Avoid the Money Pit: Planning + Managing a Renovation or a Rehabilitation Project
Date: Saturday, February 19th 2011, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Strathcona Community Centre, 601 Keefer Street, Vancouver
Instructors: James Burton, BSC, B.Arch, MAIBC, Architect and Principal, Birmingham & Wood and
Jake Fry, Owner, Smallworks Studios/Laneway Houses Inc.
Overview of the Course
As one the four key electives for the Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s Certificate in Heritage
Conservation, this day-long course is designed to outline the key decisions in a building renovation or
rehabilitation project and to assist in the future decision-making process for a project which involves either
older and/or heritage-listed buildings. Although this process will vary based on the type of building and its
scale, the budget and the condition of the structure as well as its future use, there will be a number of
common characteristics for the planned interventions.
In planning their presentations, the instructors will use the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation
of Historic Places in Canada, as the starting point for the conservation of the existing structure. This
course will then move from “principles to practice” to develop planning and management strategies to
guide the overall work.
Interactive discussions will be encouraged and instructors will use local projects and a “hands-on”
approach to learning whenever possible. Participants may elect to take this one-day course either as an
individual course, one of three key electives for the Certificate Program.
This course will be of specific interest to building contractors, renovators, planners, architects, engineers,
interior designers, building managers and inspectors, realtors, local government staff and commercial and
residential property owners.
Learning Objectives
The objectives of the course are to:
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provide an overview of the steps involved and to engage participants in the process of planning
and managing a rehabilitation project
illustrate the steps involved through a series of illustrated case studies followed by a site visit to a
rehabilitation project in Vancouver
9:00 – 9:10 am
Welcome and Introductions
Key aspects of this course:
 it will build on the prerequisite, “Heritage 101: Understanding Heritage Conservation”
 emphasize on the continued use of older buildings in the urban context
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move from “principles to practice” by illustrating and translating the spirit of the “Standards and
Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada” in three local case studies
analyze the key components of a project from three different perspectives: design and
construction; the regulatory environment; building owner’s expectations
9:10 – 10:15 am
Session One: What is rehabilitation?
1. Vocabulary
2. Case Study: 1400 Block West 11th Avenue
Presenter: James Burton
To set the stage for the day, this session will first set out a shared vocabulary for rehabilitation projects,
and will then use a case study to illustrate the topics to be addressed throughout the course.
1. Vocabulary:
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Preservation: protecting, maintaining, and/or stabilizing existing material
Restoration: accurately revealing, recovering, or representing a particular period in history
Rehabilitation: achieving a continuing or compatible use
2. Case Study 1: Housing in the 1400 Block of West 11th Avenue
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1400 West 11th is a modest residential development that illustrates the challenges of a making a
rehabilitation project viable; issues faced at 1400 apply to every rehabilitation project, no matter
how large or small
Balancing project costs and heritage conservation: the goal is to reach a consensus on an
acceptable level of heritage conservation that is do-able because it is economically
feasible
The needs of the two centrals players need to be met:
o The owner/developer needs to have the rehabilitation project make financial sense
o The municipality needs to see the public benefits of heritage conservation
Opportunities for the developer
Challenges of heritage conservation
o Management challenges:
 Approvals process: the time-consuming Heritage Revitalization Agreement
process
 Underground parking under existing houses
 Phasing of construction
 Protection of heritage fabric
 Retention of heritage materials on site to the satisfaction of the municipal
authority (HRA’s often stipulate that the heritage fabric is kept safe and secure on
site)
Preservation: protecting, maintaining A project whose primary treatment is rehabilitation will
inevitably will entail some preservation and some restoration work (I will show examples in the
Case Study following)
Planning – actual design work
Management – organization of players in the design and approvals process
What are the goals of a renovation or rehabilitation project? How does these differ?
Who is involved?
Where does one start?
The need for planning and developing a team
A professional team and/or doing-it-yourself
Understanding the building fabric—physical evidence and archival research
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What to keep and what you wish to change
Renovations and sustainability
Repair vs. replacement
Addressing competing objectives on a project
Financial realities—opportunities and challenges
Local regulations including building codes and permits
Creating a budget and timeline
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What are the goals of a renovation or rehabilitation project? How do these differ?
10:15 – 10:30 am
Break
10:30 am – 11:45 am
Session Two: Planning a Rehabilitation
Case Study: 1400 Block West 11th Avenue (a group exercise)
Presenter: James Burton
This session will have the group develop a plan for the rehabilitation of the heritage buildings and their
site from the perspectives of the owner, consultants, and permitting authority (usually municipal staff). An
informal Statement of Significance and Conservation Plan will be generated as part of this process.
