Scenarios and Guidance
Design Professionals
If you’re in the design field, these are some common scenarios you may encounter. Within each scenario is a number of resources that may be helpful.
I am an architect, engineer, interior designer, landscape architect or other design professional interested in resources relating to historic property Restoration, adaptive reuse, and Rehabilitation.
1. Support and be listed in the PCT Preservation Directory. Your business membership gets you a listing!
2. Work with the CT SHPO to gather information about projects and their qualified professionals list.
3. Connect with a PCT Circuit Rider to discuss potential projects.
4. Understand your resources:
- Refer to the Illustrated Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic buildings from the NPS.
- Understand the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
- Become familiar with Preservation Briefs from the National Park Service.
- Read about designing New Additions to Historic Buildings.
- Understand guidance on Substitute Materials in Historic Buildings.
- Find guidance in Practice Points from APTI.
What are the important considerations I need to be aware of when designing a project that involves an historic property?
1. Use ConnCRIS to determine if the property is on the State or National Register of Historic Places and to gather other important information, such as whether it is in a Local Historic District or has been in an architectural survey in the past. If it is locally-designated, you may need a Certificate of Appropriateness.
2. Learn about easements or restrictive covenants that have been filed with Connecticut Town Land Records | CATIC.
3. Understand the relevant state and federal regulations. Contact the SHPO to check before you get started. If your project includes certain state and federal funding and/or permitting, the project will need to abide by Section 106 review. Familiarize yourself with the Environmental Review Procedures and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
4. Become familiar with available resources:
- Preservation Briefs from the National Park Service.
- Read about designing New Additions to Historic Buildings.
- Understand guidance on Substitute Materials in Historic Buildings.
- Read about one approach to Designing a Period Kitchen to Compliment a Historic House.
- Find guidance in Practice Points from APTI.
What are the important considerations I need to be aware of when designing a project in a historic District?
1. Use ConnCRIS to determine if the property is on the State or National Register of Historic Places or whether it is in a Local Historic District or has been in an architectural survey in the past. If it is locally-designated, you may need a Certificate of Appropriateness.
2. Understand the relevant state and federal regulations. Contact the SHPO to check before you get started. If your project includes certain state and federal funding and/or permitting, the project will need to abide by Section 106 review. Familiarize yourself with the Environmental Review Procedures and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
3. Understand your resources:
- Become familiar with Preservation Briefs from the National Park Service.
- Read about designing New Additions to Historic Buildings.
- Understand guidance on Substitute Materials in Historic Buildings.
- Find guidance in Practice Points from APTI.
I am working with property owners who want/need to move their historic Building.
1. Contact the SHPO to discuss the proposed building relocation and current designation (if applicable).
2. Read an in-depth guide to Moving Historic Buildings.
General Resources
Preservation Guidelines
- Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
- National Park Service “Preservation Briefs”
State Funding
Research
Be Inspired!
Subscribe to ArchDaily for projects happening nationwide.
Check out the book, Connecticut Architecture: Stories of 100 Places
Browse through past CT Preservation Awards recognizing preservation excellence across the state.