Behind the Design: Michelle Shoriak Honors History and Heritage Through Architectural Preservation
Pull back the curtain and get to know the people behind the design. The solutions we develop for clients and communities are brought to you by passionate individuals devoted to delivering better built environments — places that support healthy, productive, sustainable ways of living.Â
Our next #PeoplePassions blog post features Michelle Shoriak, an architectural historian in New Orleans who considers the story of every material — every brick and shingle — and sees them as moments in history worth preserving.
What is your personal design philosophy?
My drive is to learn about historic materials that were used in buildings in New Orleans and across the nation. That’s where my focus has been for the last decade.Â
Through my work, I pay homage to the traditional trades and craftspeople who developed these architectural materials and ensured they were suited for each unique area. They discovered the certain styles of buildings that should be built for particular environments, purposes, and the communities they served. I want to make sure we respect that as we adopt old buildings for new uses.Â
I think to myself, “Have we thought of each individual brick and where it came from, who made it, and why it’s important?”Â
Part of the building process also includes incorporating modern conveniences: air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing are all essentials, of course. But we want to do this in the best way possible, respecting what was there and why it was there. What did it mean to this place? What did people feel when they experienced it? How did it advance or enhance culture and a sense of community? That’s what matters to me.Â
I want to pay homage to the traditional trades and craftspeople who developed architectural materials and made them work for each unique area. I want to make sure we respect that as we adopt old buildings for new uses.
Willow Grove residence and community center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, under construction.
Tell us about one of your favorite projects.
I was the lead on a restoration project called Willow Grove. The company I worked for at the time was a general contractor, so I was involved with everything from the National Register nomination and rehabilitation tax credits to the actual hands-on restoration work as well. Willow Grove was a plantation home and dairy farm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that was transformed into a residence and is now used effectively as a community center with a neighborhood development surrounding it. The descendants of the original owners still own the building and managed the project from start to finish.
What made this project special was the method in which the home was constructed. It used a process called bousillage — a mixture of clay, moss, and water that’s used to construct the walls. It’s traditional for southern Louisiana and the region, but it’s not well known throughout the rest of the nation. It’s similar to adobe and other earthen insulating techniques that are used in different regions, but it’s not quite the same. Bousillage was crafted out of what was available in this area and was a method that worked well for Louisiana weather.
It was a delight to work on and to be involved in every aspect of the project. That made it so memorable and probably my favorite project of all time.
Michelle’s previous historic preservation team working on Willow Grove in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
When have your personal and professional passions aligned?
I feel like it happens all the time. I did not take the advice people offer about not turning hobbies into a career. Preservation, before I even fully understood what it was, was kind of my hobby.
I’ve always enjoyed restoring old things, working on buildings, and even doing research (genealogical and historic). Then, I found out that this could be a career, so I pursued it.
It’s also something I love to teach people about, which I get to do in my position at Cushing Terrell. I teach people about preservation, how much of an economic driver it is, how sustainable it is, and the importance of it culturally.
Recently, I had a booth at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival where I taught people about the life cycle of lime. Lime is a commonly used material here in New Orleans, and it’s important that we understand how to preserve and restore it. The event had a wonderful turn out!
Michelle teaching The Lifecycle of Lime at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
What are some of your passion projects outside of the office?
Right now, my life revolves around my two young children. We recently planted a vegetable garden, which has been great. It’s become my new passion to propagate any little thing I find.
I also love traveling. I love discovering new places; it could be one town over or across the world. I just enjoy going to new places, exploring, and learning about new cultures and people.
Michelle with her children at Mardi Gras in New Orleans and on her travels to Cuba.
A little more about Michelle…
Originally from Northern Virginia, Michelle never saw herself staying in New Orleans after graduate school. But 13 years, a husband, a dog, and two kids later, she thinks she’ll be there for a while!
Her experience in preservation is extremely varied, with an initial focus on the traditional building trades, methods, and materials, and eventually extending into construction management, education, and research.
Her passion is geared toward educating anyone and everyone on the benefits of historic preservation. She’s always a good resource for the architectural community (and beyond!) on how to adapt historic buildings that must accept modern conveniences, but without disrupting the character or function of the building, and without leading to moisture and structural issues down the road.
