Historic + Affordable: Housing that Works
Hillside Theater | Taliesin, Spring Green | April 27-28
Join preservationists, developers, architects, planners, and community leaders at Taliesin on April 28 for a focused, one-day workshop exploring how historic buildings can help address today’s housing needs.Through case studies, panel discussions, and rapid-fire PechaKucha presentations, participants will examine real projects across Wisconsin—from successful adaptive reuse developments to buildings that present challenges and opportunities for housing.
Agenda Overview
Sessions will explore financing tools such as historic tax credits, navigating building codes for existing structures, forming effective project teams, and identifying overlooked historic resources that could be repurposed as housing. The program will also highlight strategies for reusing large institutional campuses and activating underused downtown buildings.
Workshop Registration
Register to join us at Taliesin, April 27-28. Not a member? Join first to access discounted pricing.
Non-member registration: Reception $200 | Workshop $150 | Tour $75
Wisconsin Trust members: Reception $125 | Workshop $100 | Tour $35
Additional savings for those who join at the Preservationist or Heritage Circle levels.
Contact info@wipreservation.org with any questions.
Sponsor the Workshop
Interested in sponsoring this workshop? Sponsors gain visibility with a statewide audience while supporting the Wisconsin Trust’s mission to preserve historic places and strengthen communities. Explore options below.
Sponsorship Levels Sponsors gain visibility with a statewide audience while supporting the Wisconsin Trust’s mission to preserve historic places and strengthen communities.
Workshop Agenda
Monday, April 27
Morning
Small Group Tour (Tentative)
Watch for emails from the Trust with updates on this event
Afternoon
Preservation Tour of Taliesin
Small Group Tour - 1:30 - 4:30
6:30 - 9:00 PM
An Evening at Taliesin: Reception in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home
Limited to 50 guests
Tuesday, April 28
9:00 – 9:30 AM
Registration, Networking, and Student displays
Meet in Hillside Theater Lobby
9:30 – 9:45 AM
Welcome
Kathryn Berger, Interim CEO, WTHP
Joe Specter, Pres/CEO, FLW Foundation
Matt Jarosz, Director, UWM Historic Preservation Institute
9:45 – 10:15 AM
Opening Remarks
Tricia Canaday, State Historic Preservation Officer
10:15 – 11:30 AM
Unlocking Housing Potential: What’s Possible, What’s Stalled, What’s Working
Rapid-Fire PechaKucha Session featuring 10 projects
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
IEBC Performance Compliance: A Smarter Path to Housing in Historic Buildings
Chris Rute, AIA, RIBA
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Lunch
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Lunch is served in Hillside Dining Room and Drafting Studio
Pecha Kucha presenters will be available for extended discussion during lunch
Chance to explore ongoing restoration projects at FLW Hillside Complex
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1:15 – 1:55 PM
Getting It Right Before You Build: Team Strategy for Historic Projects
Bryce Unger, CG Schmidt and others
1:55 – 2:35 PM
Upstairs Housing Downtown: turning underused upper stories into housing
Tammy Black, Stickley Morton Architects
Joe Lawniczak, WEDC
2:35 – 3:15 PM
Historic Buildings, Affordable Homes: A Developer’s Perspective
Josh Jeffers, J. Jeffers & Co: Sig Strautmanis
General Capital; Todd Hutchison, Wisconsin Redevelopment
3:15 – 3:30 PM
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BREAK
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3:30 – 3:55 PM
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Affordable Housing Vision: American System-Built Homes
Mike Lilek, Burnham Block Curator
3:55 – 4:20 PM
Yesterday’s Solution, Tomorrow’s Asset: When Affordable Housing Becomes Historic
Ted Matkom, Gorman & Co.
Jason Flatt, Fairchild & Flatt Consulting
4:20 – 4:50 PM
Sleeping Giants: Reawakening Large Historic Campuses
Jon Beck, Alexander Company
TBD, Baker Tilly
4:50 – 5:00 PM
Wrap Up and Thank You
Matt Jarosz
Kathryn Berger