SAH New England Conference

SAH New England Conference is a regional conference of the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH), which aims to promote the study and preservation of architectural history in New England. The conference brings together architects, historians, preservationists, and scholars from Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Yale University, and other institutions to share their research and knowledge on architectural heritage. The conference is supported by organizations such as the National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the New England Museum Association. It also collaborates with other regional conferences, including the Society of Architectural Historians Pacific Northwest Chapter and the Midwest Society of Architectural Historians.

● Introduction

The SAH New England Conference is a platform for discussing the rich architectural history of New England, which includes notable buildings such as the Faneuil Hall in Boston, the Newport Mansions in Rhode Island, and the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut. The conference features presentations on various topics, including colonial architecture, Victorian architecture, and modern architecture, with a focus on the works of renowned architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, and I.M. Pei. The conference also explores the intersection of architecture and urban planning, with case studies from cities like Boston, Providence, and Portland, Maine. Additionally, it examines the role of historic preservation in maintaining the region's cultural heritage, with examples from the National Register of Historic Places and the Historic American Buildings Survey.

● History

The SAH New England Conference has a long history dating back to the 1970s, when it was first established by a group of architectural historians from Harvard University, Yale University, and Brown University. The conference has since grown to include members from a wide range of institutions, including University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Connecticut, and University of Maine. Over the years, the conference has featured presentations by notable speakers, including Vincent Scully, Robert Venturi, and Denise Scott Brown, who have discussed topics such as postmodern architecture, sustainable architecture, and landscape architecture. The conference has also collaborated with other organizations, such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

● Organization

The SAH New England Conference is organized by a committee of architectural historians and preservationists from various institutions in New England. The committee is responsible for planning the conference program, which includes selecting speakers, organizing sessions, and coordinating logistics. The conference is also supported by a number of sponsors, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA). Additionally, the conference partners with other regional organizations, such as the New England Architectural Center and the Boston Society of Architects, to promote the study and preservation of architectural history in the region.

● Conference Proceedings

The proceedings of the SAH New England Conference are published annually and feature papers presented at the conference. The proceedings are a valuable resource for architectural historians, preservationists, and scholars interested in the architectural history of New England. The proceedings have included papers on topics such as the history of architecture in Boston, the development of colonial architecture in New England, and the impact of modern architecture on urban planning in Providence. The proceedings are available online through the SAH Archipedia and in print through the University of Pennsylvania Press and the MIT Press.

● Notable Speakers

The SAH New England Conference has featured a number of notable speakers over the years, including Robert A.M. Stern, Frank Gehry, and Zaha Hadid. These speakers have discussed a wide range of topics, from sustainable architecture to digital architecture, and have shared their insights on the latest trends and developments in the field of architecture. The conference has also included presentations by historians such as Nikolaus Pevsner and Spiro Kostof, who have discussed the history of architecture and its relationship to art history and cultural history. Additionally, the conference has featured speakers from other fields, such as urban planning and landscape architecture, including Jane Jacobs and Frederick Law Olmsted.

● Past Conferences

Past conferences of the SAH New England Conference have been held in a variety of locations throughout New England, including Boston, Providence, and Portland, Maine. The conferences have featured presentations on a wide range of topics, from the history of architecture in New England to the latest developments in sustainable architecture and historic preservation. The conferences have also included tours of notable buildings and sites, such as the Faneuil Hall in Boston and the Newport Mansions in Rhode Island. The conferences have been supported by a number of organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the New England Museum Association, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Category:Architecture conferences