Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

Join us on Tuesday, Oct 27th at 6PM for the continuation of our Fall Speaker Series with Rev. Dr. Mark Tyler presenting, "The AME Church Then and Now: Reflections on the Struggle of Racial and Social Justice." Mother Bethel A.M.E. has been a witness to over two hundred years of struggle: epidemics, violence, racial injustice. What lessons can we draw from history, and our present moment, to guide us to be better in the future? Interested in our other lectures for the series?... Visit https://www.preservationalliance.com/fall-speaker-series/ for registration details and more information! Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Philada. [graphic] : Founded in 1794 by the Revd. Richard Allen, Bishop of the first African Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. Rebuilt in 1805. / Drawn on Stone by W.L. Breton. - Courtesy of the Library Company of Philadelphia

The University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design has launched the Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites. Led by Professor Randy Mason and Senior Advisor Brent Leggs of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the center "is devoted to the preservation of built environments that reflect and symbolize the civil rights movement in the US." Read more from The Architect's Newspaper below and the Center's own site: https://www.design.upenn.edu/cpcrs/about

Coming this November a reimagined In With the Old. More details and ticketing information to be posted soon! Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance #yfpa #yfpaphilly #iwto #iwto2020 #thisjawnmatters #thisplacematters #preservationinaction

From the The New York Times, "across the U.S. during the 2010s, 96,544 units were created in 778 buildings that were formerly schools, factories, offices or other nonresidential spaces." New York, Chicago and Philadelphia round out the top three, with Philadelphia adding 11,266 residential units over the last decade, via the adaptive reuse of existing factories, schools and office space. Source data: RENTCafé

Join us tomorrow at 6 PM for the first lecture in our Fall Speaker Series, The Lazaretto: Epidemic Philadelphia Seen from Twelve Miles Downriver, 220 Years Ago and Today with David Barnes, Associate Professor at UPenn. Learn about the oldest extant quarantine station in the Western Hemisphere, built to mitigate the spread of disease after the yellow fever epidemics that plagued Philadelphia at the end of the 18th century, its transformation through the years, and the stories of the lives affected. Interested in our other lectures for the series? Visit https://www.preservationalliance.com/fall-speaker-series/ for registration details and more information! Aerial Photo of the Lazaretto in 1929. Image from the Pennsylvania Free Library Print and Picture Department

In its efforts to address climate change and the built environment, the European Union is looking to Bauhaus for inspiration. Also, a friendly reminder that The greenest building is the one that is already built.

We're looking forward to next week's PA Statewide Conference on Heritage, hosted by Preservation Pennsylvania. The conference is going virtual this year, and panelists include our own Alison Eberhardt, Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance Steering Committee Member, and Patrick Grossi, Preservation Alliance Director of Advocacy, among many others. Check out the full schedule and featured speakers here: https://www.preservationpa.org//confere/schedule-speakers/

Back by popular demand, we’re pleased to announce the launch of a new virtual speaker series starting Tuesday, October 13. Enjoy lectures on the Lazaretto, Paint Analysis of Al Capone’s Cell at Eastern State Penitentiary, the legacies of Modernism and more, all from the comfort and safety of your home. This fall series is sponsored by Thomas Jefferson University's Center for the Preservation of Modernism and MS in Historic Preservation. Full calendar and registration details available below...

ICYMI, last week the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced their 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2020. It's a broad mix of properties from across the country, many of which focus on the struggles for civil rights in the early and mid-20th century. See the full list below.

A HUGE thank you to all who joined and contributed to last night's virtual Preservation Achievement Awards. Our 27th annual event was one like none before it, and we're grateful for all the support and encouragement on view last night. Special shout out to each of this year's winners, especially our James Biddle Award winner for Lifetime Achievement in Historic Preservation, Sara Jane (Sally) Elk, President and CEO of Eastern State Penitentiary. For those who missed the broadcast, a video recording will be available soon. You can review all winners and sponsors here: http://www.preservationalliance.com/2020-preservation-awar/

Great effort out of Hockessin, DE, connecting the history of this modest schoolhouse to the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Efforts are underway to recognize this and other similar sites under the banner of the National Park Service.

Located in West Powelton, West Philadelphia, the Leader Theater was constructed in 1912. Since 1971, the theater's primary facade had been covered with metal cladding, but recent rehab work has revealed that the original facade is still in place, and seemingly in great condition! The photos speak for themselves - can't wait to see the finished product. Archival Image: Philadelphia Architects and Buildings Database, Irvin R. Glazer Theater Collection, Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Some good news for local landmarks. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission/ Pennsylvania Trails of History have released this year's Keystone Historic Preservation grants throughout the Commonwealth. Winners include Carpenter's Company, Wyck, and Eastern State Penitentiary here in Philadelphia, and the ongoing rehabilitation of the Lansdowne Theater in neighboring Delaware County (previously featured in our Fall 2017 issue of Extant: https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/)

Another fine project from Philly Office Retail. While the sanctuary of Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church will remain in place and continue religious service, an attached parish house, classrooms, and gymnasium have been repurposed for residential use.