The Curator’s Corner

What Is Considered to be a Historic Building?

Welcome back to The Curator’s Corner. I am David Voelkel, Director of Historic Preservation and Chief Curator for The Byrd Theatre Foundation and writing to share with you some information on one of our current projects – planning a respectful rehabilitation of our landmark building.

What Is Considered to be a Historic Building?

Historic buildings are those built during specific eras that signify a time and events distinct to that period. They are generally older than fifty years. Historic buildings may be a significant site or a space that was used for a specific purpose of historical interest. The Byrd Theatre is a historic building and is an important presence in the Carytown neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. Completed and opened to the public in December 1928, the landmark building has contributed to the streetscape and to the community for nearly a century.

The Difference Between Restoration, Rehabilitation, and Renovation

There are a few important distinctions between restoring, rehabilitating, and renovating a historic building.

Restoration

When a building is restored, it means reverting its current state back to the time it was built, bearing all its significant features in mind. Here, the emphasis is on retaining its heritage and cultural value without changing too much by the addition of modern elements. This type of project considers the intrinsic and historical value of a building.

There are a few pros and cons associated with restoring a building. They include:

• Cultural heritage preservation: Restoration will require research, forensic and scientific sampling and evaluation, as well as time, dedication, and thoughtfulness. Restoring historic buildings preserves important cultural landmarks and provides a vital glimpse into the past for current and future generations.
• Cost-effectiveness: Since it involves fewer building material requirements, costs typically are less.
• Uniqueness: By restoring a historic building, unique characteristics are retained. Elements such as original period hardware, tile walls and flooring, hardwood doors, sash windows, leaded glass window panels, wall and ceiling lights, and equipment can be conserved and restored to keep its look and feel as close to the way it was when it was first built.

What are the drawbacks? Consider:

• Structural challenges: Older buildings may have suffered damage or deferred maintenance or have become too structurally unstable to initiate a simple restoration. These projects might require a longer schedule and a higher restoration budget.
• Compliance and regulations: Many older buildings may not comply with current building codes and safety regulations. It will be necessary to research and confirm in the planning phase of a project to ensure that any proposed work will comply or to obtain necessary variance paperwork to avoid fines or penalties.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is the process of converting a historic building into a usable, livable space through repairs and alterations without detracting from its architectural integrity. Despite its historic references, rehabilitation combines traditional and modern elements to make a building functional for today.

Some advantages of rehabilitation include:

• Ideal combination: By offering the best of both, rehabilitating a landmark building provides the historical and cultural influence of the era it was built while providing contemporary attributes that would make it easier to comply with current safety regulations and building codes.
• Cost-effectiveness: Since you can employ leading-edge equipment and other elements, you may find replacing and repairing these items is more economical.
• Flexibility: Rehabilitation projects allow us to be flexible in terms of the types of material considered for use.

As with restorations, there are negatives to consider with rehabilitation:

• Blurring the line: It is possible to cross from upgrading functional parts to damaging or losing features of historical significance in rehabilitation. The goal should always be to ensure that any necessary changes do not overwhelm the original architect’s design. A landmark building’s rich history must be distinguishable from any modern contributions.
• Compatibility: Finding the same or similar materials, designs, and quality of original parts can be difficult to source when trying to maintain the historic integrity of a building.
• Cost implications: It could become costly to source specific materials and features that complement and maintain the building’s historic value in lieu of fully modern alterations.

Renovation

Historic building renovation projects are similar to rehabilitations as they include updating an existing building to modify it for modern use. For example, you might update the cast iron plumbing, replace dated HVAC and electrical systems, and switch out obsolete cinema equipment for the latest technology in the field. Renovations offer great opportunities for customization and modification; however, they can also help you preserve the integrity of a historic building while making it more useful for the current occupants.

Here are a few advantages of renovation:

• Cost-effectiveness: Because renovations can be as limited or expansive as you want, it’s easier to scale costs.
• Customization: With renovation, there is more room to customize the project to suit your tastes and preferences. You also choose how much you want to change.
• Sustainability: With the rise of solar and other energy-efficient sources and methods, you have the opportunity to equip your historic building with these to help save on energy costs while retaining traditional elements and features. With it’s flat roof concealed behind a parapet, The Byrd Theatre is an excellent candidate for a ballasted solar system that could result in a net positive by generating more energy than the building typically uses.
• Increased building value: With the improvements and newer system installations, a building’s value will increase if you decide to borrow against it or donate or sell it to a new steward.
• Impact on the neighborhood: A building that was formerly blighted or in poorly maintained condition impacts both the owners but also the surrounding neighbors. A well-maintained building contributes to the neighborhood in several ways – one of the most important might be to encourage surrounding owners and stewards to address their own maintenance needs as well as to consider restoration of degraded or missing architectural features. In a commercial neighborhood such as Carytown, the respectful rehabilitation of The Byrd Theatre, including the approved façade marquee and vertical BYRD sign has already encouraged near neighbor The New York Deli to recreate their missing 1930s neon sign and clock.

What are some potential drawbacks of renovation? They include:

• Loss of cultural and architectural significance: The loss of original spaces or building elements associated with the historic and architectural significance of a building.
• Cost implications: Renovating any building, landmark or otherwise, can be expensive.
• Disturbance: In most cases, renovations are scheduled and the work phased, turning parts of a building into a prohibited construction zone. This may limit useable space for staff and guests.

Choosing Our Approach

Considering the pros and cons of each project, we might have a few other boxes to tick before deciding on the best approach. Possible questions to consider:

• What does The Byrd Theatre Foundation wish to keep or change and how much of the building do we need to modernize or to leave intact?
• Does the Foundation have the appropriate budget to fund the proposed alterations desired and agreed, with additional funds to meet any change orders, unexpected costs, or changing costs in the economy?
• Consider a restoration vs. renovation — how would any proposed alterations once made impact the landmark building’s layout and historical value?
• Are there any deadlines that tie in with the time and budget limitations that will influence the project type?

Respectful Rehabilitation

Based on past discussions and agreements, The Byrd Theater Foundation is now committed to a respectful rehabilitation of our landmark building. By this we mean that the planned work will be supported by and meet the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation, which are the highest standards in our profession, in order to be fully eligible for both federal and state historic tax credits (HTC). Based on the standards, The Foundation will restore missing exterior architectural elements such as the pressed metal marquee and two-story vertical BYRD sign.  Inside the Theatre, we will bring back the original architectural paint colors and replica textiles such as the seatback fabric, wall damask panels, and Axminister Georgian-Revival crimson and gold carpet. By accomplishing restoration projects such as these, the look and feel of the historic landmark Theatre will be recreated while we also implement modern technologies and amenities to bring the building into the 21^st century.

About The Byrd Theatre Foundation

The Byrd Theatre Foundation owns and operates The Byrd Theatre. The Foundation was established in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with the mission to preserve the landmark Byrd Theatre while providing unique experiences for all.

David B. Voelkel

Director of Historic Preservation and Chief Curator

[email protected]

The Byrd Theatre, 2025 photograph by Trey Tyler, Rendersphere