Interview with Michael Abbott

Mike Abbott recently retired as a principal at Newport Collaborative Architects. For over 40 years, his leadership has been marked by an abiding interest in historic preservation and adaptive reuse. Mike has worked on many buildings listed in the National Historic Register and his projects have won multiple awards—including several Rhody Awards for Historic Preservation. Mike has also dedicated significant time to his community. He is a past president of AIA/RI, served as Chairman of both the Exeter Planning Board and Zoning Board. He also serves on the board of Preserve RI and is a commissioner on the state’s Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission.

1. In your long career working in historic preservation in Rhode Island, what positive changes have you seen?

The most positive change to preservation I’ve seen in Rhode Island, is that almost everyone now knows the term and what it means— its [perceived as a] value to the community. It is easier to start a project with everyone starting with that basic understanding in place.

2. What are the biggest concerns you see ahead for protecting and preserving historic landmarks across Rhode Island?

My biggest concern going forward is that economics still win out sometimes. It might be cheaper and easier to knock down that abandoned church on the desirable corner lot and put up a pharmacy, than it is the restore and adaptively reuse it and put the pharmacy somewhere else.

3. Is there a particular project that stands out that you are most proud of?

A particular favorite project that I have worked on is the Providence Performing Arts Center. We were lucky to get involved in the original expansion and restoration of the historic theater back in 1993, and continue with further ongoing restoration projects today, such as the restoration of the Terra Cotta facade last year.  I like that it is open to the public so many people are able to enjoy it.  About 300,000 each year!

4. What advice would you give to an owner of a historic property contemplating an adaptive reuse project or restoration?

If I can give advice to homeowners embarking upon a restoration project, it might be “do no harm”!  Don’t try to make your project something that it’s not suited for. If you are a big fan of an open floor plan, don’t start with a 200-year-old colonial and remove all the interior walls. Instead, look for a loft in an old mill, or an old warehouse instead.

5. You've purchased a house in Italy and plan to spend some time there in retirement--tell us about your experience in rehabbing an historic place in Italy.

My experience so far in renovating a 1,200-year-old property in Italy is that the permitting and approval processes are abstract and done through intermediaries. I like being able to discuss my plans directly with the inspectors, although with translation issues, I might end up in trouble!  And it is ALL restoration, hardly any changes whatsoever are permitted.  You don’t move 3-foot-thick walls very easily!