Mount Ida Press

04/23/2021

Timeline photos

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2021 SAH Publication Awards, and thank you to those of you who joined us at the virtual SAH Awards Ceremony yesterday. http://ow.ly/8Odf50EqqmG

04/23/2021

We are pleased to announce that the Society of Architectural Historians has awarded The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History by Diana S. Waite the 2021 Antoinette Forrester Downing Book Award.

11/20/2020

Excellence Award Winner: The Architecture of Downtown Troy

Excellence Award Winner: The Architecture of Downtown Troy

Take a look at The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History by Diana S. Waite — one of the Preservation League of New York State's 2020 Excellen...

10/21/2020

’s small towns and big cities are full of !👻📚 Dive into some great, spooky books this month, available at the Visitor Center & Gift Shop, open Monday through Friday, 10am-2pm!

Plan Your Visit:⬇️
empirestateplaza.ny.gov/plaza-visitor-center-and-gift-shop

11/15/2019

Bob Cudmore - The Historians

Diana Waite's episode of The Historians, a podcast hosted by Bob Cudmore, is now available! The discussion is focused on her new book, The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History, recently published by SUNY Press.

Listen and download at www.bobcudmore.com.

The podcast is also available on Soundcloud (search for Bob Cudmore) and Apple iTunes. RISE, WMHT’s radio service for the blind in Albany and the Hudson Valley, airs each episode on Monday at 11:30 a.m. and Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. The Historians is heard Saturday at 12:05 p.m. on WCSS 1490 AM and 106.9 FM in Amsterdam; Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on WBDY (99.5 FM) in Binghamton.

* WHERE...The Greater Capital District, the mid-Hudson Valley, the Mohawk and Schoharie Valley, the Taconics, eastern Catskills, the Lake George Saratoga Region, the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, and southern Vermont.

10/31/2019

Bob Cudmore - The Historians

Mount Ida Press is pleased to announce that Diana Waite will be discussing her book “The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History" in episode 292 of the Historians Podcast with Bob Cudmore on Friday, November 15.

Listen and download The Historians Podcast at www.bobcudmore.com

The podcast is also available on Soundcloud (search for Bob Cudmore) and Apple iTunes. RISE, WMHT’s radio service for the blind in Albany and the Hudson Valley, airs each episode on Monday at 11:30 a.m. and Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. The Historians Podcast is heard Saturday at 12:05 p.m. on WCSS 1490 AM and 106.9 FM in Amsterdam; Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on WBDY (99.5 FM) in Binghamton.

* WHERE...The Greater Capital District, the mid-Hudson Valley, the Mohawk and Schoharie Valley, the Taconics, eastern Catskills, the Lake George Saratoga Region, the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, and southern Vermont.

10/02/2019

The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History - The New York History Blog

A lovely review on The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History by The New York History Blog!

Diana S. Waite's new book The Architecture of Downtown Troy tells the forgotten but surprising stories of the many significant buildings in downtown Troy.

08/08/2019

Please join us for a reception and book signing on September 5 at Rensselaer County Historical Society to celebrate the publication of The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History by Diana S. Waite!

06/20/2019

The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History (Rensselaer County Historical Society)

The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History is now available for pre-sale through Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/Architecture-Downtown-Troy-Illustrated-Rensselaer/dp/1438474733/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+architecture+of+downtown+troy&qid=1561051983&s=gateway&sr=8-1

This book tells the forgotten but surprising stories of the many handsome and significant buildings in downtown Troy, New York.

Located about 150 miles north of Manhattan, on the east bank of the Hudson River, the city of Troy, New York, was once an industrial giant. It led the nation in iron production throughout much of the nineteenth century, and its factories turned out bells and cast-iron stoves that were sold the world over. Its population was both enterprising and civic minded.

Along with Troy’s economic success came the public, commercial, educational, residential, and religious buildings to prove it. Stores, banks, churches, firehouses, and schools, both modest and sophisticated, sprouted up in the latest architectural styles, creating a lively and fashionable downtown. Row houses and brownstones for the middle class and the wealthy rivaled those in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

By the mid-twentieth century, however, Troy had dwindled in both prominence and population. Downtown stagnated, leaving building facades and interiors untouched, often for decades. A late-blooming urban-renewal program demolished many blocks of buildings, but preservationists fought back. Today, reinvestment is accelerating, and Troy now boasts what the New York Times has called “one of the most perfectly preserved nineteenth-century downtowns in the United States.”

