Samuel Y. Harris

 

Registered Architect & Professional Engineer

Samuel Y. Harris founded S. Harris & Co. in January of 2000. For over twenty years, he taught the subjects of architecture, historic preservation, and professional practice as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Goucher College, and as the Eero Saarinen Visiting Professor of Architecture at Yale University.  Mr. Harris has also published a number of written works.  

Professional Experience

S. Harris & Co., Principal, 2000 to present.

Kieran, Timberlake & Harris, Partner 1984 to 1999.

Venturi, Rauch and Scott Brown, 1982 to 1984; Associate 1982 to 1984.

Keast & Hood, Co., Project Engineer, 1977 to 1982.

Professional Registration

Registered Architect:

            Pennsylvania, 1989 (RA 011259-X)

            Other States: MD and NJ  

Professional Engineer (Structural):

            National Counsel of Engineering Examiners, 1980 (Certificate No.  7123)

            Pennsylvania, 1980 (PE 031568-E)

            Other States: MD, NJ, VA

Attorney at Law:

            Pennsylvania, 1997 - 2001

Education

J.D., University of Maryland School of Law, 1997.

M.S.Eng., University of Pennsylvania, 1978.

M.Arch., University of Pennsylvania, 1975.

B.A., cum laude, Amherst College, 1967.

Diploma, Woodberry Forest School, 1963.

Academic Affiliations

Adjunct Professor, University of Pennsylvania 

            Department of Architecture, 1982 - 2004.

            Historic Preservation Program, 1982 - 2002.

Eero Saarinen Distinguished Professor of Design, Yale University

            Yale School of Art & Architecture, 1994.

Lecturer, University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, 2003 - present.

Acting Program Director, 2001, and Adjunct Associate Professor,

            Goucher College Master of Arts in Historic Preservation Program, 1995 - 2002.

Instructor, Harvard University Executive Education Program,

            Harvard Design School, 2001 - 2002.

Lecturer, Winterthur Museum and University of Delaware,

            Art Conservation Program, 1995 - 2005.

Lecturer, Clemson University

            Department of Architecture, 2002 - 2003.

Professional Associations

Member, The Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia,1991 to present ; Treasurer,1996 to 2001.

Member, Board of Directors, Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, Philadelphia, 2000 to 2005.

Member, Board of Directors, Cliveden, Philadelphia, 1998 to 2004.

Member, Board of Directors, Preservation Pennsylvania, 1994-1995 (ex officio) and 1997 to 2001.

Member, Board of Advisors, The Highlands, Fort Washington, 1999 to present.

Member, Board of Directors, Friends of Lemon Hill Mansion, Philadelphia, 1999 to 2004.

Member, Philadelphia Intervention Fund Grants Committee, 1997-2001; Chair 1997-1998.

Member, Historic Preservation Board of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1991-95; Chair, 1994-95.

Grants Panelist, New York State Council on the Arts, 1993-1995.

Grants Panelist, New Jersey Historic Trust, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2000 - 2004.

Consultant, Historic House Museum Challenge Grant Program, Pew Charitable Trusts, 1993-94.

Member, Association for Preservation Technology, 1997 to present.

Member, American Institute for Conservation, 2000 to present.

Professional Honors & Awards

College of Fellows of The American Institute of Architects, 2003.

G. Holmes Perkins Distinguished Teaching Award, Graduate School of Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania, 2000.

Honor Award, Philadelphia Chapter American Institute of Architects, Fingerspan, with Jody Pinto, 1996.

Preservation Pennsylvania Initiative Award for Preservation Publication, 1992.

Presentations, Panels & Lectures 

      2007:

University of Victoria, Cultural Resource Management Program, primary instructor for a course entitled "Planning for Heritage Building Maintenance," Victoria, BC, January 29 - February 3.

Colorado State Preservation Conference, Saving Places 2007: Planning, Growth, and Preservation, Denver, CO, February 6 -8.

AIC Conference, Fakes, Forgeries, and Fabrications, Richmond, VA, April 16-20.

The Campbell Center of Conservation and Historic Preservation, instructor for preservation maintenance workshop, Mt. Carroll, IL, May 1-4 & 7-10, July 10-13 & 16-19, and September 18-21 & 24-27.

The Association for Preservation Technology International, Annual Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico, November 3-7.

      2006:

The Campbell Center of Conservation and Historic Preservation, instructor for preservation maintenance workshop, Mt. Carroll, IL, May 1-12 and September 24-29.

Summer Institute of the Nation Center for Preservation Technology and Training, instructor for preservation interventions, Natchitoches, LA June 5-16.

AIC Conference, presenting a paper "When is Being Correct Wrong" and co-presenter with Victoria France at a workshop addressing "Risk Management for Conservators", Providence, RI, June 17-19.

University of Victoria, Cultural Resource Management Program, primary instructor for immersion for addressing maintenance planning of cultural resources for executive policy makers, Victoria, BC, July 8-16.

Structural Analysis of Historical Conditions Conference, presenting a paper entitled "Structural Implications of Roofing at Eastern State Penitentiary", New Delhi, India, November 6-8.

       2005:

"Tale of Two Barns, A Study in Deformation Reversal in Timber Structures", International Conference of Conservation of Historic Wooden Structures, Collegio degli Ingegneri della Toscana, Firenze, Italia, 2005.

Seminar leader, Department of the Environment, School of Art and Architecture, Yale University, 2005.

Curriculum panelist, Program in Conservation, University of Delaware and Winterthur Museum, 2005.

Summer Institute of the Nation Center for Preservation Technology and Training, instructor for preservation interventions, Natchitoches, LA, 2004 and 2005.

       2004:

The Campbell Center of Conservation and Historic Preservation, instructor for preservation maintenance workshop, Mt. Carroll, IL, 2004.

Peer Reviewer, Architectural Selection Committee, General Services Administration, Washington, D.C.

Preservation Pennsylvania, workshop instructor for recently adopted Pennsylvania building codes relative to historic preservation, Fallingwater, PA, April.

National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, instructor for training module for preservation engineering training program, Natchitoches, LA, July.

University of Victoria, Cultural Resource Management Program, primary instructor for immersion for addressing maintenance planning of cultural resources for executive  policy makers, Victoria, BC, August.

New Jersey Historic Trust, grants reviewer and panelist, Trenton, NJ, October.

National Council on Public History, Cornelius O'Brien Lecture Series on Historic Preservation, physical assessment and construction sequence of the Alexander T. Rankin-John Maier House, Fort Wayne, IN, October.

       2003 and prior years:

American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, instructor for professional development course, Arlington, VA, June 2003.

Association for Preservation Technology, instructor for preservation engineering workshop sponsored by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, Portland, ME, September, 2003.

Architectural Selection Committee, General Services Administration, peer reviewer, Washington DC, 2004 and 2002.

Byways to the Past, 3rd Conference, Indiana, PA, 2002.  

Preservation Pennsylvania, 24th Conference, Bethlehem, 2002; 22nd Annual Conference, Reading, 2000; 21st Annual Conference, York, 1999; 14th Annual Conference, Harrisburg, 1992; 13th Annual Conference, Philadelphia, 1991; 11th Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, 1989; 9th Annual Conference, York, 1987; 8th Annual Conference, State College, 1986.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Historic Bridge Committee, panelist and reviewer, Harrisburg, 2001.

U.S. Presidential Design Awards Jury, Washington, 2001.

American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works, Philadelphia, 2000; Dallas, 2001.

Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums, Harrisburg, 2000.

National Trust for Historic Preservation, 53rd National Conference, Washington, 1999; 43rd National Conference, Philadelphia, 1989.

Philadelphia Intervention Fund Workshop, Philadelphia, 1999 and 1998.

Architectural Librarians’ Society of North America, Philadelphia, 1998.

Association for Preservation Technology Annual Conference, Williamsburg, VA, 1998.

Department of Architecture, Columbia University, 1998.

Educational Conference and 85th Annual Meeting of The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers, 1998. 

New Jersey Historic Trust, consulting reviewer for historic preservation grants applications, 1996 to present.

Tyler School of Design, Temple University, 1995, 1998

American Society for Testing and Materials, Fort Worth, 1993.

Grants Panelist, New York State Council on the Arts, 1993 - 1995.

The American Architectural Foundation, Washington, 1992.

National Association of Women in Construction, Philadelphia, 1991.

Military Service & Awards

Active Duty  (1968 - 73)

Commissioned, U.S. Army Infantry School, Ft. Benning, 1969. Branch transferred to Army Medical Department, 1971

Graduated, U.S. Army Aviation School, Ft. Rucker, 1970

Assigned to HHC, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armor Division, Ft. Hood, 1970 - 1971

Assigned to Air Ambulance Platoon, 326th Medical Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, Republic of Vietnam, 1971 - 72

Assigned to 507th Air Ambulance Company, Ft. Sam Houston, 1972 - 73

Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal (eight awards), Cross of Gallantry (RVN)

Promoted to Captain, 1972  

 

Reserve Duty  (1973 - 1994)

Assigned to 361st Evacuation Hospital, 1973 - 1978; 338th Medical Group, 1978 - 1980; and 78th Maneuver Training Command, Medical Exercise Team, 1980 - 1994, Team Chief, 1982 - 1994

Awarded Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (three awards), Army Achievement Medal

Promoted to Major, 1982

Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, 1989

Retired, 1994

Publications

Building Pathology: Deterioration, Diagnostics, and Intervention, published by John Wiley & Sons, New York, released February, 2001

"Tale of Two Barns, A Study in Deformation Reversal in Timber Structures", Proceedings of the International Conference of Conservation of Historic Wooden Structures, Collegio degli Ingegneri della Toscana, Firenze, Italia, 2005.

"Construction Contract Claims for Delays: A Self-Inflicted Wound", Proceedings of the 1998 Educational Conference and 85th Annual Meeting of The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers, 1998.

"A Systems Approach to Building Assessment", published by ASTM, Committee Report on Building Condition Assessment; 1996.

"Alternative Use as a Preservation Strategy", Forum, The Journal of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Volume 7/Number 5; September, 1993.

"A Study in Details: The Attic Trusses of Germantown Community Presbyterian Church", APT Bulletin, The Journal of Preservation Technology, The Association for Preservation Technology, Vol. XXIII, No.1, 1991.

"Building Committees, Project Management and Risk," Faith and Form, Fall 1985; rewritten and republished for American Schools & University Journal, July 1990.

"The Price of Abandonment: Assessing the Alternatives for Building Conservation," Inspired, Winter 1988.

Selected Projects

100 Market Street, Renovation and Adaptive Reuse with wesleyArchitects, Philadelphia, PA.

Cuthbert Street, Structural assessment of building proposed for renovation, Philadelphia, PA.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Rotunda and adjacent link roof renovations, Philadelphia, PA.

English Barn at the Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead, Structural analysis and restoration, consulting to Historic Building Architects, Bernards Township, NJ.

Fairmount Park Art Association, Multiple projects involving design, engineering, & construction management of public arts projects, Philadelphia, PA.

Linderman Library, Historic Preservation consultant services; survey, documentation and design/restoration solutions for exterior masonry and windows, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA.

Loudoun Mansion, renovation and restoration of historic mansion in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA.

National Products Building, Structural assessment of historic facade, survey and documentation of facade and connection details, measured drawings and treatment recommendations, and historical consultant for design issues, Philadelphia, PA.

Private Residence, Complete residential interior renovation and roof replacement, full set of Design Documents and Construction Documents, specification writing, interior finishes selection, construction administration, permitting, Fairmount, Philadelphia, PA.

Rankin House, Structural analysis and report, construction history, recommendations for future use and interpretation, a public lecture, Fort Wayne, IN.

El Teatro, Renovation with Davis Fuster Architects, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR.

Tyler Hall, Roof & walkway renovations, Bucks County Community College, Newtown, PA.

Tyler Hall, Bucks County Community College, Entry way improvements and interior lighting renovation of music room, Newtown, PA.

Civil War Museum, collections and building assessment, Philadelphia, PA.

The Arden Craft Shop, Comprehensive renovation, Arden, DE.

Bath Hotel, Nevis Historical Society, assessment and recommendations, Nevis, West Indies.

Belmont Mansion, Water infiltration analysis and recommendations, consulting to Fairmount Park Historic Trust, Philadelphia, PA.

The Dream Garden case, as an expert for the City of Philadelphia Solicitor's Office, Pahiladelphia, PA.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Cell Block One link roof renovations, Philadelphia, PA.

Glen Foerd on the Delaware, Roof renovation and reconfiguration, Philadelphia, PA.

Loudoun, Water infiltration analysis and stabilization recommendations, consulting to the Fairmount Park Commission, Philadelphia, PA.

Memorial Hall, Ceiling and plaster evaluation, with Fairmount Park Historic Trust for the Fairmount Park Commission, Philadelphia, PA.

Mensch Mill Barn, measured drawings and remediation procedure for stabilization, Alburtis, PA.

Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, Measured drawings, Philadelphia, PA.

Peale House, La Salle College, Restoration of historic entry and portico, Philadelphia, PA.

Please Touch Museum, Architectural assessment component of CAP study, Philadelphia, PA.

Private Residence, Master suite renovation, greenhouse addition, full set of Design Documents and Construction Documents, interior finishes selection, construction administration, permitting, East Falls, Philadelphia, PA.

School District of Philadelphia, Roof survey and assessment, Philadelphia, PA.

St. Peter's Church National Historic Landmark, Tower stabilization & repairs, Philadelphia, PA.  

Wilson Ruin, Stabilization, Palmetto Bluff, SC.