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.
Today’s spotlight is on our Board’s Vice President, Steve Trout!
Steve owns Trout Architects and has worked on countless projects throughout the state of Idaho, ensuring that historic and existing buildings are preserved for future generations and rehabilitated to meet modern needs. Steve’s experience and knowledge have been a significant asset to Preservation Idaho and we are proud to share that work that he and his firm have done in our communities.
Preservation Idaho (PI): What is your background in history and preservation?
Steve Trout (ST): For some unexplainable reason, in my 40 years as a licensed architect, the majority of my projects have been building remodels. This naturally led me to be able to work on historically significant buildings starting in McCall, Idaho. What is most rewarding is learning the stories that these buildings tell - the efforts taken to build the building, who used the building, and the overall life of use and changes as told by both written narrative and the visual observation of the materials and craftmanship of (or lack of) the physical building itself.
I have had the opportunity to help in the preservation and restoration of some very significant historic structures in Idaho. These include the preservation and restoration of the Shick-Ostolasa farmhouse in Hidden Springs, the Lincoln Creek Day School on the Fort Hall Reservation, the Blaine County Historic Courthouse, Teton County Historic Courthouse, Christ Chapel, the Hopffgarten House, Boise Basin Mercantile in Idaho City, the Baxter Apartments, the R.Z. Johnson Block (across the street from Flying M in Boise), Art Troutner’s own house in the foothills, the Klein House on Warm Springs Boulevard, multiple historic buildings at Harriman State Park, and more.
I am also currently honored to be able to help the City of Boise with the restoration of the Gene Harris Bandshell in Julia Davis Park and the Erma Hayman house on Ash Street.
PI: What inspired you to join Preservation Idaho?
ST: My office had been previously involved with the saving and preservation of the historic Bown House. We were sucked into the fray by the mother of my friend and close associate Elizabeth Young. From there I have been actively involved in many historic preservation and rehabilitation projects.
Sometime after the Bown House project, I receive a call from Dan Everhart suggesting that I become part of Preservation Idaho and join the Board of Directors. At the time of Dan’s phone call, there were no architects on the board. I thought my presence and experiences would be of benefit.
PI: What is your favorite preservation project you’ve been part of?
ST: I have been on many preservation projects and every one of them has been rewarding in some fashion. If I were to pick only one project it would be the restoration of the 1863 Surgeons Quarters on the Veterans Administration campus. Lead by John Bertram, then Vice President of Preservation Idaho, this project showed the support of the community in both donated materials and labor as well as financial support. It should also be noted that after many years of questionable renovation and use of the VA’s historic buildings, this was a turning point in getting the VA’s approval and total cooperation in the restoration and reuse of the Surgeons Quarters.
PI: What do you wish people knew about historic preservation?
ST: There are several things that come to mind. One of the most common issues we hear from our community leaders, the general public, and contractors is that it is much cheaper to demolish and replace a historic building with a modern, new building. In most cases, this is not true. I have found that existing buildings, even historic ones that have had some level of reasonable maintenance, can be effectively restored and made modern in all manners while maintaining the historic fabric of the building. This can be accomplished for the same or less cost than a new building. What is needed to accomplish this is a willingness and an innovative forward vision to design, construction, and preservation.
I also wish more people in the community and world would understand that building preservation (and not just significantly historic buildings) is the greenest construction technique available to us. The manufacturing of new construction materials is one of the earth’s most damaging activities. Consider that cost in addition to throwing the materials from the demolished building away never to be used again. We need to support our local communities in adopting Demolition Review Ordinances and educate the population on the effective reuse of our existing buildings – historic and not historic.
PI: How else are you involved in your local community?
ST: I find that my non-architectural time is spent supporting – as best I can – my artist friends. One of my current dreams is to finish an art studio building for my wife and me where I will have a ceramic studio. From my ceramic studio, I am hoping to have our close neighbors join us in art projects including a ceremonial raku firing with smores.
PI: What’s a fun fact about you?
ST: I have recently been made aware, in going through my late father’s papers and mementos, that my mother, who unfortunately passed away a long time ago at an early age, was also deeply involved with historic preservation. In the late 1960s, she was the chairperson of what was then the Women’s Architectural League who along with the Idaho Historical Society and the local AIA chapter, worked on saving as many historic buildings in Boise as possible. Their work also included the technical Historic American Building Surveys (HABS) on many significant buildings. I guess the fruit did not fall far from the tree in this case. It must be a genetic thing I inherited of which I am deeply appreciative.
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!