Architectural Historians
All members of the Rosin Preservation staff meet the standards for preservation professionals as defined by the federal government in 36 CFR 61. We bring to the table nearly 30 years of professional experience working with a broad spectrum of preservation projects and issues.
Elizabeth Rosin
Principal/Owner
Elizabeth came into the field of historic preservation through the study of archaeology, earning her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Anthropology and Geography. After volunteer work on archaeological digs as a young woman and working later as a professional in the field, Elizabeth discovered her appreciation for the preservation of historic buildings. In pursuit of this interest, she earned her master’s degree in historic preservation at the University of Vermont. Since graduating from UVM, Elizabeth has worked on a wide variety of building preservation projects throughout the Eastern and Midwestern United States.
Through this work Elizabeth has become knowledgeable about a plethora of arcane topics ranging from the manufactured-ice industry and early automobile sales and distribution networks to the early history of Miami, Florida, and World War II-era housing regulations. She is drawn to projects that are out of the ordinary and that require creative thinking to achieve a successful resolution. She is particularly proud of her National Register nomination for the 1963 BMA Tower by Skidmore Owings & Merrill and her tax credit application (and successful appeal) for the Kansas City Cold Storage Company Building.
Favorite Historic Building
The BMA Tower, Kansas City, Missouri, SOM, 1963. I love the sculptural qualities of the building and how its elegant form melds Classical proportions and rhythms with Modern design ideals. It is iconic.
I am a Preservationist Because...
finding new uses for old buildings enhances our quality of life, preserves our shared history, and is good for the environment. I enjoy the challenge of making each project work – both programmatically and economically. If it makes economic sense, preservation is simply the right thing to do.
Elizabeth’s Complete Resume
Kristen Ottesen
Associate
Like many, Kristen was romanced into historic preservation by ornately crafted buildings and high-style edifices. A liberal arts education with a major in art primed her receptors for the aesthetic components of the built environment. While studying art history she was particularly drawn to architecture, fueling her interest by exploring abandoned buildings and climbing bridges. After graduating from William Jewell College in 1991 and spending two years working as a flight attendant, Kristen entered the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to pursue a Masters of Science in Historic Preservation, graduating in 1996.
For the next seven years, Kristen remained in Chicago, working in the field of historic preservation with real estate developers, general contractors, masonry contractors, architecture firms and non-profit organizations. Since moving back to Kansas City in 2003, Kristen has worked as a preservation consultant with Historic Preservation Services, LLC and with Rosin Preservation, LLC. After twelve years in the preservation field Kristen remains wowed by ornate and high-style structures but has developed a deep appreciation for the modest, vernacular, and ordinary structures that make up the majority of our every-day built environment.
Favorite Historic Buildings
Kansas City: Municipal Auditorium, Hoit, Price & Barnes with Gentry, Voskamp & Neville architects, 1935. I love its slick, streamlined Moderne styling. There is so much original fabric left in the building (from door hardware to light fixtures to painted murals). Most historic buildings of this caliber are continually “updated” through the years and lose historic elements and character with every renovation.
Favorite Building of All Time
TWA Terminal, JFK Airport, Eero Saarinen, 1962. I was only there once but the feeling of being in that building was other-worldly. The curvy, fluid, organic forms and the rounded corridors are groovy.
I am a Preservationist Because...
reusing buildings and their materials is important to our environment, our culture, our heritage, our sense of who we are. We must work hard to respect, retain and reuse the vernacular as well as the high-style buildings in our world. If all we save are the architectural rock-stars we’ll miss the context of our cultural history.
Kristen’s Complete Resume
Brad Finch
Photography Sub-Consultant
Brad has been photographing historic buildings for over 12 years. As required by the project, Brad has the equipment necessary to take and process digital, 35 mm, and large format photos of the highest quality and he is well versed in the requirements of the 2006 National Park Service photographic guidelines. In addition to numerous National Register nominations, historic resource surveys, building documentation and tax credit projects, he photographed over 250 buildings for the Guidebook to Kansas City Architecture, published by the American Institute of Architects in 2001. Brad is also an experienced researcher and has written successful nominations to the Kansas City Register of Historic Places for the E. Harry Kelly House and to the National Register for the Scaritt Point Historic Districts (north and south).
Favorite Historic Building
It changes over the years, but right now my favorite is Temple B'nai Jehudah in Kansas City, Missouri (now demolished). I'm a big fan of architecture by Clarence Kivett and Ralph Myers anyway, but this building took a step beyond architecture and into art, which is probably why it is now demolished. It should have been nominated to the National Register, but the owner had other plans. Architecture that is really good is either loved or hated. Mediocre architecture is ignored.
I am a Preservationist Because...
I love history. I think it was Harry Truman who said, "The only thing new in the world is the history you don’t know."
