Historic Adaptation

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 28, 2011) − The adaptive reuse of original structures is the subject of an upcoming symposium presented by the University of Kentucky College of Design and the UK Historic Preservation Graduate Organization. The historic preservation symposium, "Adaptive Reuse: Preservation Through Innovation," will be presented March 31 - April 1, at the Carnegie Center For Literacy and Learning, located at 251 West 2nd St., in Lexington. The symposium is free and open to the public.

"Adaptive Reuse" will bring together professionals with historic preservation expertise within real estate development, economics, urban planning and the nonprofit sector to share their wisdom about the importance of adaptive reuse.

"The historic preservation symposium is to help further the mission of the College of Design and historic preservation efforts within Lexington and the larger Kentucky region," says historic preservation graduate student Rebecca Gall. "To help facilitate our mission, we are bringing together national speakers and local respondents in a conversation about the 'best practices' within these fields, adapting larger concepts to a local context."

Instructor Rob Magrish feels the speakers will be able to provide a real world perspective in the field of historic preservation. "I think the speakers will offer realistic and practical insight into the adaptive use of historic structures. This information will help Lexingtonians understand the positive impact that preservation can have on the community."

Symposium sessions, speakers and times include:

- "Adaptive Reuse: Urban Planning," presented by Roberta Brandes Gratz, journalist, urban critic, lecturer and author of "The Living City" and "Cities Back From the Edge," 10 a.m. Thursday, March 31; 

- "Adaptive Reuse: Real Estate Development," presented by Holly Wiedemann, principal at A.U. Associates Inc., 2 p.m. Thursday, March 31; - "Adaptive Reuse: Economics," presented by Donovan Rypkema, economist, historic preservationist, author and principal of PlaceEconomics, 10 a.m. Friday, April 1; and - "Adaptive Reuse: Nonprofit Redevelopment," presented by Matthew Kiefer, attorney, Harvard University Loeb Fellow and board president of Historic Boston Inc., 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 1.

All lectures will be followed by a community response panel and audience question and answer session.

Lectures presented as part of "Adaptive Reuse" will be registered with the American Institute of Architects for continuing education credit. Each lecture is worth two credits.

"Adaptive Reuse" is made possible with support from the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, Professor of Architecture Clyde Carpenter, architect David E. Gall, Morgan Worldwide and UK Student Government Association.

Parking for the symposium will be available in the Carnegie Center parking lots and the First Presbyterian parking lot.

In addition to the symposium, Roberta Brandes Gratz will also participate in a book signing for her new book, "The Battle for Gotham: New York in the Shadow of Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs," while visiting Lexington. The signing, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Her book will also be available to purchase at the symposium.

For more information on "Adaptive Reuse," contact Derrick Meads, at UK College of Design, at (859) 257-5367.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-1754 ext. 229; Whitney.Hale@uky.edu