Program Director Gaby Thomason here to celebrate our incredible Board Members at Preservation Idaho with some Q&As for 2 weeks of Idaho Gives!
Our team works tirelessly to save and protect Idaho’s historic and cultural heritage by preserving historic buildings throughout the state, advocating at the state and local levels, creating programs to highlight Idaho history, and opening lines of communications in every community. We at Preservation Idaho are proud to have each of them on our team and deeply appreciate the volunteer hours and energy they put in to protect and honor our state’s history.
You can support Preservation Idaho’s great education programs by donating to Idaho Gives.
Join us in celebrating our Fabulous Mod Squad Leader Lindsay Erb!
Lindsay has brought new life to our wonderful mid-century focused committee with her design expertise, fresh ideas, and perspectives. She is a great representative for Mid-Century architecture and style and an excellent leader of our Idaho Modern Committee, the Mod Squad.
Preservation Idaho (PI): What is your background in history and preservation?
Lindsay Erb (LE): I am an architect and I’ve always enjoyed the history of art and architecture through my education and travels. I have never claimed to be a “preservationist” until being a board member for Preservation Idaho. I have spent much of my professional career and volunteer efforts focused on sustainable design principles and the merging of that passion with preservation efforts is a perfect match for what I believe is best practices in our built environment.
PI: What inspired you to join Preservation Idaho?
LE: I had participated as a committee member of Idaho Modern for over a year and helped with the Modern Masters program that featured Lucia Atwood of the Eames Foundation. It was a very rewarding experience and when asked to take on the role as Chair for the Idaho Modern Committee a year or so later I was excited to have the opportunity to revive the committee and have a seat on the Board of Preservation Idaho. I’m also a mid-century homeowner and have grown to love the era, so being part of a committee that shares that love is really energizing and fun!
PI: What is your favorite preservation project you’ve been part of?
LE: I have done a lot of work in rural communities focused on health care facilities through the master planning level to end of construction. The majority of these projects have focused on preserving a portion of an existing structure to remodel and add onto as building a brand new, ground-up hospital doesn’t always make sense, especially in a small community. Although the existing buildings may not have been of historic significance, the end project always saved on costs, raw materials, and preserved a piece of a community that mattered to so many residents and staff members.
PI: What do you wish people knew about historic preservation?
LE: Architecture is like art, everyone has an opinion and a taste in style and not everyone loves mid-century or gothic revival, but places built during the various eras of our lives and our ancestor’s lives have meaning and add to the fabric of our neighborhoods and city centers. I wish people would understand that not always building a big shiny new building to leave as a legacy piece is the right choice and that being thoughtful about preserving some of the gems we have left here in Idaho is just as important and meaningful.
PI: How else are you involved in your local community?
LE: I am a former board member of the USGBC Idaho Chapter, former volunteer ticket taker at the Flicks, and current volunteer with Idaho Smart Growth when the opportunity presents itself. Most of my time, however, goes to all things related to an imaginative 7-year-old boy and a 66-year-old home.
PI: What’s a fun fact about you?
LE: When I’m not working my day job as a project manager for the State of Idaho, or volunteering with Preservation Idaho, or hanging with my son Ridley, I sneak out to the Sunny slope and help out at the Hells Canyon / Zhoo Zhoo wineries in the Snake River Wine Region.
Keep an eye out for more Upcoming Preservation Idaho Board Member Spotlights!
Preservation Idaho has an all-volunteer working board and your support this Idaho Gives will be used to build and promote our two most important educational programs, The Preservation Idaho Time Machine and the Idaho Architecture Project. Visit our page at Idaho Gives to learn more and donate today!