The Connecticut Chapter of Professional Woman in Construction (PWC-CT) will host a panel discussion and meeting entitled “Issues and Impacts: Southern New England Historic Preservation”, on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Hartford Marriott in Rocky Hill, CT. The meeting - which is open to the public (registration and payment info below) - is one in a series of educational and networking programs hosted by PWC-CT. The programs are tailored to professionals in the architectural, engineering and construction fields, as well others who may be interested in those subjects.
The rise of sustainable design and the subsequent greening of the construction industry have breathed new life into Historic Preservation and Adaptive Reuse projects. There are many excellent reasons to preserve and recycle existing buildings: among them, the fact that re-use of existing building sites is more sustainable, and preserves the materials and human capital already expended in the buildings’ construction. Preserving the historic character of a structure can range from an exacting restoration to the transformation of an older building into a new, modern and eco-conscious facility.
The evening’s panel includes individuals who represent the full spectrum of these efforts to maintain existing, historic buildings ~ with respect to past aesthetics and cultural significance, and with understanding for the demands that the present and future will create for owners and users of these unique structures. And in a year that has brought an unusual number of severe weather occurrences, CTPWC will be bringing meeting attendees stories of the difficult task at least two of the panelists are engaged in to recover from flooding and tornadoes.
The panelists are Kathy Maher / The Barnum Museum, Bridgeport, CT, Executive Director and Curator (an F1 Tornado damaged the museum in June 2010); Helen Hark Curry / Look, LLC, great-granddaughter of Cass Gilbert, Architect for Waterbury’s Historic City Hall; Christopher M. Cignoli, P.E. / City of Springfield, City Engineer / Public Works; Daniel Hughes / Forest City Residential Group, Vice President of Construction for Winchester Repeating Arms Adaptive Reuse; Sally Katz / Trinity College, Director of Facilities Planning & Management for the Long Walk Project. The moderator is Vance Freymann /Consigli Construction Company, Inc., President, Providence Preservation Society
Founded in 1980, Professional Women in Construction is a national non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization committed to advancing professional, entrepreneurial and managerial opportunities for women and other "non-traditional" populations in construction and related industries. Members of the Connecticut Chapter of PWC represent all major disciplines within our industry, and are drawn from Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. PWC programs in Connecticut present the very latest in current industry topics, and provide exceptional networking and business development opportunities for members and guests. Membership is open to women and men, private companies and public agencies actively engaged in the design / construction / real estate development fields as well as businesses supplying goods and services to the industry. PWC-CT supports education for in fields of architecture, construction and engineering, and recognizes ongoing professional excellence with two annual awards: the “Woman on the Rise” award, given to a promising young professional, and the “Woman of Accomplishment” award, given to a women working in the A/E/C professions who has made a significant and valuable contribution in her field of endeavor.
This PWC meeting and discussion will be held on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 6:30 p.m., at the Hartford Marriott, 100 Capital Boulevard in Rocky Hill, CT. Open to the public. All attendees must pre-register online by Friday, October 28, at www.pwcusa.org/CT. Cost: PWC members $50; nonmembers $75. Registration and networking begin at 5:30 p.m.; cash bar; dinner and program at 6:30.
