The NY Statewide Preservation Conference was held in Rochester, NY from April 15-17. The NY Statewide Preservation Conference is a multi-day gathering for anyone involved in preservation and community revitalization. It’s an opportunity to learn, network, and become inspired. Our staff presented on various different panels.

Our Director of Historic Preservation, Julian Adams, presented alongside Mark Thaler, AIA, NCARB, Partner for Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture & Preservation, and Colleen Heemeyer, the Deputy Director of Sacred Sites & Preservation Services at The New York Landmarks Conservancy, highlighting the importance of Adaptive Reuse of Historic Houses of Worship. Thousands of historic houses of worship lie vacant in this country. Finding new ways to reuse these buildings is enormously important to our communities, our culture, and our climate.

Carmina Wood Design's President and CEO Steven Carmina, AIA, and Senior Historic Preservation Architect Bradley Everdyke, RA presented The Nash Lofts project at Michigan Avenue and Broadway, in tandem with the President, Buffalo Chapter NAACP, Reverend Mark Blue and Partner, Cannon, Heyman & Weiss, LLP Timmon M. Favarro. The project took an entire block of buildings with mixed uses and conditions and created a new gateway from downtown to the East Side of Buffalo. The historic Nash Lofts building highlights the importance of creating new housing, retail, and not-for-profit spaces, honoring the history of the buildings and neighborhood.

Our company sponsored speaker Nakita Reed, AIA, CPHC, LEED AP BD+C, NOMA | Senior Associate, Quinn Evans. She was the Key Note speaker for, Resilient Regeneration: The Importance of Being Historic and Sustainable. Her presentation addressed the issues of climate crisis and social inequity which can only be solved through reimagining the built environment. Reusing, adapting, and renewing existing buildings is both the greatest challenge and greatest opportunity for quick and lasting climate impact.