These differences can cause some confusion in understanding the sometimes subtle differences in the terminology used to describe the actual work or service provided.

The following summaries of the types of services we can provide and some of the related projects on which we have worked will help explain the differences in services and terminology.

We have also included a comparison of the technical definitions for some of these services.

Selected Projects & Clients

Restorations and Rehabilitations

Museum Restoration...

• Start with a building or property with an extraordinary historical significance, whether due to association or architecture. Add a National Register of Historic Places listing for the individual building or property. Any planned work on that building could be considered a "museum restoration" if the intent is to retain or improve the accuracy and integrity of the historic fabric of the building relative to its period of significance.

Our services could have included planning documents (like Preservation
Plans or Historic Structures Reports), measured drawings, and/or construction documentation.

Examples: Lucy the Margate Elephant; Champion School; Harrison Township Old Town Hall; Batsto Village Mule Barn and Carriage House; Peter Mott House

Restoration...

• Very similar in most regards to a museum restoration, but the project's primary goal is not to interpret the building's history to the public.

Examples: Trinity Episcopal "Old Swedes" Church; Wanamaker Hall; Thomas & Mary Evens House

Rehabilitation, & Tax Act Certification...

• Many restoration projects have additional value in their adaptive use.

Projects that qualify for tax incentive programs typically require more
detailed planning for the financial improvements and intensive administration of the work as it is performed. All work must be in strict compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.

Examples: Thomas Hollinshead House; 105 Fitzwater Street, Philadelphia; Freight Station, Haddon Heights; Charles Stokes House

Exterior Restoration...

• Obviously, these projects focused on the exterior, whether due to phased work, budget limitations, or a loss of interior integrity. It is preferable when dealing with a long-term restoration project, to start with the exterior since that will stabilize and protect the building's envelope, and allow for easier interior restoration work at a later date.

Examples: Collins-Jones House; Evans-Cooper House; Thomas & Mary Evens House; Gabreil Daveis Tavern; Hunter-Lawrence-Jessup House; Locktown Stone Church

Preservation Plans...

• When a building is in need of work to repair, stabilize, reconstruct or alter for a new use, one of the easiest steps is a planning document which targets preserving the integrity of the remaining historic fabric and establishing priorities for the work. The Preservation Plan often follows a standardized format or organization for content. The reason is that the work is sometimes the first step in a larger scope of work for the building, and the document might be used to acquire public funding for that future work. By tailoring the planning report to focus on the unique situation, yet following standardized formats, this document will easily become the basis for more in-depth reports.

Examples: Batsto Village Mule Barn and Carriage House; Campbell Soup Workers Memorial Water Tank "Soup Can"; Champion School; Charles Stokes House; Collings-Knight House; Evans-Cooper House; Gabreil Daveis Tavern; Harrison Township Old Town Hall; Collins-Jones House; Lucy the Elephant; Peter Mott House; Mount Holly Friends Meeting House; Solomon Wesley Church; Spring Garden Schools Complex; Wanamaker Hall; Telegraph Building; Thomas & Mary Evens House; St. Stephen's Episcopal Church; Cope Building

Historic Structure Reports...

• The most extensive of planning documents, an HSR provides a very in-depth analysis of the building. These reports typically include more historical research and interpretation, room-by-room descriptions, evaluations for adaptive use and construction cost considerations than a Preservation Plan. These documents are often prepared when dealing with more significant buildings where more detailed planning and analysis is required and more extensive alterations or repairs are planned. They are also required when a building's complex evolution over time is studied prior to being restored to a specific period of interpretation.

Examples: Hunter-Lawrence-Jessup House; Liepe Farm Schoolhouse; Trinity Episcopal "Old Swedes" Church; Littel-Lord House

Feasibility Studies...

• While sometimes a component of Preservation Plans and HSRs, the Feasibility Study can also be a separate report which focuses on the rationale of an intended improvement to a historic building. These often investigate potential alternative uses for a building. Physical, zoning, building code, financial and practical constraints are considered, and recommendations are provided based on one or more scenarios.

Examples: Collins-Jones House; Peter Mott House; Thomas & Mary Evens House; Zane School

National Register Nominations...

At some point, a property with suspected historical significance may be evaluated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. There are several steps in the process of this nomination, as established by the National Park Service. This recognition of a building's historic significance allows certain benefits to the property owner; but, more than anything, it provides a level of protection for the property.

