Initially inspired by the demolition of a beloved Marcel Breuer building in Northern Virginia, and now championed by the newly re-energized Virginia Historic Resources Committee (HRC), AIA Virginia is excited to partner with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) and Modern Richmond to advance a long-held goal of training designers to conduct field surveys on important Virginia buildings – particularly (but not limited to) those from the mid-20th century. An optional second program will train users how to enter the survey data into DHR’s Virginia Cultural Resources Information System. It is hoped that this work will contribute to the preservation of important architectural resources in Virginia.

If you’re interested in supporting this effort, join us on Thursday, April 29 for one or both of the following training sessions:

Conducting Field Surveys of Significant Architectural Resources from the Recent Past
noon-1 p.m.

This hour-long webinar shows participants how to complete a reconnaissance-level field survey using Highland Hills — a significant mid-1950s neighborhood designed by Charles Goodman in Bon Air, Virginia — as a case study. (Goodman is best known for having designed the Hollin Hills in Alexandria and the main terminal at Reagan National Airport.) After training, participants will be invited to participate in field surveys in early May (or encouraged to conduct them in their own region). The completed Highland Hills surveys will be archived at the Department of Historic Resources. 

No previous experience is required, though participants should be comfortable recognizing and describing basic building and site materials and forms.

Register online. (Submitted for AIA CES approval)

Entering Field Survey Data into the Virginia Cultural Resources Information System (VCRIS)
1:30-2:30 p.m.

Those interested in getting more deeply engaged in this effort are invited to join us to learn how to enter field survey data into DHR’s VCRIS database.

Some familiarity with DHR’s survey terminology and methods would be helpful. The information in the database and in DHR’s archives is available to the public for study and educational use.

Register online. (Submitted for AIA CES approval)