Preliminary Dissertation Proposal Jane M Davis Middle Tennessee State University Public History Program March 1, 2011

Adaptive Reuse for Archival Buildings: Blessing or Curse?

Dissertation Committee: Dr. Carroll Van West, Chair Dr. Mary Hoffschwelle Dr. Susan Myers-Shirk Dr. Brenden Martin

Abstract: The reuse of buildings and adaptation of an existing structure to a new purpose is not uncommon. A warehouse is converted to trendy loft apartments, a former school becomes offices for school administrators, a church becomes a theater; these are all fairly common reuses of existing buildings. While the idea of adaptive reuse seems simple, the decision to adapt a building to a new use that is far different from the original intended use can be quite complex. If the new use design has specific architectural requirements, a number of factors can influence the adaptive reuse of the building. Buildings to house archives have very specific architectural requirements and needs but in many communities, archives are housed in historic buildings adapted for this purpose. How does a community make the decision to reuse a historic building as an archival building? What structural changes are needed to make a building work as an archive? Are certain building types better suited for reuse as an archive? By examining case studies of communities that have dealt with issue of adaptive reuse of historic buildings for archives, we can hopefully answer these questions and set forth a discussion of best practices to guide future projects.

What is the state of historiography in the area of your topic? What is the state of public history theory and practice in the area of your topic? Research into adaptive reuse of historic buildings is a recent area of interest in the United States. Fueled by the provocative discussions in Stewart Brands How Buildings Learn (1994), preservationists, architects, and architectural historians have discussed in earnest the possibilities of preservation by reuse. Not only is adaptive reuse a method of preserving buildings that might otherwise be destroyed, adaptive reuse can be a more environmentally sensitive solution. Stanley Rabun and Richard Kelsos 2009 book Building Evaluation for Adaptive Reuse and Preservation directly addresses the issue of adaptive reuse as a preservation tactic and examines how to determine a buildings suitability for reuse. Other works, such as Aylin Orbais Architectural Conservation and A Richer Heritage: Historic Preservation in the Twenty-First Century edited by Robert E. Stipe, devote a chapter to the discussion of adaptive reuse as a preservation method and explore the advantages of adaptive reuse both in America and in Western Europe. Adaptive reuse has been occurring as long as there have been buildings to be reused. In recent decades, historic preservationists have begun to focus on documenting methods of reuse that is both economically and historically sensitive. In the archival profession, archivists do discuss the architectural requirements of buildings that house archives; however, there is very little current literature focusing on adaptive reuse of historic buildings. One such book is Planning New and Remodeled Archival Facilities by Thomas P. Wilstead. The majority of the book is concerned with the inherent challenges of building an archive, from difficulties with architects and builders to planning for future use. Only chapter eight is dedicated to building renovation and its focus is more on the renovation of an existing archival building 3

rather than adapting a building to archival needs. The chapter does include a number of case studies focusing on adaptive reuse but the majority of the book is focused on new construction. Scholarly articles in the archival field regarding adaptive reuse and archival buildings are rather limited and dated. Two of the best examples are limited to case studies or this is what we did articles about the adaption and renovation of existing buildings. Jay Haymonds Adaptive Reuse of Old Buildings for Archives examines the Utah State Historical Society renovation and reuse of a former railroad depot and the challenges faced. Shirley Spragges Old Wine in Old Bottles: Renovating an Old Building for an Archives examines the renovation of 19th century residential home to house the archives of the Anglican Diocese in Ontario, Canada. What is your research question, and how will answering add to the historiography and public history theory and practice in the area of your topic? How will you answer your research question, including a summary of relevant source material? While adaptive reuse is not a new phenomenon, the changing focus in public history and historic preservation theory and practice towards adaptive reuse as a method of conservation has become more and more prevalent in the United States in the last few decades. Archival facilities, due to a variety of factors, are often housed in historic or repurposed buildings despite specific and unique needs of the archive. How does this adaptive reuse impact the archival community? Are certain building types better suited for reuse as an archive? What structural changes are needed to make a building work as an archive? How does a community make the decision to reuse a historic building as an archival building and what are the factors 4

that influence this decision? By answering these questions, archivists and preservationists can work together to determine best practices in adaptive reuse for archival purposes. To fully examine the question of how adaptive reuse impacts the archival community, further and more in depth research would need to be undertaken. A thorough examination of the discussion of adaptive reuse in the United States, as well as an examination of adaptive reuse as seen in Western Europe would be required to fully understand the current historiography of adaptive reuse. Additionally, a full examination of the architectural requirements for archival buildings and the needs archivists expect these buildings to fulfill would also need to be undertaken. Specifically how the unique specifications of archival buildings in the areas of physical security, heating and cooling, humidity control, and storage issues would need to be examined and how those issues can be addressed in an adaptive reuse. Case studies of communities that have chosen to use a historic or existing building as an archive will be essential in understanding the process how these decisions are made as well as developing an understanding of how these projects are judged by the communities. What will be the relationship of your dissertation to your professional residency and professional development as a public historian? My professional residency has focused closely on building skill sets in the realm of exhibit design and research while tying those skills to my existing background in Southern and Civil War History. My dissertation will fulfill a similar role as a builder of skill sets. By combining my background with libraries and archives with my passion towards historic preservation of buildings, the dissertation 5

