance Plans
  • National & State Register Nominations
  • Grantsmanship
  • Preservation Architecture
  • Site Master Plans & Landscape Preservation

Representative Clients:
United States Federal Government
  • Bureau of Reclamation
  • Federal Highway Administration
  • General Services Administration
  • National Park Service
  • Department of the Treasury
  • USDA Forest Service
  • U.S. Housing & Urban Development
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
State Governments
  • Colorado State Historical Society
  • Kansas State Historical Society
  • New Mexico State Historical Society
  • Wyoming Department of Recreation
City & County
  • More Than 65 Local Governments
  • From California To Massachusetts
Non-Profit Organizations
  • Boulder Historical Society
  • Downtown Springfield, Inc. (MA)
  • Muriel MacGregor Trust
  • National Trust For Historic Preservation
  • Sheridan Heritage Center
  • South Platte Valley Historical Society
  • Historic Highlandlake Community Foundation
  • Private Individuals & U.S. Corporations
  • Many historic hotel owners in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, & Wyoming
  • Private museum owners in Colorado
  • Independent owners of Heritage Tourism Sites throughout the continental United States
Funding Sources
  • Federal Programs (21), State (7), & Private Foundations (6) Fundraising: Total Funds Raised To Date - $64,000,000
Project Scale:
  • $165,000,000-$10,000
  • From 500,000 square feet to 20 square feet
  • From 20 stories in height to root cellars
Geographic Regions:
  • More than 40 States & 2 U.S. Territories
  • From Alaska to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands