My Summer Internship at Habalis Construction

As the first day of fall classes approaches and my summer internship at Habalis winds down, I’ve been asked by a professor to comment on my work experience. He wants to know “what did you learn – but with an attitude.” Well, in addition to learning what to do if a pit bull runs up to you on your way to work and that country music stations play the National Anthem at noon, I've learned a lot about preservation and even more about what to expect in my future.

Seeing and photographing examples of rehabilitation projects throughout Fredericksburg has supplemented what I have learned in school and reminded me of some things I had forgotten.

This summer I’ve seen the not-yet-mixed ingredients of lime mortar at the Mary Washington House, brick nogging at 309 Hanover Street, carpenter’s marks at the Barnes House, and hand-hewn, pit sawn, and circular sawn framing members at Braehead. I’ve cleaned mortar off of 19^th century bricks, experiencing first-hand the destruction caused by Portland cement. I’ve helped complete a Fredericksburg ARB application, written a proposal to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, and attended a Stafford County ARB meeting.

Interning with Habalis has also allowed me to spend time around three graduates of the University of Mary Washington Historic Preservation program, which I will be completing this spring. Simply overhearing conversations at the Habalis office has helped me to understand the State and Federal historic preservation tax credits, the nature of CRM archaeology, and the process of biding a construction job.

I have enjoyed my classroom preservation experience, but I can appreciate the true value of my education a little more now that I have started to apply my skills outside of my classes.

I had been overwhelmed by the thought of transitioning from learning to practicing preservation, but I have come to realize that the jump from one to the other doesn't really exist. A visiting alumnus, whose talk to preservation students I attended as a freshman, informed/reminded the listening students that our undergraduate experience is only the beginning of an education that continues throughout our careers and lives. This internship experience has confirmed this to me, as I have both used and built upon the terms, facts, and skills I have learned in my classes to complete my tasks this summer.

Thank you, Habalis, for entrusting me with the Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger passwords. And thank you to the faithful followers who have been reading my posts, clicking through our pictures, and liking our content. It’s been real. Soon I will have to leave you, but a new intern will be along, taking my place and offering a new perspective on preservation. Stay tuned!

Mini-Golf at the National Building Museum

After reading several enthusiastic Tweets about the mini-golf course at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, I decided I needed to check it out for myself. It was easy to convince friends to go with me; pictures on the museum’s website successfully demonstrate the course’s originality, and I promised it would be a fun, different way to spend our Sunday afternoon. So yesterday we drove to the Franconia-Springfield Metro station, took the Blue Line to Metro Center, and walked the rest of the way to the museum.

The central theme of the mini-golf exhibit is presented on the introductory panel: “Mini-golf… courses often imitate – in miniature – our historical and imaginary built environment.” Each of the course’s twelve holes represents, in some way, the built environment in DC and beyond. These mini-golf holes are the most unique and creative I’ve seen, which I think can be attributed to the fact that they were designed by DC architects, landscape architects, and contractors. (See below for a list of the designers, builders, and sponsors.)

The theme is also apparent in the five murals by Vladimir Zabavskiy that adorn the walls of the mini-golf course. These colorful murals, which show mini-golfers of all ages surrounded by fantastical representations of famous landscapes and structures, illustrate the museum’s argument that, with elements like Dutch windmills and Amazonian tiki huts, mini-golf courses “can take us around the world and back.” The mural in the first room of the course depicts DC architecture, including the Washington National Cathedral, Washington Monument, US Capitol, and National Building Museum itself. Moving through the course the murals go global, depicting iconic works of architecture throughout the world, including the Sydney Opera House, Taj Mahal, Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Egyptian pyramids.

This exhibit has certainly given me a new perspective on mini-golf. I never expected to think deeply about the American pastime. I think the museum’s course is a fun, interactive way to demonstrate the connection between our built environment and mini-golf designs, as well as offer insight into the structures that appeal to our imaginations. The experience was well worth the $5 and the hour spent in line, though not going to lie, waiting to play was a little rough. But overall, I’m glad I was able to experience this different kind of mini-golf course and museum exhibit.

If you’re interested in seeing the course for yourself, make sure to get to the museum before the exhibit closes on Labor Day. Check out the mini-golf page on the museum’s website for information to plan your trip! My only advice is to go on a weekday, if possible, to avoid the crowd. Oh, and maybe not to take yourself too seriously as you play; the holes are challenging and you will most likely be way over par. Appreciate the course for its creative quality and you’ll enjoy the experience.

In case you’re curious, here’s a list of the designers, builders, and sponsors who contributed to each hole of the mini-golf course:

1. Hopscotch

Designer and Builder: Inscape Studio

Sponsor: Steuart Investment Company, 360° H Street Apartments

2. Hole in 1s and 0s

Designer: GrizForm Design Architects

Builder: Potomac Construction Services

Sponsor: IEEE-USA

3. Ball on the Mall

Designer and Builder: E/L Studio

Sponsor: Hanley Wood

4. Always a Hole in One

Designer, Builder, and Sponsor: Hargrove Inc.

5. canal PARk

Designer, Builder, and Sponsor: STUDIOS Architecture and OLIN

Additional Support: 3form, Alliance Lighting, and Interface

6. Mulligans on the Mall

Designer, Builder, and Sponsor: Wiencek + Associates Architects + Planner

7. Take Back the Streets!

Designer and Builder: Seth Estep, Brian Green, Rebecca May, Luke VanBelleghem, Students of the Virginia Tech Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center

Sponsor: American Society of Landscape Architects

8. Piranesi’s Half Pipe

Designer and Builder: District Design

Sponsor: Linder & Associates Event Architects

9. Daedalus’ Journey

Designer and Builder: Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center of Virginia Tech and Atelier U:W

Sponsor: Chase W. Rynd, Executive Director, National Building Museum

10. Confluence

Designer, Builder, and Sponsor: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

11. A Hole Lot of Events

Designer and Sponsor: Atmosphere Lighting, Foundry Crew, Occasions Caterers, and Perfect Settings

Builder: Foundry Crew

12. Woods & Irons

Designer: Landscape Architecture Bureau

Builder: Monarc Construction

Sponsor: The JBG Companies