Preserving Heritage, Designing for the Future: Spaces Honoring History and Embracing Sustainability.

With a robust background in Historic Preservation and Sustainable Design, I dedicated my career to the thoughtful restoration and preservation of the built environment. My work is informed by a deep respect for the historical integrity and a commitment to sustainable practices, ensuring every project I undertake not only honors the past but also meets the demands of the future.

Design Philosophy

My design philosophy is grounded in the belief architecture and design should serve as a bridge between history and modernity. I strive to create spaces, which are aesthetically pleasing but also functionally sustainable, reflecting both the cultural significance of the past and the ecological considerations of the present. Through innovative design solutions, I aim to breathe new life into historic structures while preserving their original essence. This is not withstanding the respect I have for historic materials which is what is represented with the photo showing the size of old growth trees.

PAST PROJECTS

  • An image of Anderson Twins.

    Emergent Structures/Repurpose Savannah

    Deconstruction project launching Emergent Structures and creating Repurpose Savannah

  • Image of Tree Removal at Hiwan Heritage Museum

    Hiwan Tree Removal

    Work with local and state preservationists to remove trees considered part of the National Registry now threatening the structure.

  • Drawing of Route 66 Shield:

    Route 66 Heritage Award

    Restored Neon Sign a part of the restoration of the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce

  • Preservation Skills

    Examples of additional preservation projects

  • Design Consultation and Implementation

    Project Management

  • Community Engagement/Service

    Without community, preservation and sustainability does not exist.

Explore

I led and contributed to diverse projects merging innovation with respect for the past. My work spans from revitalizing structures and managing large scale community development initiatives, to leading retail and event space design with a focus on sustainability. Each project in my portfolio reflects my passion and values for creating functional spaces, eliminating waste, while honoring history and my client’s needs. All projects required a collaboration between local and state officials, community and educators to produce solutions fitting the project.

Emergent Structures & Repurpose Savannah

My thesis work ignited Emergent Structures, transforming it into Repurpose Savannah.

To the right are two of the houses we took possession of after Hurricane Matthew reduced one to a pile of rubble.

I attended conferences and spoke all over the country, expanding the initiative into the Savannah Community.

Today Repurpose Savannah is an operating business with lumber yard and full deconstruction staff.

Anderson Twins, Martin Luther King Jr Blvd & Anderson Street, Savannah, Georgia

Old growth forests still exist in the architecture we discard in landfills daily. These precious materials are limited, and value adds for restoration projects.

Projects ranged from deconstructing a structure by hand piece by piece, using trained volunteers from the technical college, to saving a burned structure in place.

Route 66 Heritage Award

Originally opening in 1966, the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce was all but abandon after COVID.

Final project included restoration of the interior and exterior of the chamber as well as sign and mural upgrades.

Restoration funding support by non-profit grants, the county of Quay, and the city of Tucumcari. All funding had to presented to the commissioners from the county and the city.

Route 66 Association Magazine

Outdoor restoration included murals. Funding supplied by grants.

Murals were upgraded to reflect the times cultural sensitivity and map was reimagined with more destinations added to direct visitors.

Mural was upgraded to resemble a historic postcard popular to the local community and reflects all the history of the area.

Once just a office for employees, the space was redesigned to have a large lobby to accommodate tour bus groups.

Restored double sided Tucumcari Route 66 Shield, greets guess traveling both directions on Historic Route 66.

Hiwan Homestead Museum

Construction began in 1893 to adaptively reuse a barn, the Museum was the former summer camp and residence of one of Colorado’s first female doctors, Josepha Williams Douglass, and her family.

Hiwan Homestead Museum, Evergreen, Colorado

Due to climate change, the area around Evergreen Colorado started experiencing powerful Derechos. These winds flexed the trees, now 250 years old, against the foundation causing cracking and failure. Roof penetrations were to small after years of growth.

The challenge was the trees are a part of the historic fabric of the structure, thus part of the National Registry of Historic Places. Project required the collaboration between state and local preservation officials as well as contractors and Jefferson County Open Space staff.

Lumber harvested was dried and processed to be used in other construction projects in Jefferson County Open Space.

Design Consultations & Implementation

During my time as an event executive, creating temporary spaces catapulted me into design, implementation and collaboration with contractors to finish the work. These are my roots in Project management.

My design experience began with creating event spaces like the one pictured here for a runway show for Dianne Von Furstenburg. Custom runway, lighting, seating and chandeliers created for the show.

Project Management Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shoppe two locations Key West, Florida.

Kermit’s Key Lime Shoppe, Charleston, South Carolina

Transformation of Blends Coffee, Broughton and Drayton, to Byrd’s Famous Cookies.

Project Management Byrd’s Famous Cookies, Savannah, GA

Preservation Skills

Historic American Build Survey (HABS) Peterson Prize, Library Of Congress, First African Baptist Church, Savannah, Georgia

Restorative Drawings, Historic Savannah Foundation Revolving Fund, Savannah, Georgia

Colorado Registry of Historic Places, Stahl House, Denver Colorado

Historic Research & Interpretation, Welch Ditch, Golden, Colorado

Community Engagement/Service

Community Engagement/Service

Revival of a long dormant, treasured, community event; Pinata Festival.

Led community cleanup initiatives including the facade of the historic Princess Theatre.

Sustainability and Preservation thrive on community engagement.

Collaboration with New Mexico State University providing free pumpkins and a pumpkin crawl for all ages.

Organized Christmas Light Parade for Community down Historic Route 66.

Invited community to ribbon cutting events for new businesses opening in the city.

Past Clients

EXDO Management
First African Baptist Church
Historic AME Church Bluffton
Historic Savannah Foundation
Quay County New Mexico

City of Tucumcari New Mexico
Historic Denver
History Colorado
Emergent Structures/Repurpose Savannah

Evergreen Historic Society
Jefferson County Historic Review
Hiwan Homestead Museum
Delta Airlines
Google

Disney

Review Committee HSF
Democratic National Convention
Fort Pulaski National Monument

Let’s Build!

From conceptualizing to constructing, we’re ready to design your architectural dream. We promise a client-centric approach that empowers ideas, eases concerns, and delivers quality craftsmanship we’ll all be proud of.

About

'“Monstrous Eye”, Reuse of used packaging materials, Scott Crotzer, SCAD

Services

Sustainable Design
Hybrid Spaces
Renovation + Restoration

Capabilities

Deconstruction Trainer
Charette Trained Professional
Project Management

Skills

AutoCAD
Adaptive Reuse
Historic Registry