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Creating/refining a vision for rehabilitating a building and its site, including proposed use(s)
Building a team: it all depends on the complexity
Owner: determining what is needed in the way of change and setting a budget for the changes
Consultants
The Owner may not have the knowledge to do the above work, in which case consultants and
other advisors are needed:
o Architect (may also be Heritage Consultant)
o Heritage Consultant
o Cost Consultant (may be a contractor practiced in rehabilitation projects)
o Development Consultant (may be a contractor practiced in rehabilitation projects)
Municipal Staff
o Planning Staff and Heritage Planning Staff
o Are usually involved in finalizing a form of development and scope for conservation
o Building Permit Staff make preliminary and then detailed assessment of design for its
conformance to the governing building code
o Municipal Inspectors
Others
o Homeowner Protection Office
o Workers Compensation Board
o Provincial departments
11:45 am - noon
1400 Block as it was completed
This session will examine the what actually transpired in view of explore the creation of a plan for the
rehabilitation of a heritage building and its site from the perspectives of the owner, consultants, and
permitting authority (usually municipal staff), and compare with previous group exercise.
Noon – 12:45 pm
Lunch
12:45 – 2:00 pm
Session Three: A Series of Three Case Studies—Planning and Managing a
Restoration, a Renovation/Rehabilitation and a Laneway House
Presenter: Jake Frey
Questions and Discussion
2:00 – 2:15 pm
Tour of a Strathcona project TBA
2:15 – 3:00 pm
Session Four:
Case Study:
Managing a Rehabilitation Project
Strathcona project TBA Presenter: James Burton
This session will explore a framework for managing the rehabilitation of a heritage building and its site
from the perspectives of the owner, consultants, and permitting authority (usually municipal staff). A good
management strategy ensures the successful execution of the initial vision for the rehabilitation.
Images: photos of the building, architectural drawings for the rehabilitation
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Setting a budget to suit the vision
Understanding the approvals process for rehabilitations
The pro forma; understanding development costs
Forming the team: knowing what you know and don’t know
Owner roles
Consultant roles
Municipal staff
The role of the Statement of Significance and the Conservation Plan
Site considerations:
o Continuous occupancy or temporary relocation?
o Protection of trees and other site elements
o Protection of heritage fabric
Monitoring protection of heritage fabric during construction
o Storage and/or protection of heritage fabric
o Heritage Alteration Permits
3:00 – 3:15 pm
Break; Commence course evaluations
3:15 – 3:45 pm
Session Five: A Rehabilitation Project – the whole picture
656-664 East Georgia Street Presenter: James Burton, Owner and Architect
This in-classroom session will introduce the planning and managing of an infill housing project that
incorporated the rehabilitation of two heritage buildings. It will deal in detail about the players involved,
their responsibilities, and the process of realizing the owner’s vision.
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The case study will outline these key points:
 Communication between owner, consultants, and municipal staff
 Owners’ vision and planning
 Planning and municipal approvals
 Management of budget
 Alterations to initial plans, as heritage fabric materialized
 Compromises
3:45 – 4:45 pm
Session Six: On-Site Examining at 656-664 East Georgia Street
Presenter: James Burton, Owner and Architect
This “walk about” will permit an interactive discussion from the various perspectives (656-664 owner,
consultants and group participants) for an informal exchange on rehabilitation issues and experiences
during the visit.
Suggested questions for discussion during the site visit:
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What are the ingredients for the successful management of this rehabilitation?
How does one measure success?
Why is it important to understand the overall “vision”?
What are the key lessons learned along the way?
What would you advise a building owner to consider prior to undertaking a heritage conservation
project based on your personal experience?
4:45 – 5:00 pm
Questions on the material presented during the day.
Course concludes with the course evaluations at the site visit
Selected References
“Renovations & Alterations”, Consumer Build, Department of Building and Housing and Consumer, New Zealand,
website: http://www.consumerbuild.org.nz/publish/stepbystep/step-renovationg.php
Developing a Conservation Strategy for a Heritage Building. How–To Series No. 6. Winnipeg: Manitoba Culture,
Heritage and Citizenship, Historic Resources Branch, 1994. ISBN 0771109059.
Duguay, Gary. The Architectural Preservation Process. Heritage Notes no. 4. Edmonton: Alberta Historical
Resources Foundation and Alberta Community Development [formerly Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism], 1992.
Eight Guiding Principles in the Conservation of Historic Properties. Architectural Conservation Note no. 1. Toronto:
Ontario Ministry of Culture, 1997. http://www.culture.gov.on.ca/english/culdiv/
heritage/conote1.htm
Feilden, Bernard M. Conservation of Historic Buildings. Rev. ed. Oxford, Boston: Butterworth Architecture, 1994.