Examples: Birmingham School; Bishop-Irick Farmstead; Champion School; Collings-Knight House; Stokes-Lee House; Joseph Thackara House; Amos Evans House; Evans-Cooper House; Cropwell Friends Meeting House; Inskeep-Higginbotham House; Stokes-Evans House; Thomas Hollinshead House; Thomas & Mary Evens House; William & Susan Evans House; Glendale Methodist Episcopal Church; Isaac Collins House; Mullica Hill Historic District; Tuckahoe Historic District

NJ Historic Preservation Bond Program Grant Applications...

• The State of New Jersey, through the NJ Historic Trust, offers matching funds to help preserve historic buildings which are owned by non-profit or public entities. Through six funding rounds millions of dollars have been distributed.

Examples: Burlington Old City Hall - $514,927; Collins-Jones House - five grants totaling $233,749; Lucy the Elephant - two grants totaling $482,240; Newton-Union "Champion" School - two grants totaling $126,490; Peter Mott House - two grants totaling $146,524; Mt. Holly Friends Meeting House - $140,723; Solomon Wesley United Methodist Church - $33,887; Spring Garden Schools Complex - $134,500; Trinity Episcopal "Old Swedes" Church - three grants totaling $361,754; Wanamaker Hall - $150,000; William R. Allen School - $354,260; St. Peter's Episcopal Church - $313,012; Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church - $196,225

Architectural Surveys...

• To help a municipality's governing body to better understand the extent and significance of their historic resources, we will study the buildings within its boundaries and make recommendations for historic district designations.

Examples: Historic District Designation Survey, City of Burlington; Local Historic Districting Boundary Recommendations, Borough of Berlin

Handbooks...

• As a service to their communities, many municipalities have brochures or booklets produced which delineate, define and describe aspects of their historic districts. Whether an overview of the neighborhoods or in-depth case studies, these are invaluable tools for both the property owners and the governmental review boards charged with approving improvements in their historic districts.

Examples: West Collingswood Preservation Plan: A Guide for the Neighborhood's Property Owners; City of Burlington Historic District Handbook

Consulting Historic Architect...

• For any client, we provide services which are tailored to the unique needs of their historic properties. We offer a full range of services from traditional architectural design and documentation to specialized historic preservation consulting.

Examples: Main Street New Jersey; National Main Street Center - Resource Team; Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation - Facade Easement Program and Historic Religious Properties Program; Elfreth's Alley Association

Governmental Consulting...

• Our historic architecture consulting services have also been provided to governmental agencies and local municipalities.

Examples: Gloucester County; Berlin Borough; Burlington City; Eastampton Township; Evesham Township; Gloucester Township; Harrison Township

Selected Lectures...

• Our specialized background enables us to share our observations and insight to a variety of organizations. Sometimes, the goal is share a previously unknown solution to specific problems. Others are more general in nature - a way for us to share our expertise with interested property owners. Many emphasize enlightening problems in everyday situations when dealing with an older building. A sample of our past lectures include:

"What Made Lucy Rot?"
"Exterior Alterations and Additions: An Introduction to Compatible Design"
"Deciphering the Past: Physical Evidence of Change"
"Preservation Problemshooting: Maintaining the Older Home"
"The Benefits of Preservation"
"Weighing Building Restoration and Budget Constraints"
"The Future of Lawnside's Past: Proposed Restoration of the Peter Mott House"
"Haddon Heights: Then and Now"
"Downtown Over Time: The History of Commercial Architecture"

Contextual Design...

We pride ourselves on being able to successfully design new construction for additions and buildings which respectfully blend in with a historic context. This does not necessarily mean the new work will look like the old building. Rather, the new construction can have its own identity and vitality. 

The sensitivity comes from understanding the underlying design elements, interpreting those aesthetic principles for the proposed improvement, and carefully integrating the the proposed design with the juxtaposed historic elements. This process leads to good contextual design. 

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties clearly define these actions in terms of recommended and non-recommended treatments.

We have found that this type of design process requires more patience and a clearer understanding of the historic references. We also believe properly designed new construction provides enormous benefits to the property owner:

• the governmental design review process is simpler because we have already responded to their unique requirements
• the community will appreciate the property owner's efforts to provide a sensitive building (which often leads to awards and a stronger community presence)
• the final product avoids the double-edged complaints of "It sticks out like a sore thumb" or "It's trying to fake being historic."
• and ultimately, the irreplaceable charm of an older building can be enhanced to the benefit of property value.