research and product will allow me to gain a better understanding of historic preservation in general and how specific communities needs can be met by adaptive reuse. Additionally, I would like to use my completed dissertation to act as a foundation for a co-authored work with fellow student, Kristen Baldwin Deathridge, focusing on adaptive reuse and community. This work could fill a void in the existing scholarship and provide the field with a needed examination of adaptive reuse and community.

Chapter Outline and Benchmarks: Chapter One: Introduction Disscussion of the historiography and academic research in the field of

adaptive reuse.

Chapter Two: Archives and Adaptive Reuse Examination of architectural requirements and technical standards for

archives, including a discussion of the importance archivists place on the building and its structural components for example HVAC systems, humidity control, and security issues. Discussion of how buildings are chosen for adaptive reuse and what

factors might influence an archive to choose to pursue adaptive reuse rather than purpose-built facilities. Review of archival professional literature on archival buildings,

planning for renovation and adaptive reuse, and a comparison of purpose built structures and adaptive reuse.

Chapter Three: Library to Archive: Simple Changes or Drastic Overhaul? Case Study #1 - Albert Gore Sr. Research Center at Middle Tennessee

State University, Murfreesboro, TN. Housed in former library, Todd Hall on Middle Tennessee State

University Campus was repurposed for art classrooms, faculty offices, and archives in 2005. Converting a former library to archive seems intuitive as libraries and 7

archives have similar architectural needs but reality may be different.

Additionally issue of sharing space with offices and classrooms may

have presented its own complexities. The Gore Center was previously housed in the Ned McWherter

Learning Resources Center and the examination of how the adaption of former library building to serve the needs of an archive was more or less successful than the previous building.

Chapter Four: Synagogue to Archive: Remaining a House of Learning Case Study #2 - Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center, St. Louis, MO. Former synagogue built as the permanent home of the United Hebrew Congregation in 1927. Building is in or near local historic district. Adaptive reuse faced challenges of using space not designed for archival needs, specifically the sanctuary space in the center dome. During conversion, decision was made to include an annex to better serve the needs of the archive. Further investigation of how this decision was made could lead to a better understanding of how to manipulate buildings to serve the needs of an archive. High community involvement, including involvement by the former congregation in the dedication and grand opening. Chapter Five: Firehouse to Archive: Mining the Past Case Study #3 Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives, Butte, MT. Housed in a former fire department station in the Butte-Anaconda National Historic Landmark District.

Housed in the Butte-Anaconda National Historic Landmark District, which could present incentives for preservation as well as complications for adaptive reuse.

Adaptation of a former fire house would present very different challenges than the other case studies.

Chapter Six: Conclusions and Suggestions of Best Practices. Research Plan I will be applying for the Provosts writing fellowship which should cover the limited travel and research needs for the project. I do plan on beginning writing in summer 2011 and should be able complete the dissertation for final defense in April 2012. Benchmarks for Completion: July 2011: Complete detailed outline of chapters. August 2011: Complete first draft of chapters 1 and 2. October 2011: Complete first draft of chapter 3. November 2011: Complete first draft of chapter 4. December 2011: Complete first draft of chapter 5. February 2012: Complete first draft of chapter 6. March 2012: Complete all revisions. April 2012: Dissertation defense May 2012: Graduation

Tentative Bibliography (Primary Sources to be Determined) Alldredge, Everett. Standards for Federal Records Center Buildings. American Archivist 23, no. 2 (April 1, 1960): 153-254. This article is an early discussion of standards for buildings that act as federal records centers rather than archives. Allen, Edward. How Buildings Work: The Natural Order of Architecture. Oxford University Press, 2005. Primarily a work for architects and architectural students to better understand how buildings work and how structural elements serve specific purpose, this book does contain a short discussion on adaptive reuse as a way to help buildings live for a long time. Ames, David L., Richard D. Wagner, Goucher College., American Institute of Architects. Committee on Historic Resources., and United States. National Park Service. Design & Historic Preservation: The Challenge of Compatibility: Held at Goucher College, Baltimore, Maryland, March 14-16, 2002. Newark: University of Deleware Press, 2009. A collection of papers from the National Forum on Preservation Practices focusing on design and frames the idea of design as both an end result of adaptive reuse and a process. Brand, Stewart. How Buildings Learn: What Happens after They're Built. New York, NY: Viking, 1994. This is a seminal work on adaptive reuse of buildings that studies buildings over time to determine how the occupants and users of buildings adapt and reshape the built environment. Carey, Alice. The Importance of Construction Documents to Restoration Architects. American Archivist 59, no. 2 (April 1, 1996): 176-184. This article discusses the importance of historical documents related to a buildings construction to preservation architects and how these documents can be used to form an understanding of the building as it actually is. Feilden, Benard Melchior. Conservation of Historic Buildings. Amazon Kindle Edition. Architectural Press, 2003. Focused primarily on the United Kingdom and Europe, this influential work on conservation of historic buildings gives detailed explanations of the mechanics of preservation. Fischetti, David C. Structural Investigation of Historic Buildings: A Case Study Guide to Preservation Technology for Buildings, Bridges, Towers, and Mills. Amazon Kindle Edition. John Wiley & Sons, 2009.