ISBN 075061739X.
Fisher, Charles E. III, ed. Caring for Your Historic House. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Heritage Preservation, and
National Park Service, 1998. ISBN 0810940876; 0810927799 (pbk.).
Foulks, William G., ed. Historic Building Façades: The Manual for Maintenance and Rehabilitation. New York: John
Wiley & Sons and New York Landmarks Conservancy, 1997. ISBN 0471144150.
Fram, Mark. Well–Preserved: the Ontario Heritage Foundation's Manual of Principles and Practice for Architectural
Conservation. Erin, Ont.: The Boston Mills Press for the Ontario Heritage Foundation, third revised edition, 2003.
ISBN 550463861.
Lemon, Robert. Rehabilitation Principles and Guidelines. Edited by Mary McKinnon.Technical Paper series no. 11.
Victoria: British Columbia Heritage Trust, 1989. ISBN 0771887701.
McDonald, Travis C. Jr. Understanding Old Buildings: The Process of Architectural Investigation. Preservation Brief
no. 35. Washington, D.C.: National Park Service, Heritage Preservation Services Division, Technical Preservation
Services, 1994. http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/briefs/brief35.htm
Marquis–Kyle, Peter and Meredith Walker. The Illustrated Burra Charter: Making Good Decisions About the Care of
Important Places. Sydney: Australia ICOMOS and Australian Heritage Commission, 1992; reprint ed. 1996. ISBN
064612403X.
Morton, W. Brown III, Gary L. Hume, Kay D. Weeks and H. Ward Jandl. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for
Rehabilitation and Illustrated Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of
the Interior, National Park Service, 1991, reprint ed. 1997. ISBN 0160359791.
http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/tax/rhb/index.htm
Nelson, Lee H. Architectural Character: Identifying the Visual Aspects of Historic Buildings as an Aid to Preserving
Their Character. Preservation Brief no. 17.Washington, D.C.: National Park Service, Heritage Preservation Services
Division, Technical Preservation Services, 1988. http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/briefs/brief17.htm
Oberlander, Judy, Harold Kalman and Robert Lemon. Principles of Heritage Conservation. Edited by Mary McKinnon.
Technical Paper series no. 9. Victoria: British Columbia Heritage Trust, 1989.
ISBN 077188768X.
Oberlander, Judy, Harold Kalman and Robert Lemon. Restoration Principles and Procedures. Edited by Mary
McKinnon. Technical Paper series no. 10. Victoria: British Columbia Heritage Trust, 1989.
ISBN 0771887698.
Parker, Elyse. A Guide to Heritage Structure Investigations. Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Culture and Recreation,
Heritage Administration Branch, 1979. ISBN 0774341912.
Rabun, J. Stanley. Structural Analysis of Historic Buildings: Restoration, Preservation and Adaptive Reuse
Applications for Architects and Engineers. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2000.
ISBN 0471315451.
Slaton, Deborah. The Preparation and Use of Historic Structures Reports. Preservation Brief 43. Technical
Preservation Services, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C., 2005.
0885-7016 http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/briefs/brief43.htm
ISSN:
Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada, Ottawa, Ontario: Parks Canada, Her
Majesty the Right of Queen in Canada, 2003. ISBN 0662348974.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/pc/guide/nldclpc-sgchpc/index_e.asp
The Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural significance. 4th ed. Canberra: Australia
ICOMOS Inc., 1999. http://www.icomos.org/australia/burra.html
Weaver, Martin E. and F.G. Matero. Conserving Buildings: Guide to Techniques and Materials. Rev. ed. New York:
Preservation Press, 1997. ISBN 0471509442.
Weeks, Kay D. and Anne E. Grimmer. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic
Properties, with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Reconstructing Historic Buildings.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1995. ISBN 0160480612.
http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/Standards/index.htm
The Secretary of the Interiors’ Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving,
Rehabilitating, Restoring & Reconstructing Historic Buildings is an outstanding resource both in print and electronic form.
Originally published in 1992, The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, were
reviewed by a broad cross-section of government entities and private sector organizations. The 1995 Guidelines for
Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring and Reconstructing Historic Buildings, by Kay D. Weeks and Anne E. Grimmer, were
developed in cooperation with the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers and reviewed by individual
State Historic Preservation Offices nationwide. In 2001, the Guidelines content was transformed into an illustrated,
navigable web site: http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/standguide/index.htm
“A Checklist for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings” published by the Technical Preservation Services of the National
Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.
http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/cheklist.htm