This book tells the stories behind the many handsome and significant buildings in downtown Troy and how they were designed and constructed―stories that have never been pulled together before. For the first time in generations, scores of Troy buildings are again linked with their architects, some local but others from out of town (the “starchitects” of their day) and even from Europe. In addition to numerous historic images, the book also includes contemporary photographs by local photographer Gary Gold. This book will inform, delight, and surprise readers, thereby helping to build an educated constituency for the preservation of an important American city.

Tells the forgotten but surprising stories of the many handsome and significant buildings in downtown Troy, New York.Located about 150 miles north of Manhattan, on the east bank of the Hudson River, the city of Troy, New York, was once an industrial giant. It led the nation in iron production thr...

01/25/2018

Mount Ida Press's cover photo

01/25/2018

Very exciting day--we have dropped off our manuscript for "The Buildings and Architects of Downtown Troy, New York" at SUNY Press!

11/17/2017

USGBC Virginia

A shining example of sustainable historic restoration, today's is the Rotunda at the University of Virginia. A comprehensive interior and exterior renovation of the 1820s building was completed in 2016, and recently earned Silver certification. Green features include building reuse, improved stormwater management, water and energy efficiency improvements, enhanced commissioning of energy systems, and significant attention to indoor environmental quality, earning 13 of 15 available credits in that category. Additionally, the building was brought back to life by making it accessible again for student and staff use. Project team members include John G. Waite Associates, Architects PLLC, Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Kohler Ronan, LLC Consulting Engineers, Dewberry civil engineering, and Glave & Holmes Architecture interior design. 1200 Architectural Engineers provided structural engineering and Mount Ida Press researched the architectural history. Find more details at http://www.jgwaarchitects.com/portfolio/educational-cultural-facilities/uva/uva.htm. Photo credit - Anna Wesolowska, photographerhedman.com.

09/28/2017

Albany Times Union

Albany Times Union

Take a look at early panoramic views of the Capital Region: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Panoramic-photos-of-the-Capital-Region-100-years-12230345.php

08/02/2017

Another great review of the APT - Association for Preservation Technology International Bulletin by our friends at Context magazine! This was a special issue dedicated to concrete.

07/21/2017

APT - The Association for Preservation Technology International

APT - The Association for Preservation Technology International

Early registration ends TODAY at 11:59 PM EST for the 2017 APT - Association for Preservation Technology International and National Trust for Canada/Fiducie nationale du Canada joint conference! It's your last chance to register at the reduced registration rates! For more information or to register visit: http://www.heritageconference2017.com/

07/21/2017

to our visit at Fort Orange Press! We went through some of APT's inventory and took a tour of the facility!

05/09/2017

Harley McKee’s Classic Book on Historic Masonry Now Available!

Harley J. McKee’s Introduction to Early American Masonry, first published in 1973, immediately became an indispensable pillar of preservation practice. Filled with scores of photographs and sketches and detailed information on stone, brick, terra cotta, mortar, and plaster, this second edition is just as essential for practitioners and students today. APT is honored to make this essential volume, long out of print, available once again.

Click on the link to pre-order now: http://www.apti.org/index.php?submenu=publications&src=gendocs&ref=Harley_McKee_Book&category=Publications

11/11/2016

Happy Veterans Day from Mount Ida Press! We are so thankful for the men and women that have served our country!

08/25/2016

We’re inviting you to our 100th birthday party! - Centennial (U.S. National Park Service)

Happy 100th birthday, National Park Service! Celebrate the Centennial by visiting a park or attending one of these events! https://www.nps.gov/subjects/centennial/birthday-invitation.htm

Events and activities in August 2016 celebrating the National Park Service's 100th birthday

08/05/2016

The Best Olympic Architecture | Architectural Digest

Everyone at Mount Ida Press is very excited about the 2016 Summer Olympics! Check out this article, "The Best Olympic Architecture." Which building is your favorite? http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/best-olympic-architecture-beijing-athens-barcelona-slideshow/all

Like the Games themselves, the most memorable buildings created for the international sporting stage celebrate human achievement

05/16/2016

Publications and Research Assistant Position Available

Mount Ida Press is currently seeking applicants for the position of Publications and Research Assistant. The publications and research assistant will have various responsibilities related to the publication of corporate and institutional histories and books on the history of architecture and construction. He or she will also complete various administrative tasks related to publications as well as historical-research and writing tasks. This position requires a bachelor’s degree; a master’s degree would be an asset. Candidates with a background in history, architecture, historic preservation, or English are encouraged to apply. Visit our website, www.mountidapress.com, for more details on the position and how to apply.

