For decades, the Historic Structure Report (HSR) has been a mainstay of historic preservation planning.  HSRs record in detail the existing physical conditions of historic buildings while providing treatment recommendations that are ranked by priority based on the respective significance of various features and the level of urgency associated with their need for restoration or repair.  An HSR also records the history, development, and significance of a property based on thorough research by the author.   HSR documents include a substantial body of text supported by annotated photographs and drawings.  It is advisable to obtain an HSR before undertaking major physical work on a historically significant property.

Harboe Architects is a nationally recognized expert in the production of Historic Structure Reports.  The firm and its staff have completed dozens of HSRs for properties ranging from locally significant buildings to National Historic Landmarks.  In addition to conducting our own historic research and technical investigation, we engage an outstanding team of specialized consultants to evaluate components such as structure, mechanical systems, and historic finishes.  Our assessments and recommendations are always grounded in the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

A condition assessment is similar to a historic structure report but is relatively brief and not as extensive in its detailing of a building’s history or its recommendations for treatment.  More elaborate than a standard building inspection, a condition assessment can be a valuable tool for prospective buyers who seek more information about the state of a historic property before proceeding with acquisition, or for property owners who need a more targeted study of existing conditions in preparation for a specific project.  A condition assessment generally involves a more limited scope, schedule, and budget than a historic structure report.  If more extensive documentation and recommendations are subsequently desired, a condition assessment may be further developed into a full historic structure report.

The Conservation Management Plan (CMP) has emerged as a premier form of planning document for the long-term stewardship of historic buildings and sites.  CMPs are especially valuable for guiding the maintenance and evolution of highly significant landmarks that are managed by a dedicated team of caretakers.  CMPs provide practical direction for conserving the fabric of aging buildings while explicitly accounting for both the tangible and intangible values associated with cultural heritage properties.  Harboe Architects is an established leader in the preparation of Conservation Management Plans.  Our process is highly collaborative, and we facilitate workshops that engage multiple stakeholders to help inform our production of comprehensive and balanced CMP documents.  We offer robust experience in the development of conservation management plans, including the CMP for Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s own home in Wisconsin – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that encompasses numerous historically significant buildings and a cultural landscape.

Whether the client already owns a building or is performing due diligence before acquiring a property, a feasibility study can help to determine the viability of a proposed use for an existing building before an owner or prospective buyer makes a larger investment. Harboe Architects deploys technical preservation knowledge and creative spatial planning to assess the physical, economic, and code-related feasibility of a potential project.

Maintenance is both one of the most important and most often overlooked components of historic preservation. When a restoration or rehabilitation project is finished, it is essential to have a detailed plan for everyday care to optimize the longevity of the work that has been completed. Harboe Architects authors maintenance plans to support building owners in the long-term stewardship of historic buildings, structures, and sites.

Prior to developing architectural documents for a specific project, it can be crucial to have a guiding plan for the future growth, development, and evolution of an entire building or site.  Harboe Architects collaborates with each client to identify priorities and needs through interactive programming and pre-design exercises that culminate in the production of a masterplan.  The resulting document allows the owner to proceed with confidence and clarity as they undertake improvement projects – often in phased increments. 

Site plans are valuable for guiding the future development of properties that encompass multiple buildings and properties that are defined by the relationship of buildings to their surrounding landscape. Harboe Architects offers services in site planning with special expertise in producing plans that allow historic sites to grow and evolve without compromising critical features such as viewsheds, approaches, open spaces, and other key elements of cultural landscapes. Our site plans often include a system of “preservation zoning” that classifies parts of a site according to a scale of primary, secondary, and tertiary significance. Harboe Architects engages landscape architects and other consultants as needed to ensure that each plan addresses the full complexity of the site.

Established in 1966 and administered by the National Park Service, the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) records the stories and physical characteristics of historic resources that are significant at the local, state, or national level.  Although listing in the National Register is primarily an honorific designation, it can also provide a measure of protection from the adverse effects of federally funded undertakings, such as infrastructure projects.  Over time, the standards for quality of documentation have become increasingly rigorous for listing in the National Register.  Harboe Architects has extensive experience with preparing NRHP documents and successfully shepherding nominations through the state and federal review processes.  We are available to author nominations for both individual buildings and multi-property districts.

Unlike National Register listing, the local designation of individual landmarks and districts provides significant protection against the demolition or insensitive alteration of historic properties – especially the portions of buildings that are visible from public rights of way. Harboe Architects prepares documents for local landmark and district designations and assists clients through the administrative processes required to obtain designation.         

Substantial federal tax credits are available to defray the costs of capital improvements to income-producing historic buildings. In some locations, similar state tax credits can be paired with federal credits to provide developers with even larger subsidies. To qualify for historic tax credits, buildings must be individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or located within an NRHP-listed district. Qualifying projects must comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Harboe Architects assists property owners and investors with all stages of the tax credit application process. Concurrently, we provide the full range of architectural services for historic tax credit projects.

In addition to providing historic building research in service of larger projects such as historic structure reports and conservation management plans, Harboe Architects provides standalone research services for owners who seek more information about the overall history of a building or a specific element of a building. With extensive experience in historic building research, Harboe Architects prepares thorough and well-documented reports on a wide variety of special topics.

Funding is a critical piece of any undertaking in historic preservation. Harboe Architects possesses the expertise to assist in applications for a broad variety of grants supporting research, documentation, planning, and capital improvements for historic buildings.

Since 1933, the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) has been administered by the National Park Service and the Library of Congress to document the richness of American architectural heritage through photographs and through drawings that follow an exacting set of standards for detail and accuracy. The Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) was established in 1969 to document historic works of engineering. The resulting measured drawings yield valuable information about historic buildings and structures, whether they are still intact or have been lost to demolition or insensitive alteration. Harboe Architects is available to prepare HABS/HAER drawings.