Historic preservation protects places that tell our history's stories. It preserves the ice cream shops, coffee stops, and parks integral to communities. Preserving historic places is vital for sustainability by creating jobs, stimulating economies, and fostering social connections. Historic buildings were designed harmoniously with their environments, using natural heating, lighting, and cooling methods well-suited to each climate. Preservation thus benefits the environment by avoiding demolitions and waste while retaining efficient structures.

1. A L E X B Y R D
HISTORIC PRESERVATION

2. WHAT IS HISTORIC PRESERVATION?
• “Historic preservation champions and protects places
that tell the stories of our past.”
• It’s preserving where we go to get ice cream with our
kids after school
• Where we stop to get coffee before work
• Or the park we take our kids to on the weekends
• These historic places that have such a special impact on
our lives are important to preserve in order to keep
passing on for future generations

3. HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND SITE
PLANNING
• Historic preservation is vital for a community to achieve
sustainability environmentally, economically, and
socially, all important factors in site planning
• The natural features are important to preserve
• Before deciding if a building is worth preserving, many
components need to be considered to understand the
performance of the building

4. KEY COMPONENTS AND DESIGN
FACTORS TO CONSIDER OF SITE
• Design
• Materials
• Size
• Shape
• Site orientation
• Climate
• Surrounding landscape

5. IMPORTANT FACTORS OF
SITE PLANNING

6. ENVIRONMENT
• Historic preservation has a positive impact on the
environment
• No demolishing of buildings
• No waste going into landfills
• Historic buildings can be more energy efficient
• Buildings were planned based on the environment and
climate which they were in
• Natural sources of heating and cooling systems
• Important to utilize the natural features

7. N A T U R A L H E A T I N G / L I G H T I N G
SKYLIGHTS

8. A D M I T S A I R A N D L I G H T
CUPOLAS

9. A I R , L I G H T , P R I V A C Y , S E C U R I T Y
COURTYARD

10. C O O L E R I N S U M M E R , W A R M E R I N W I N T E R
THICK WALLS

11. ROOFS
• The construction and design of the roofs on historic
buildings rely directly on the climate
• Large overhangs provide natural cooling in warmer
climates
• Steep roofs allow snow to easily slide off and rely on
heat gain through windows
• Material and color

12. N A T U R A L C O O L I N G , B R E E Z E S , S H A D E D W I N D O W S
LARGE PORCHES, CHARLESTON, SC

13. M E T A L R E F L E C T S S U N L I G H T = L E S S H E A T G A I N
STEEP ROOF

14. LANDSCAPE
• When historic buildings were planned and built,
how to orient the site was taken into consideration
• Cold climates:
• Buildings placed against northern winds
• Evergreen trees planted to the north shield building
from cold winds
• Warm climates:
• Placed to take advantage of natural wind
• Deciduous trees planted to south provided shade
and natural heat in colder weather

15. ECONOMICS

16. ADVANTAGES
• When planning to revitalize a historic site
or building, one must consider the many
economic advantages:
• Produces more jobs
• Stimulates economy by hiring and buying
materials locally

17. COLORADO HISTORICAL
FOUNDATION
•Study done in 2002
•Researched the effect historical
preservation had on Colorado’s
economy in the past 20 years

18. RESULTS
• Historic preservation created:
• 1.5 billion for the economy
• Established 21,327 jobs, producing 522.7 million
in household incomes
• 3.1 billion from heritage tourism
• Increase in property values
• Kept Colorado neighborhoods diverse and
affordable

19. MAIN STREET MOVEMENT
• “one of the most successful economic development
strategies in America.”
• In 1980, the National Trust for Historic Preservation
established the National Main Street Center
• Success: worked with thousands of historic districts to
create economic renewal

20. NATIONAL MAIN STREET CENTER, INC.
• Established July 1st
• GOALS:
• provides information
• offers technical assistance
• Holds conferences and workshops
• conducts research and support on critical revitalization
issues
• helps communities organize for success
• helps improve design of the community
• helps promote their district and enhance their economic
base

21. FOUR POINT APPROACH

22. 4 POINTS
• Organization
Director, committee, volunteers
• Promotion
Appeal to consumers and investors through advertising and marketing
• Design
Safe and appealing
• Economic restructuring
Retain and expand successful businesses

23. MAINSTREET SUCCESS
•The program has created more the
55.7 billion dollars in new investment
•more than 473,000 new jobs
•109,000 businesses
•over 236,000 restored buildings.

24. SOCIAL

25. SOCIALLY CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
• When planning a site, you have to consider certain
patterns
• Historic preservation creates social interaction because it
involves the community stakeholders and the residents
of the area.
• People typically walk most places in historic communities
because it is made convenient.
• This compact area makes public transportation, retail,
restaurants, and other entertainment easily accessible,
creating a social environment

26. VISUAL DESIGN FACTORS
HISTORIC DISTRICTS

27. O R E G O N D I S T R I C T | D A Y T O N , O H
SIZE, SHAPE, SCALE

28. C E N T E R V I L L E | O H
CONTINUITY

29. N A P E R V I L L E | I L L I N O I S
REPETITION, SIMILARITY, SIZE

30. N A P E R V I L L E | I L
5TH AVENUE STATION: OLD FURNITURE FACTORY

31. Y E L L O W S P R I N G S | O H I O
COLOR

32. Y E L L O W S P R I N G S | O H
SHAPE, SIZE

33. Y E L L O W S P R I N G S | O H
STREET FAIR: SOCIAL CONNECTION

34. CONCLUSION
• Without the preservation of our historic buildings
and landscapes, the importance of our history
and culture is not passed on to our future
generations.
• Historic preservation is essential for a
community to achieve sustainability
environmentally, economically, and socially.