Page 21 - State College, PA Design Guidelines

2 Historic Preservation and

Project Planning

Historic preservation is well established in State College. While community
goals and economic conditions change over time, preserving the heritage of
the Holmes-Foster/Highlands and College Heights historic districts remains a
primary goal.

This chapter presents an overview of historic preservation and its principles.
It also provides guidance on how to plan a preservation project and outlines
different treatment categories for historic properties.

In This Chapter

What Does Historic Preservation Mean? ................................................... 16
Determining Historic Significance ...........................................................................16
Why Preserve? ................................................................................................... 19
Cultural/Social Component of Sustainability .......................................................20
Environmental Component of Sustainability .......................................................21
Economic Component of Sustainability ................................................................23
Overarching Preservation Guidelines and Principles ................................ 24
Considering Context .................................................................................................26
Contemporary Design in Historic Districts .........................................................27
Planning a Preservation Project ..................................................................... 28
Step 1: Determine Building Significance .................................................................28
Step 2: Determine Building Integrity .......................................................................28
Step 3: Define Program Requirements ...................................................................28
Step 4: Determine the Treatment Strategy for a Building ..................................28
Choosing a Treatment Strategy for Character-Defining Features of a Historic
Building ..........................................................................................................................32
Locating Facade Improvements ...............................................................................33

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