Architectural History Services
In contrast to archaeological sites, “built environment” is the term that describes standing buildings and structures that are above ground. In some cases, they are recognizable to the public because they can still be utilized for the purpose they were originally intended, even if not effectively so because of a loss of integrity.
However, not all historic buildings and structures are easily recognized as such, even though they may have significant historical associations with important events or people in the past. To recognize, interpret, preserve and document historically significant elements of the built environment requires Architectural History Services provided by expert architectural historians.
Qualifications of ECORP’s Architectural Historians
Existing laws require that cultural resources be identified and evaluated for significance. While most project proponents can use cultural resources generalists and archaeologists to assist with cultural resources inventories, specialized expertise is needed when resources are standing buildings or structures, such as:
- Houses
- Barns
- Canals
- Dams
- Churches
- Roads
- Other buildings and structures
These types of “built environment” resources require the skills of a professional architectural historian that possesses the unique combination of expertise in history and architecture.
ECORP’s architectural historians assist agencies, project proponents, and historical societies in researching, documenting, and interpreting these resources through a combination of in-depth archival research and knowledge of historical architecture.
These architectural history services are used to complete, document, and process environmental review as required by CEQA, NEPA, and municipal environmental regulations in advance of the issuance of a demolition permit, to assist in the preservation and interpretation efforts of historic buildings, and for other reasons, as needed by the client.
What Architectural History Services Does ECORP Provide?
The architectural historians at ECORP provide a wide variety of services to identify and manage historic-period architecture. This includes:
- Literature reviews, archival research, and oral interviews about the history and culture of the built environment
- Evaluations of historic-age buildings and structures using the National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historical Resources eligibility criteria
- Preparation of Department of Parks and Recreation 523 series forms
- Completion of Historic American Building Survey (HABS), Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS) documentation
- Preparation of Historic Property Survey Reports, Findings of Effect, Historic Context Statements, and Historic Property Management Plans
- Impact assessments of construction
- Development of mitigation measures
- Coordination with federal resource agencies, the Office of Historic Preservation, and State Historic Preservation Officer
- Section 5024 consultation support for state agencies
What Other Cultural Resource Services Does ECORP Offer?
ECORP offers a wide range of cultural resources services in addition to the archaeological services outlined above. These include:
- Archeological services including Terrestrial and underwater field surveys, including sample survey strategy designs and site sensitivity modeling
- Detailed recording and mapping of archaeological sites using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology
- Preparation of California Department of Parks and Recreation 523 site forms
- Test excavations of pre-contact and historic-period archaeological sites
- Laboratory sorting, cataloging, and analysis of artifacts
- Curation preparation and collections management
- Development of mitigation measures
- Data recovery excavations
- Construction monitoring
- Geoarchaeological assessments
- Laser scanning and lidar documentation and mapping
- Shipwreck documentation
- Interpretive panels and museum exhibits
- Coordination with federal resource agencies, the Office of Historic Preservation, and the State Historic Preservation Officer
- Negotiation of Programmatic Agreements and Memoranda of Agreement
- Development of standard operating procedures, agency policies, and government codes
- Section 5024 consultation support for state agencies
- Tribal liaison and consultation support
Contact ECORP today to discuss your project and learn more about our Architectural History Services.