CALL FOR PAPERS

A Critical Examination of Preservation & Sustainability

The Sixth National Forum on Historic Preservation Practice

FORUM To be held in March, 2009 at Goucher College    

Baltimore, Maryland

Historic preservation practice in the United States has become complex, professional, and inclusive, while reflecting an increasingly mainstreamed and popular public ethos.  This has, in turn, focused the attention of some preservationists far beyond traditional concerns for preserving individual historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods, to grappling with ways to integrate preservation with land use and transportation planning, smart growth, and management of resources; in short, seeking ways to make historic preservation a central part of the growing discussion of developing sustainable practices. 

            This series of National Forums, co-sponsored by a consortium of 11 graduate historic preservation programs, has focused on the changing perspectives of historic preservation practice in the United States.  The Sixth National Forum on Historic Preservation Practice, to be held at Goucher College, March 2009, will explore the challenges that preservation faces in becoming a critical component of the national debate about sustainability. 

            The Forum will bring together anthropologists, architects, landscape architects, economists, geographers, planners, scientists, resource managers, urbanists, and preservationists from higher education, government offices, nonprofit institutions and private practice, to focus on a critical assessment of current preservation practices and how they can be applied to a sustainable future.

            Historic preservation of existing buildings and landscapes embodies the concept of sustainable architecture and landscape architecture.  Preserving and continuing to use existing buildings and landscapes typically takes less energy then building similar new buildings and landscapes.  Preserving and continuing to use existing buildings means that fewer renewable and nonrenewable resources are consumed.  Preserving and continuing to use existing buildings means that less raw land and historic landscapes are consumed for growth. 

            Historic preservation of existing neighborhoods and commercial districts embodies the concept of a sustainable society.  Preserving and continuing to use existing neighborhoods with their closely integrated network of houses, schools, parks, open spaces, streets, alleys, and religious institutions provides residents with an environment that encourages human interaction.  Preserving and continuing to use traditional commercial districts provides residents with a variety of locally oriented goods and services. 

            In particular, the Sixth National Forum is interested in receiving abstracts on the following topics:

            •  Interface between preservation and sustainable architecture and landscape architecture standards.

            •  How preservation practice can be used to create sustainable neighborhoods and commercial districts.

            •  Accommodating growth and preservation in existing urban and rural environments.

            •  Developing effective connections between preservation organizations and those promoting smart growth and sustainability.

            Papers must be analytical rather than descriptive.  They should address new approaches to historic preservation and sustainability, and not be simply case studies.  Papers should focus on new material that brings fresh information and insight to the nexus between preservation and sustainability.

            While the focus of the conference is on preservation practice and sustainability in the United States, papers may incorporate international perspectives for comparative purposes or in ways that bring domestic practices and issues to the fore. 

Abstracts and any inquiries should be sent to:
David L. Ames, Conference Coordinator, and Director of the Center for Historic Architecture and Design
University of Delaware    
Newark, DE 19716    
PHONE 302.831.1050    FAX 302.831.4548    
davames@udel.edu

Abstracts may be submitted electronically or in hard copy.

The Sixth National Forum on Preservation Practice is co-sponsored by the graduate historic preservation programs of Boston University, Columbia University, George Washington University, Goucher College, University of Cincinnati, University of Delaware, University of Florida, University of Kentucky, University of Minnesota, University of Oregon, and University of Southern California.

Abstracts should be between 300 and 500 words and must be submitted no later than January 31, 2008.   Abstracts should contain the author’s name(s), postal and e-mail addresses, and telephone and fax numbers at the top of the page. Papers will be selected based on thoughtfulness, organization, and how well they address the focus of the conference. The selection committee reserves the right to request modifications to proposals.

Authors will be notified by April 15, 2008 if their proposed paper has been selected. For those selected, complete drafts of papers, 10 to 12 pages in length, will be due on September 1, 2008 for review by the selection committee.  The committee reserves the right to request modifications to the drafts.  Final papers, to be made available to attendees at the conference, will be due on December 1, 2008.  It is the intention of the committee to publish selected revised and expanded papers in proceedings after the conference.

Inquiries and abstracts should be sent to David L. Ames, Conference Coordinator, and Director of the Center for Historic Architecture and Design, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716; 302-831-1050, FAX 302-831-4548, davames@udel.edu. Abstracts may be submitted electronically or in hard copy.