The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines revival as restoring force, validity or effect. Owner Aaron Ruby and his team at Revival Architecture do precisely that.
“We have an appreciation for classical, well-done architecture and traditional design,” he says.
Arkansas buildings feature many stylings of architecture including, Greek Revival, Federal, Georgian & other Colonial Revival, Italianate, Victorian, Second Empire, Arts & Crafts, Tudor Revival, International Style, Art Moderne and Mid-Century Modern, according to Revival’s website. Revival’s team knows how to restore all the different types to stay historically accurate.
Aaron knew from an early age that he wanted to pursue being an architect. His own appreciation for old architecture began on a trip to Rome, which he took while working toward an architecture degree. He felt moved by the old architecture surrounding him there, and this sparked his passion for preservation.
“You realize in an instant that you're not capable of any of this great design. It kind of humbles you,” he says.” “It was probably at that time that I realized I had more of an interest in preserving great buildings than in designing new ones.”
Revival’s team has worked on high-profile projects around the state, including the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in Dyess, Ark. They also have two projects that can be visited at the Historic Arkansas Museum in downtown Little Rock: the 1840s Blacksmith Shop and 1823 William Woodruff Print Shop.
Their work requires an impressive team of researchers, contractors, engineers and other talented individuals. And projects often take a long time to complete.
One set of structures, the Woolsey Farmstead in Fayetteville, Ark., is a project Revival started in 2014. There are still many years of work remaining.
A public project begins when the group that owns the building receives funding or grants for a restoration project. They then advertise for firms to restore the buildings. Once the group is chosen, the research begins, and often there is “rescue work,” such as ensuring water damage isn’t occurring to the current structure, followed by the design and construction of the more meticulous restoration aspects.
Beyond public restoration work, Revival has worked with many private estates in Little Rock and the surrounding areas.
“If someone's building new in an old neighborhood, or they want it to look like there is history to it when it gets finished like the house has been there for 100 years, that's the stuff we really enjoy,” Aaron says. “The best projects that we work on are the ones where it doesn’t even look like an architect has been involved.”
With more than 20 years experience in the field of architecture and historic preservation, Revival Architecture's list of services include:
- Condition Assessments
- Historic Structure Reports
- Building Measurement & Documentation
- Phasing Strategies
- Renderings
- Budgeting
- Grant Applications
- National Register Nominations
- Moisture Intrusion & Forensic Investigation
- Speaking
- Programming
- Schematic Design
- Design Development
- Construction Documents
- Specifications
- Bidding & Negotiation
- Construction Observation
- Coordinating Building Systems & Trades
- Post Construction Services
- Occupancy Surveys
Visit revivalarch.com for more information.