Preserving Our Architectural Heritage

BY CYNTHIA L. BAUDENDISTEL

Concord is one of our nation’s most important historical towns, and preserving that history is the life’s work of many Concordians. Preservation comes in many forms, including protecting the architectural, cultural, and historical integrity of buildings throughout the Town—from The Old Manse to the new house being built on your street. Discover Concord spoke with Annette Bagley, a founding member of the Preservation Awards program, to learn more about the award.

Why is historic preservation important to the Town of Concord?

Historic preservation is essential for the Town of Concord because it helps to retain the community’s unique historic sense of place, which helps stimulate the local economy by attracting visitors. In addition, it’s an inherently eco-friendly practice compared to demolition or new construction. Preservation and reuse of existing buildings reduce waste in landfills and typically offer more environmental savings than demolition and replacement with new construction. Carl Elefante, former President of the American Institute of Architects, put it succinctly when he coined the phrase, “the greenest building is the one that is already built.”

The Paine Barn at Middlesex School before renovation

All photos courtesy of The Concord Historical Commission

Why were the Preservation Awards established?

The Awards were established by the Concord Historical Commission (CHC) in 2015 to honor and promote preservation efforts. While the Historic Districts Commission (HDC) oversees the historic districts, the CHC wanted a way to recognize achievements throughout the Town. Many of the nominations we receive are submitted by the HDC. The CHC hoped to present awards every two years, but due to COVID-related disruptions, the last awards were given in 2018. Awards will be presented again in May 2023.

What does it mean to be awarded a Preservation Award?

Receiving a Preservation Award means that an individual or organization is recognized for contributing to “maintaining and enhancing the architectural, historical, and cultural heritage of the Town of Concord.”

Why do you, personally, feel the Preservation Awards are important?

I’ve always had an interest in historic preservation. Owing to all the years I’ve spent living in historic homes and being a member of the CHC, it’s natural for me to want to preserve our Town’s historical and cultural integrity for future generations. The Preservation Awards are a way of celebrating that.

Heritage conservation is a term sometimes used alongside historic preservation, but it’s more about managing change based on the inherited culture. I think it’s important to recognize both the historic preservation of old buildings and landscapes and heritage conservation in new construction. The Preservation Awards account for this. There are six categories that projects can fall under: Sensitive Addition/Alteration, Adaptive Reuse, Appropriate New Construction, Proper Rehabilitation/Restoration, Landscape Preservation, and Life Achievement.

The Paine Barn at Middlesex School after renovation

All photos courtesy of The Concord Historical Commission

Award for Adaptive Reuse: Paine Barn, Middlesex School. The Paine Barn’s evolution from an agricultural building to the home of the Middlesex School Facilities & Operations Team is an outstanding example of sensitively introducing a compatible new use into a historic building.

What are the opportunities and challenges that property owners, architects, and contractors face in safeguarding the Town’s architectural legacy?

Some challenges include compliance with modern building codes, sustainability efforts, and meeting the individual needs of property owners. Neighborhood preservation challenges arise when historic homes are demolished and replaced with new homes whose scale and character contrast with the surrounding neighborhood. I believe there’s an opportunity to spread the relevancy of preservation. Projects that successfully incorporate design preservation, sustainability standards, and building codes serve as exemplary models and inspiration for future preservation work.

Where can we learn more about the Preservation Awards?

The Awards nomination form as well as descriptions and photos of past award winners can be found on the Town of Concord’s website at concordma.gov/1144/ Preservation-Awards.

Does the Town have resources for homeowners considering changes to their homes?

Yes. Concord’s Sustainability Guide for Historic and Older Homes has a wealth of information and can be found online at concordma.gov/DocumentCenter/ View/32578/Sustainability-Guide-forHistoric-and-Older-Homes?bidId=