reference guide for windows

U.S. Southeast Region, Focusing on 1700-200s

PRES 6220 | Conservation Technology
Professor Valerie Vides

This reference guide offers a comprehensive survey of window materials, manufacturing, and typologies in the U.S. Southeast from the 1700s to the 2000s. It traces the evolution of glass production from Jamestown’s failed colonial experiments to Kingsport, Tennessee’s rise as a manufacturing hub, spotlighting key players like Blue Ridge Glass Corporation and Curtis Windows. The document analyzes regional timber species, glazing systems, weatherization, sash balance technologies, and finishes, with particular focus on historically significant buildings and styles. It also includes case studies, manufacturer catalogs, and conservation notes, serving as both a historical resource and a practical reference for preservation professionals.

Preserving In The Land of The Free [Market] P.I

PRES 6980 | Preservation Research Seminar
Professor Alex López

Completed as part of the Preservation Research Seminar, Preserving in the Land of the Free [Market] explores how neoliberalism shapes preservation priorities in three historic neighborhoods: Houston’s Third Ward, Miami’s Art Deco District, and New Orleans’ French Quarter. Through fieldwork, archival research, interviews, and a comparative matrix grounded in scholarship by Peck, Brenner, and Theodore, the project identifies how market-driven policies influence access, funding, and representation in historic districts. The work challenges top-down preservation models and highlights the need for more equitable, community-based approaches that resist both colonial and neoliberal legacies.