Dean to address men's club on historic preservation

New Canaan architect Robert Dean will address the Senior Men's Club of New Canaan in Morrill Hall at St. Mark's Church on Friday, July 27, at 10 a.m. about "Preservation of Old and New in New England."

He will describe the process of keeping the building traditions of New England alive while bringing new life to existing structures.

Dean, who describes himself as an "academic architect of the old school," draws upon his experience with old houses in a talk about two of his notable preservation-oriented projects. The projects extend across time -- from a Federal-era farmhouse and barn to the newer traditions fostered by the mid-century Modernists. Through photos, Dean describes a process that starts in learning from history and tradition and sets a goal of gracefully accommodating the needs of today.

He studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University, and has served on the faculties of Syracuse and Columbia universities teaching design and conducting research on the history and meaning of architecture in the broader context of American culture.

As a practicing architect, Dean has established credentials that range from historical construction detailing to large-scale site planning. Prior to starting his own practice, he had worked for several New York practitioners, including Robert A.M. Stern, Philip Johnson, and Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.

Dean is active with voluntary and pro-bono services related to town planning and historic preservation. As an elected planning official in Redding, Dean has been involved in issues of public policy related to historic preservation and community development. In New Canaan, he serves as a professional adviser to the New Canaan Preservation Alliance.

The Senior Men's Club of New Canaan is open for new members. For information, visit www.smcnc.org or call Membership Chairman Jerry Transue at 203-966-6050.