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This book is focused strongly on the investigation of historic buildings, but it does provide some interesting case studies and discussion of structural issues regarding adaptive reuse. Haymond, Jay. Adaptive Reuse of Old Buildings for Archives. American Archivist 45, no. 1 (January 1, 1982): 10-18. This article is a case study of the adaptive reuse of a railroad depot by the Utah State Historical Society as an archive. One of the few such articles in archive literature. Jandl, H. Ward. Rehabilitating Interiors in Historic Buildings: Identifying and Preserving Character-Defining Elements. Preservation Briefs. Washington, D.C.: Technical Preservation Services, National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 1988. http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/briefs/brief18.htm. Publication by the National Park Service to assist in understand important architectural interior elements for preservation. Jokilehto, Jukka. A History of Architectural Conservation. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002. This work uses worldwide examples of architectural conservation and the variety of methods used throughout the world, including adaptive reuse to examine the development of current methods and approaches to conserving and preserving buildings. Ling, Ted. Silver Linings: Purpose Built Repositoriesthe Last 25 Years. Archives and Manuscripts 22, no. 2 (November 1994). This article examines the benefits of buildings built specifically for use as an archive over other types of buildings. Orbasli, Aylin. Architectural Conservation: Principles and Practice. Malden, MA: Blackwell Science, 2008. Another view of conservation from the European perspective, this book contains a very well thought out discussion of adaptive reuse as it has been dealt with in Western Europe and the United Kingdom. Pacifico, Michele F., Thomas. Wilsted, and Society of American Archivists. Task Force on Archival Facilities Guidelines. Archival and Special Collections Facilities: Guidelines for Archivists, Librarians, Architects, and Engineers. Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2009. This book is a detailed examination of the approved standards of the Society of American Archivists for archival buildings for use by archivists and all those involved in archival buildings. Porter, Charles. Documentary Research Methods Applied to Historic Sites and Buildings. American Archivist 14, no. 3 (July 1, 1951): 201-212.

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This article is an early discussion of how to evaluate the historic significance of sites and buildings by using existing documentation. Rabun, J. Stanley. Structural Analysis of Historic Buildings: Restoration, Preservation, and Adaptive Reuse Applications for Architects and Engineers. New York, NY: Wiley, 2000. This structural handbook detailing the materials, methods, and techniques of architects and engineers of historic buildings also includes detailed discussion of adaptive reuse as a method of preservation of historic structures. Rabun, J. Stanley, and Richard Miles Kelso. Building Evaluation for Adaptive Reuse and Preservation. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2009. Including a chapter on pro forma analysis of adaptive reuse project, this book is a valuable handbook for the planning and execution of all adaptive reuse projects. Spragge, Shirley C. Old Wine in Old Bottles: Renovating an Old Building for an Archives. In The Archival Imagination: Essays in Honour of Hugh A. Taylor, by Barbara Lazenby Craig, 212-226. Ottawa: Association of Canadian Archivists, 1992. Case study of a residential building adapted for use as the archive for the Anglican Diocese in Ontario, Canada. Stipe, Robert. A Richer Heritage: Historic Preservation in the Twenty-First Century. Amazon Kindle Edition. University of North Carolina Press, 2003. A collection of essays examining the history of the field of historic preservation that includes extensive discussion of adaptive reuse. Swartzburg, Susan G., Holly Bussey, and Frank. Garretson. Libraries and Archives: Design and Renovation with a Preservation Perspective. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1991. Bibliography of works relating to archival buildings and the preservation of archival materials. Wilsted, Thomas., and Society of American Archivists. Planning New and Remodeled Archival Facilities. Chicago, IL: Society of American Archivists, 2007. Detailed work with case studies that examines the process of planning and building archival buildings, this book does contain a chapter on renovation of existing buildings but the discussion of adaptive reuse of historical buildings is very limited.

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