03/25/2016

Troy Public Library » Troy Night Out Lecture: Kate Mullany National Historic Site

A lecture for Troy Night Out will discuss the Kate Mullany National Historic Site! Mount Ida Press is proud to have contributed to the historic structure report on the house of this fascinating Trojan woman.

In early 1864, a nineteen-year-old Irish immigrant named Kate Mullany organized the shirt collar laundry workers of Troy, New York, into the nation’s first truly all-female labor union. Their weeklong strike yielded them a twenty-five per cent raise and vaulted Mullany to national prominence. Today,…

01/18/2016

University of Virginia Restores Historic Rotunda - Construction

A great article on the restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, as well as the discovery of the chemical hearth. Mount Ida Press has done significant research on the Rotunda and on the singular importance of the chemical hearth as a historical artifact. Very few examples of chemical laboratories from this era have survived intact.

University of Virginia Restores Historic Rotunda January 2016 By Debra Wood Among the most significant historical buildings in America, the University of Virginia’s Rotunda, designed by Thomas Jefferson, is receiving a $58.5 million renovation to the building that will return it to student use with…

01/08/2016

Today is the 45th anniversary of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal! Check out the most recent issue of the APT Bulletin for information on the rehabilitation of the C&O's Catoctin aqueduct.

09/11/2015

Project Manager Position Available

Mount Ida Press is currently seeking applicants for the position of Project Manager. The project manager will oversee editing, production, and strategic planning for the APT Bulletin: The Journal of Preservation Technology. This position requires a bachelor’s degree, with a master’s preferred, and at least two years of experience in editing, copyediting, and proofreading. Candidates with a background in history, architecture, historic preservation, or English are encouraged to apply. See our website, www.mountidapress.com, for more details on the position and how to apply.

09/01/2015

New owners may restore spires edifice lost to fire

Troy's historic downtown Rice building has new owners who may restore it to its pre-1916 appearance--check out the Times Union article, featuring input from Mount Ida Press President Diana S. Waite, who has been researching the Rice Building for an upcoming book on Troy's architecture.

New owners may restore spires edifice lost to fire The new owners of downtown's landmark Rice Building hope to restore the three spires and perhaps the sixth floor, which were destroyed in a 1916 fire. Principals are brother and sister Luther and Lolly Tai, who formed Troy-based Tai Ventures. Luther…

02/20/2015

James C. Matthews: New York State's first black judge | All Over Albany

Local website All Over Albany writes today about James C. Matthews, first black graduate of Albany Law School, in honor of black history month, citing research in our history of the school, Albany Law School: A Tradition of Change.

Each Friday this February we'll be highlighting people and stories from the Capital Region in honor of Black History Month.

02/03/2015

New Expanded Edition Of ‘Capitol Story’ Published | The New York History Blog

Another post about Capitol Story, this one from the New York History Blog: http://newyorkhistoryblog.org/2015/02/01/new-expanded-edition-of-capitol-story-published/

New Expanded Edition Of ‘Capitol Story’ Published By Editorial Staff on February 1, 2015 Often celebrated as a masterpiece of civic architecture and decorative design, the New York State Capitol sits majestically at the head of Albany’s State Street. The story behind the most expensive capitol build…

12/05/2014

After 10-year labor, "Capitol Story" reborn

An excellent write-up by Paul Grondahl in today's Times Union on Capitol Story!

Philanthropist and civic-minded benefactor Matthew Bender IV has done a lot of heavy lifting for social and cultural causes in the capital city, but nothing prepared him for the 10-year toil required to publish a new edition of "Capitol Story," an indispensable history of Albany's most storied build…

12/04/2014

The Association For Preservation Technology International (APT)

The Association for Preservation Technology International
Association pour la presérvation et ses techniques



For immediate release For further information contact:
APT 217.529.9039 or [email protected]
Diana S. Waite, Editor, APT Bulletin
Melissa Miščević Bramble, Project Manager, APT Bulletin
518.426.5935 or [email protected]


New from the APT Bulletin: Armories, Australia, and the Big Apple

The latest issue of the APT Bulletin: The Journal of Preservation Technology visits locations on three continents and analyzes historic sites as distinct as a New York armory, an Ottoman hospital, and Wanjina rock-art paintings of Western Australia. The authors address structural preservation, reinforcing historic buildings to protect against bombings, architectural sustainability, and using values-based management to preserve indigenous cultural heritage.

