The U.S. Secretary of State maintains a portfolio of culturally significant properties and landscapes around the world, many of them landmarks in their host countries, renowned for their architecture, historic significance, or important geopolitical events that transpired within. These properties range in age, with styles including preeminent examples of Renaissance, neoclassical, Dutch and French colonial, and mid-century modern landmarks. BBB has completed numerous Historic Structure Reports (HSRs) and Cultural Significance Studies (CSSs) on behalf of OBO to determine the cultural significance of the resource, appraise its morphology by visual inspection, create a statement of significance, and recommend preservation zones. Task orders have included coordination with OBO, documentary research, direct observation, and photographic and graphic illustrations; some HSRs and CSSs have entailed additional requirements for conditions assessments, existing conditions drawings, and operations and maintenance plans.
U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, Historic Preservation
BBB has produced HSRs and CLRS five OBO properties. BBB conducts extensive archival research and onsite investigations to prepare comprehensive reports that include exterior and interior condition mapping, preservation zoning diagrams, chronology of development diagrams, HABS Level II measured drawings, and structural and system assessments.
Following the development of an HSR for the US Chief of Mission Residence (CMR) in Copenhagen, Denmark, BBB worked with OBO to develop a prototype for a comprehensive operations and maintenance program to assist the Office of Cultural Heritage and the facilities team in their continued maintenance and repair of the property. The program utilized condition and deficiency ratings, which were applied to the interior character-defining features, to prioritize repair and guide maintenance of specific materials and building elements. Room Assessment Form templates BBB is currently working with OBO to convert the HSR to a Living HSR, a BBB propriety digital database driven tool to facilitate ongoing research and updates to conditions assessments.
BBB developed the pilot CSS, a report that adapts traditional HSR content into a more concise format. OBO continues to rely on CSS reports to document the background history, chronology of development, physical description, evaluation of significance, and preservation zones for many overseas properties. In many CSS, BBB coordinated the CSS reports with design processes to ensure that the significance and integrity of each property was preserved, providing direction for appropriate modifications and alterations to achieve current programming needs, ADA compliance, and life and safety standards. To date, BBB has completed CSS reports for 12 OBO properties.
Project Credits
Jennie Gwin
Katie Hummelt