Brad’s Web Site
All members of the Rosin Preservation staff meet the standards for preservation professionals as defined by the federal government in 36 CFR 61. We bring to the table nearly 30 years of professional experience working with a broad spectrum of preservation projects and issues.
Principal/Owner
Elizabeth came into the field of historic preservation through the study of archaeology, earning her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Anthropology and Geography. After volunteer work on archaeological digs as a young woman and working later as a professional in the field, Elizabeth discovered her appreciation for the preservation of historic buildings. In pursuit of this interest, she earned her master’s degree in historic preservation at the University of Vermont. Since graduating from UVM, Elizabeth has worked on a wide variety of building preservation projects throughout the Eastern and Midwestern United States.
Through this work Elizabeth has become knowledgeable about a plethora of arcane topics ranging from the manufactured-ice industry and early automobile sales and distribution networks to the early history of Miami, Florida, and World War II-era housing regulations. She is drawn to projects that are out of the ordinary and that require creative thinking to achieve a successful resolution. She is particularly proud of her National Register nomination for the 1963 BMA Tower by Skidmore Owings & Merrill and her tax credit application (and successful appeal) for the Kansas City Cold Storage Company Building.
Favorite Historic Building
The BMA Tower, Kansas City, Missouri, SOM, 1963. I love the sculptural qualities of the building and how its elegant form melds Classical proportions and rhythms with Modern design ideals. It is iconic.
I am a Preservationist Because...
finding new uses for old buildings enhances our quality of life, preserves our shared history, and is good for the environment. I enjoy the challenge of making each project work – both programmatically and economically. If it makes economic sense, preservation is simply the right thing to do.
Elizabeth’s Complete Resume
Associate
Like many, Kristen was romanced into historic preservation by ornately crafted buildings and high-style edifices. A liberal arts education with a major in art primed her receptors for the aesthetic components of the built environment. While studying art history she was particularly drawn to architecture, fueling her interest by exploring abandoned buildings and climbing bridges. After graduating from William Jewell College in 1991 and spending two years working as a flight attendant, Kristen entered the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to pursue a Masters of Science in Historic Preservation, graduating in 1996.
For the next seven years, Kristen remained in Chicago, working in the field of historic preservation with real estate developers, general contractors, masonry contractors, architecture firms and non-profit organizations. Since moving back to Kansas City in 2003, Kristen has worked as a preservation consultant with Historic Preservation Services, LLC and with Rosin Preservation, LLC. After twelve years in the preservation field Kristen remains wowed by ornate and high-style structures but has developed a deep appreciation for the modest, vernacular, and ordinary structures that make up the majority of our every-day built environment.
Favorite Historic Buildings
Kansas City: Municipal Auditorium, Hoit, Price & Barnes with Gentry, Voskamp & Neville architects, 1935. I love its slick, streamlined Moderne styling. There is so much original fabric left in the building (from door hardware to light fixtures to painted murals). Most historic buildings of this caliber are continually “updated” through the years and lose historic elements and character with every renovation.
Favorite Building of All Time
TWA Terminal, JFK Airport, Eero Saarinen, 1962. I was only there once but the feeling of being in that building was other-worldly. The curvy, fluid, organic forms and the rounded corridors are groovy.
I am a Preservationist Because...
reusing buildings and their materials is important to our environment, our culture, our heritage, our sense of who we are. We must work hard to respect, retain and reuse the vernacular as well as the high-style buildings in our world. If all we save are the architectural rock-stars we’ll miss the context of our cultural history.
Kristen’s Complete Resume
Photography Sub-Consultant
Brad has been photographing historic buildings for over 12 years. As required by the project, Brad has the equipment necessary to take and process digital, 35 mm, and large format photos of the highest quality and he is well versed in the requirements of the 2006 National Park Service photographic guidelines. In addition to numerous National Register nominations, historic resource surveys, building documentation and tax credit projects, he photographed over 250 buildings for the Guidebook to Kansas City Architecture, published by the American Institute of Architects in 2001. Brad is also an experienced researcher and has written successful nominations to the Kansas City Register of Historic Places for the E. Harry Kelly House and to the National Register for the Scaritt Point Historic Districts (north and south).
Favorite Historic Building
It changes over the years, but right now my favorite is Temple B'nai Jehudah in Kansas City, Missouri (now demolished). I'm a big fan of architecture by Clarence Kivett and Ralph Myers anyway, but this building took a step beyond architecture and into art, which is probably why it is now demolished. It should have been nominated to the National Register, but the owner had other plans. Architecture that is really good is either loved or hated. Mediocre architecture is ignored.
I am a Preservationist Because...
I love history. I think it was Harry Truman who said, "The only thing new in the world is the history you don’t know."
Brad’s Web Site
