Preservation Futures is a Chicago-based firm exploring the future of historic preservation through research, action, and design.
Founded by Elizabeth Blasius and Jonathan Solomon in 2021, Preservation Futures goes beyond historic preservation’s traditional approach to saving buildings to identify and shepherd future landmarks that elevate the social and cultural history embedded in places and spaces. Our work includes preservation of public buildings and spaces; preservation of the recent past; and preservation as a tool to increase justice, equity, and resiliency in the built environment. We prepare landmark register nominations and navigate tax incentives and other benefits related to preservation; produce research that informs public processes and policy decisions; and we plan programming and design creative interventions that develop audiences and engage communities.
Services
01
Local and National Landmarking
Different jurisdictions offer different levels of visibility, protection, and incentives for historic buildings and spaces. Landmarking elevates a building’s cultural status and adds it to historical records. The research and analysis required to prepare a landmark designation often uncovers information not previously known. In order to receive federal and some state historic rehabilitation tax credits, the property must be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a program administered by the National Park Service.
02
Design Consulting
Properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places must follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation in order to receive tax incentives. Our understanding of these standards makes us valuable partners on design projects eligible for rehabilitation tax credits.
03
Regulatory Compliance
Federal, state and local agencies require that projects are in compliance with applicable historic preservation laws and ordinances, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). We are experienced in assisting public and private sector clients comply with these regulations in a variety of settings. We exceed the Secretary of the Interior (SOI) Professional Qualification Standards as published in the Code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61 for Architectural History and Historic Architecture.
04
Historic Surveys and Context Statements
Historical knowledge enriches spaces and places whether it results in landmark status or not. Architectural surveys can provide a framework for understanding where the process of historic preservation might begin. Context statements provide a comprehensive history of a place that can serve as a basis for programming or exhibits. We perform freelance research in historic archives and in the field to help you understand how the past and the present can help guide your future.
05
Preservation Advocacy
People make a preservation project successful. We are experienced in developing and delivering advocacy messages and strategies to make sure that your story is heard and appreciated. We are your creative partner.
06
Historic Tax Credits and Incentives
Historic Preservation is development. Understanding historic tax credits and incentives and integrating them into project planning can help a project achieve its goals. The Federal Government and 35 states offer tax incentives to care for historic buildings. The most common of these is the 20% federal tax credit administered by the National Park Service and the Internal Revenue Service. Local governments also offer incentives, often in tandem with local landmarking.
07
Arts and Cultural Programming
Interpretation of historical sites through arts and cultural programming enriches their history and helps share their value. We interpret architectural history and historic preservation for a broad public audience, and we work to integrate it into programming, exhibit design, and user experience.
Partners
Elizabeth Blasius
Elizabeth Blasius is an architectural historian and writer. She has worked extensively in the public and private sector, consulting clients in following the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Her specialization within this work is how preservation policies come into play in the recovery and mitigation of the historic built environment following an event of climate violence, or other act of destruction. Blasius writes a monthly column for Mas Context, a non-profit architecture and design platform. Blasius has previously served as the Midwest editor of The Architect’s Newspaper and has had her writing published in Bloomberg CityLab, Curbed, The Chicago Tribune, and Block Club Chicago.
Elizabeth Blasius is an architectural historian and writer. She has worked extensively in the public and private sector, consulting clients in following the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Her specialization within this work is how preservation policies come into play in the recovery and mitigation of the historic built environment following an event of climate violence, or other act of destruction. Blasius writes a monthly column for Mas Context, a non-profit architecture and design platform. Blasius has previously served as the Midwest editor of The Architect’s Newspaper and has had her writing published in Bloomberg CityLab, Curbed, The Chicago Tribune, and Block Club Chicago.
Jonathan Solomon
Jonathan Solomon, FAIA, is an architect and Associate Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His diverse work includes award-winning adaptive reuse design, preservation consultation, and scholarship. Solomon has two decades of international experience in arts leadership. He has directed schools, taught, and developed programming with institutions worldwide, including serving as a founding editor of 306090 Books, a curator of the US Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, and a director of the independent Chicago gallery Space p11. Solomon is a registered architect in the State of Illinois and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
Jonathan Solomon, FAIA, is an architect and Associate Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His diverse work includes award-winning adaptive reuse design, preservation consultation, and scholarship. Solomon has two decades of international experience in arts leadership. He has directed schools, taught, and developed programming with institutions worldwide, including serving as a founding editor of 306090 Books, a curator of the US Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, and a director of the independent Chicago gallery Space p11. Solomon is a registered architect in the State of Illinois and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
Principles
01
Preservation is more than just one story
Preservation’s traditional approach to saving buildings considered by experts to have architectural value is both narrow and burdened by implicit and explicit biases. Preservation isn’t only for buildings; and value isn’t solely defined by expertise. History is made of multiple, overlapping, and sometimes even contradictory stories. We acknowledge that no single story is more deserving than others, and embrace complexity and contradiction in our work.
02
Preservation is both Legislative and Creative
Sometimes the best way to ensure a story is told is to work through preservation policy. Other times, stories emerge from creative engagement with people and communities. We understand and execute preservation legislation and we develop and encourage preservation as a creative practice.
03
Preservation is Collaborative and Ongoing
The work of preservation isn’t always visible, there is never a single author to a preservation outcomes, and the work of preservation is never complete. We provide support for preservation policy, participate in processes that increase the public good, and work with people to illuminate their stories.
04
Preservation is for Everyone
We believe that part of the right to the city is a right to history. Everyone deserves access to the benefits associated with historic preservation regardless of their capital and regardless of where their story fits into majority narratives. We work specifically to expand the range and purview of historic preservation for communities that have not traditionally been served by it.
05
Preservation is about the Future
We believe in the Hereclitian maxim that change is the only constant. Our goal is to connect the past, present, and future through research, action, and design; so that we might all change together into an increasingly better world.