From Mansards to McMansions: Styles of the Recent Past

Abigail Christman is a Senior City Planner in Landmark Preservation at the City and County of Denver. Abigail has a varied background having previously worked for consulting firms, Colorado Preservation, Inc., and the University of Colorado Denver. Her experience includes Section 106n consultation, reconnaissance and intensive-level surveys, National Register nominations, HABS/HAER/HALS documentation, neighborhood pattern books, preservation tax credit certification, interpretation, public outreach, and serving on the Denver Landmark Commission.
Abigail also teaches a graduate course for CU Denver titled Historic Buildings in Context. Abigail holds a B.A. in History from the University of South, a M.A. in Public History/Historic Preservation from Middle Tennessee State University, and a M.A. in Histories and Theories of Architecture from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, England.

As the Architectural Historian for the State of Washington for almost 20 years, Michael Houser has a long record of helping owners understand the architecture and history of their buildings. Houser has a common sense, down-to-earth approach about historic preservation issues and prides himself on simplifying the often complex issues of preserving historic resources. Currently he manages the State and National Register programs for Washington State; as well as Washington’s unique Heritage Barn Program.
Houser helped bring post WWII resources into the states focus by establishing the “Nifty-from-the-Last 50 Initiative” in 2003 which initially documented over 300 mid-century modern buildings across the state. As the state’s go-to expert, he has reviewed numerous post WWII resources as part of the Section 106 process, from small ranch houses to cold war military facilities. His current pet project includes creating biographies of architects and designers who practiced Washington state, and he has recently developed a study of Seattle area Parade of Homes.

Houser holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho and a Master of Science Degree in Historic Preservation from Eastern Michigan University. A native of Vancouver, Washington, Michael returned to the Washington state via Bend, OR where he served as the Historic Preservation Planner for six years managing the CLG programs for the County and three incorporated cities. His previous work experience includes time at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI; survey work for the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana; and historic home inspections and architectural work for Thomas Hickey Architects in Chicago.