TBCS Previous Show: Charleston, SC, March 2017

On the cobblestoned streets of Charleston, beneath towering Palmettos and surrounded by the mingling aromas of fresh shrimp, fried chicken, and horse-drawn carriages, The Traditional Building Conference Series hosted their second event of 2017 at the Mills House Hotel on Meeting Street.

For two days attendees sacrificed Southern sunshine to engage with suppliers, network with fellow building experts, and learn from established industry veterans such as Chick McBrien and Brent Hull. One of the highlights of this Traditional Building Conference was Nathaniel Walker, a Professor at nearby College of Charleston, who gave a lively discussion about new Traditional Architecture programs at universities and how they are helping to invigorate the industry with new ideas and young blood.

But the conference wasn’t all ballrooms and catered luncheons; the event included two walking tours: Neoclassicism and More on and Near Meeting and Broad Streets and A Beaux Arts Revival: The Rehabilitation of the Gibbes Museum of Art.

Through attention to detail and respect for traditional materials and methods, residential housing around Broad and Meeting Streets has been restored to its former glory. The neighborhoods are truly a charm to explore. Look closely and you’ll see the handiwork of some of our speakers!

Talks and classes at TBCS Charleston included:

• Historic Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse: Designing with a Developer - Elizabeth Corbin Murphy, FAIA and Dalton Kline

• Historic Window Rehabilitation - Charles "Chick" McBrien

• Traditional Plaster 101 - Patrick Webb

• Traditional Doors: A Master Class on Craft, Form and Function - Brent Hull

• Historic Tax Credits: Residential and Commercial Rehabilitation -Daniel Elswick and Pam Kendrick of The South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office and Betty Prime

• The Destructive Force of Water and What to Do About It - Craig Bennett