Features
The 25 – Matthew S. Chalifoux, FAIA
A veteran of over 35 years in the field of historic preservation, Matthew S. Chalifoux, FAIA has worked on a number of high-profile projects ranging from the revitalization of the Smithsonian Institution’s iconic Castle to the renovation of the National Park Service’s Antietam National Battlefield Visitor’s Center in Maryland.
Chalifoux, a principal and senior historic preservation architect at Page Southerland Page in Washington, D.C., sees his practice as a cross-disciplinary exercise that includes engineers and a broader group of architects and that applies to not only “historic” buildings but any existing building.
Growing up in a small town in New Jersey close to where George Washington made his famous crossing of the Delaware on Dec. 25, 1776, Chalifoux was surrounded by sites and buildings that connected him to the past.
Yet, when he decided to study architecture, in 1976, he didn’t even know that historic preservation was an option, primarily because the field was in its infancy. A year of study in Rome, however, opened his eyes to old architecture and new possibilities.
“It was impossible to avoid history while living there,” he says, “and I saw how easily the contemporary world shared space with incredible layers of history.”
Chalifoux, who is known for embracing and incorporating new systems, such as technology and environmental control, while maintaining and celebrating the historic qualities of the building, is amazed at the progress that has occurred in the field since he started out.
“The technology we have at our fingertips, the integration with engineering, the expanded range of vendors and products that are targeted at our projects–it’s gratifying to see that the industry and markets have seen the benefits of servicing historic preservation,” he says. “When I say benefit, I mean economic. The market looks to serve industries that will provide a return on investment. The expansion of the field wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t economically viable.”
