About the Presentation:

Frank Lloyd Wright, often called the father of organic architecture, was quoted as stating “the building should be a natural circumstance of the land”. At his masterpiece estate, “the land” is slowly reclaiming his buildings. Walls are sagging, stone walkways are sinking and bricks are tilting upward. Many of the structures were not meant to be permanent and did not even meet the building codes of the time. Restoration of the estate, which could cost in excess of $60 million, continues to be a challenge as preservationists struggle to stabilize the property without affecting its historical significance.

About the Presenter:

Jim’s long association with the Taliesin Estate began in 1977 when, as the Senior Preservation Architect for the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office, he administered grants and oversaw the work on the Hillside School and Drafting Studio and the Midway Farm properties.

In 1990, Jim was made part of the newly formed Taliesin Preservation Commission to guide the restoration of the Romeo and Juliet tower. They have continued to develop the framework for restoration of the entire site.

In recent years Jim has been involved in consulting and documenting numerous projects on the estate. In March, 2010, after retiring from the State Historic Preservation Office, Jim was made an independent consultant by Taliesin Preservation, Inc. the successor to the Taliesin Preservation Commission. In his new position, Jim has a number of responsibilities including ensuring that the ongoing work is consistent with the historic character of the property and meets the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, and to establish the framework for, and to chair, an internal oversight committee to develop, prioritize, and guide future work on the estate.

About AIA Grand Valley:

As the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, AIA Grand Valley represents and promotes the professional interests of Architects in West Michigan by providing educational opportunities for current and future architects, though public engagment and advocacy, and through community service. To learn more about AIA Grand Valley, please visit our website at www.aiagv.org