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Historic documentation is a detailed archival record documenting the materials, significance, and structural details of a historic building or site. This documentation consists of measured drawings, photographs, and reports used to preserve the physical data of a structure for rehabilitation, restoration, or archival records.
The historic documentation includes scaled plans, elevations, sections, and site plans representing the existing conditions of a building. These drawings provide a comprehensive record of specific architectural details and structural assemblies, often conforming to Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) standards. The documentation specifies the exact dimensions and material compositions of the heritage structure to capture its physical state prior to alteration or demolition. In a historic documentation:
Cover Sheet: Includes the building name, location (address, county, state), and a HABS number.
Location Map/Site Plan: A plan showing the building in its environment, including property lines, adjacent streets, sidewalks, significant trees (with trunk/canopy size), and other structures.
North Arrow and Scale: A graphical scale and north arrow should be on every sheet.
Floor Plans: Detailed plans for every floor, including the foundation/basement and attic.
Reflected Ceiling Plans (RCP): For rooms with notable ceiling details or lighting.
Roof Plan: Showing slopes, materials, chimneys, and ridge lines.
Layout and Dimensions: Precise room layouts, accurate wall thicknesses, and dimensions of all openings (doors, windows).
Exterior Elevations: All four sides, drawn to scale, documenting materials (siding, brick), trim, window types, and roof features.
Sections: A general cross-section is crucial to show floor-to-floor heights, roof construction, and foundation depth.
Wall Sections: Large-scale drawings of wall assemblies, showing structural framing and construction methods.
Window and Door Profiles: Detailed profiles of sills, casings, jambs, and panes.
Mouldings: Profiles of crown mouldings, baseboards, and chair rails (often captured using a profile gauge and drawn at full scale).
Structural Elements: Specific details of timber framing, roof trusses, or columns.
Ornamental Features: Fireplace mantels, porches, staircases, and unique exterior carvings.
Original Hardware: Documentation of historic door knobs, hinges, and locks.
Exterior Utilities: Locations of meters, HVAC equipment, downspouts, and vents.
Significant Mechanicals: Original or rare lighting fixtures and plumbing fixtures.
Scale: Generally a uniform scale (e.g., 1/4" = 1'-0" for plans).
Line Work: Clean, professional CAD or hand-drafted lines on standard sizes (e.g., 24" x 36").
Labels: All spaces and structural components should be clearly labeled.
Existing Conditions: The drawings must represent the building as it exists at the time of documentation, including alterations and deterioration.
Field Notebooks: All,hand-measured notes must be neat, ordered, and submitted alongside the drawings.
Purpose: It identifies and evaluates historic properties, providing a foundation for preservation, rehabilitation, or reconstruction.
Components: It consists of architectural drawings (plans, elevations, sections), photographs, and written historical narratives, often adhering to strict standards such as the National Park Service HABS/HAER Guidelines.
Techniques: Involves both traditional on-site measurements and modern technology like 3D laser scanning to document existing conditions and character-defining features.
Documentation Types: Includes the Historic Structure Report (HSR) which outlines the building’s history, changes, and material condition.
These records ensure the integrity and authenticity of historical structures are understood and maintained during any intervention.