In “Conservation of Dalle de Verre at the New York Hall of Science,” Raymond M. Pepi, Laura N. Buchner, and Christopher Gembinski detail the work of restoring more than 5,000 concrete-and-glass panels in a building that exhibited space-exploration technology during the 1964 World’s Fair. Pamela Jerome and Angel Ayón explore threats to another type of Sixties New York City construction in “Can the 1960s Single-Glazed Curtain Wall Be Saved?” They question whether property owners will choose repair, recladding, or replacement of facades based upon the confluence of various economic and environmental factors, such as energy efficiency. Journeying to the Park Avenue Armory and Carnegie Hall, also in New York City, Eytan Solomon and Alastair Elliott discuss the challenges of reinforcing the original long-span roof trusses of both buildings. In “Protection of Historic Buildings for Blast Loads,” Timothy J. Beach and Peggy Van Eepoel present three case studies that explore the dilemma of protecting historic facades in urban environments against potential bomb blasts without sacrificing the integrity of the historic character of the properties. Another article, “Issues in Values-Based Management for Indigenous Cultural Heritage in Australia” by Kristal Buckley and Sharon Sullivan, deals with a different dilemma: how preservationists can respect cultural protocols and recognize the roles of community rights-holders. Finally, Gulsen Disli examines the history of building systems used in Anatolian Seljuk and Ottoman hospitals in Turkey, discussing refrigeration, heating, and water systems in both types of hospitals.

This issue’s review of books, assembled by Book Review Editor Frances Gale, reports on Lessons from Modernism: Environmental Design Strategies in Architecture, 1925-1970, by Kevin Bone, with editors Steven Hillyer and Sunnie Joh; Landscape Architecture in Canada by Ron Williams; 100 Years of Architectural Drawing: 1900-2000 by Neil Bingham; and Rammed Earth Conservation, by Camilla Mileto and Fernando Vegas and edited by Valentina Cristi.

Finally, the APT Building Technology Heritage Library column by Mike Jackson features trade catalogs on mosaic stained glass, FOAMGLAS, and plate glass, as well as the use of glass in solar houses.
The Association for Preservation Technology is the only international organization dedicated solely to promoting the best technology for conserving historic structures and their settings. Founded in 1968 in Québec as a joint venture between Canadian and United States preservationists, APT provides members with benefits such as publications, networking opportunities, conferences, training courses, and student scholarships. As a benefit of membership, APT members can search, browse, download, and print full-text PDF versions of past Bulletin articles on JSTOR, an international online digital archive. Visit http://www.apti.org for more information.

The APT Bulletin, a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal, is a valued source for state-of-the-art information on preservation technology. Published three times a year by APT, the Bulletin examines all aspects of preservation technology in feature articles and book reviews, keeping readers at the leading edge of the field.
Mount Ida Press, which edits and produces the APT Bulletin, specializes in high-quality publications on history, architecture, and building technology. For further information about the APT Bulletin, please contact the editorial office in Albany, New York, at 518.426.5935 or at [email protected].

Contents

Conservation of Dalle de Verre at the New York Hall of Science
Raymond M. Pepi, Laura Buchner, and Christopher Gembinski

Can the 1960s Single-Glazed Curtain Wall Be Saved?
Pamela Jerome and Angel Ayón

Reinforcement of Nineteenth-Century Wide-Span Trusses in Two New York Landmarks
Eytan Solomon and Alastair Elliott

Protection of Historic Buildings for Blast Loads
Timothy J. Beach and Peggy Van Eepoel

Issues in Values-Based Management for Indigenous Cultural Heritage in Australia
Kristal Buckley and Sharon Sullivan

Sustainability of Historic Building Systems: Anatolian Seljuk and Ottoman
Hospitals
Gulsen Disli

APT Building Technology Heritage Library
Mike Jackson

Book Reviews
Frances Gale, Book Review Editor

Author Guidelines

Index to Volume 45

APT Membership Information

The Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) is a cross-disciplinary, membership organization dedicated to promoting the best technology for conserving historic structures and their settings. Membership in APT provides exceptional opportunities for networking and the exchange of i…

12/02/2014

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation's November issue of Context reviews our summer issue of the APT Bulletin, declaring it "both timely and highly informative." Check out http://www.ihbc.org.uk/page55/context/index.html for more information on Context and read the whole review, out now!

10/08/2014

Exciting news! We have now added the option of online ordering to our website's Bookstore page using PayPal. Visit www.mountidapress.com/bookstore to purchase any of our books online.

10/02/2014

Mount Ida Press is now on Twitter. Follow us .