Practical Ideas for Making History & Context Matter in Design Decisions Mary E. McCahon Senior Historian

When History Is the Context … “How do we make history live and at the same time point the way to the future?” I. M. Pei

Yesterday’s Context, Today’s or Tomorrow’s? Courtesy: Fred Gottemoeller

Yesterday’s Context, Today’s or Tomorrow’s? Columbus, OH Courtesy Fred Gottemoeller

History and Context Are Supposed to Matter Regulations Require it. Community Wants to Be Considered Historic & Special. Only Imitation of the Past Will Fit. Engineers Do It To Appease Preservation & Public. It’s Cheaper & Easier to Make Standard Bridge Look Sort of Old. Preservation Hates Because Creates False History. No Winners.

History and Context Are Supposed to Matter Too Often History & CSS Ends Up Being Applied Decoration Are Context-Sensitive Design Choices Really Limited To (Poorly) Imitating the Past?

Take Away Point -- Contemporary Is Often Better Choice How Much More Appropriate Would This Railing Be For Modern Bridge in Rural Setting, Like At the Mill? -- Meets Design Criteria & Makes Historic & Contextual Sense.

Modern Bridges Where History Matters Old Bridge Modern Replacement There are Good Choices Beyond Decoration – Ones That Defer To Past But Don’t Create False History

History Not Understood: Old Was Once Modern Modern 1914 Encased Stringer Decorated Box Beam Replacement

History Not Understood: This Is Decoration, Not Preservation New Bridge Creates False Sense of History: Design is Pure Conjecture

History Not Used to Inform Design of New Bridge That a wider bridge at the busy crossing in an area of suburban sprawl was needed there was not doubt, and the decision to go onto a new alignment was wise. But what happened after that takes the breath away from plenty of historians and good design advocates. First, the new bridge and road shown in green were sited to cut through the historic landscape and to isolate the historic bridge shown at the top center of the map. This rather than take advantage of an opportunity to skirt the historic district with the new road by following the district boundary along the back channel and leaving a large section of the historic road through the estate in place for recreational use.

Historic Roads Through Estate New Bridge & Road Historic Bridge HD Boundary Back Channel Historic Roads Through Estate That a wider bridge at the busy crossing in an area of suburban sprawl was needed there was not doubt, and the decision to go onto a new alignment was wise. But what happened after that takes the breath away from plenty of historians and good design advocates. First, the new bridge and road shown in green were sited to cut through the historic landscape and to isolate the historic bridge shown at the top center of the map. This rather than take advantage of an opportunity to skirt the historic district with the new road by following the district boundary along the back channel and leaving a large section of the historic road through the estate in place for recreational use. New Bridge and Road Historic Bridge Isolated

Real Stone Masonry Is Historic Material

History Overshadowed by Applied Decoration

More Appropriate Designs for Rural and Suburban Settings Simple, Quiet Designs Use Color To Blend Let Context or Setting Make Statement

National Policy Since 1979 Since 1979, codified (36 CFR 67) measure of appropriateness for federally funded or permitted work to identified historic properties. 10 Points Guiding Rehabilitation & New Construction

Criteria Against Which Effects Assessed 3. Changes that create a false sense of historical development shall not be undertaken. 9. New Construction shall be differentiated from the old and be compatible with the massing, size, and character of the setting…

Creating False History Decorated Box Beams Attempt to Recreate Arch Bridge Not Conform to SOI Standards Old Arch Box Beam Superstructure

Old New Bridge Uses Principles of Good Design to Be Compatible with History: Meets SOI Standards New TY Lin International’s Olympia-Yashiro Friendship Bridge Olympia, WA

Good Contemporary Design Compliments Historic & Scenic Contexts Yuma, AZ I-8

Looking Forward In Historic District Source: Anonymous

New Sauvie Island Bridge Modern Technology … and history in the making. Courtesy Robert Hadlow, ODOT

Many Times Workhorse Bridge Is OK P. Brandenburg Standard Designs Are Often The Correct Design: It’s Our History Too

Historic Districts – Generally All About Scale and Material Moderns Still Needs to Blend with Historic

Old Informs New to Preserve Historic Significance Oregon’s Stealth Railing Provides 10 Kip Containment ; Used When Design Exception Can Be Supported.

Old Informs New To Preserve Historic Significance Same Intent – Preserve Original Design While Making Adequate for Current Use Carroll Co. Indiana

Old Informs New To Preserve Historic Significance Successful Modification of Standard Design

Forming (and Enjoying) Traffic Railings

Old Informs New To Preserve Historic Significance Is This An Adverse Effect? Let’s Talk …

Dayton @ Confluence 4 Rivers -- 10 bridges 1907-1927 City Embark on Construction Campaign Using Good Contemporary Design Based on Old City Beautiful Movement Philosophy

8 Bridges At End of Useful Life – Rehab Not Prudent Washington St. “We learned a lot on this one.”

The Learning Curve Ridge Ave Monument Ave Monument Ave

New Does Not Have to Replicate Old … SHPO Agrees Old Bridge

Stewart St Replacement Moves To Strong Statement of Own Time and Context Reflects Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Design Team Woolpert Engineering TY Lin International

Thank You Mary E. McCahon memccahon@transystems.com