Join presenters from the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture and the State of Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) as they introduce a research and design project which is currently nominating Washington Square to the National Register of Historic Places. The team will share their process for identifying the site, conducting research, and applying insights to stewarding the Square as well as other locations in Holland. Additional discussion will explore the procedural side of the National Register, and how its use can support academic, SHPO, and community goals. Lastly, focus will be given to the critical role of local archives in enabling work of this kind. 

Thursday, May 22nd

7 to 8:30 pm
Holland Museum
Free for Members, $5 Per Person for Non-Members

Pre-registration Required

Presenter Biographies

Nicholas Rolinski, Adjunct Assistant Professor of the Practice 

Nicholas Rolinski currently teaches ARCH 71321 — Urban Conservation Studio at the University of Notre Dame, which is offered within the Master of Science in Historic Preservation Degree Program. Nick’s work aims to promote the stewardship and development of buildings and places which are timeless, human scale, and lovable. 

He holds B.M.E. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton, and an M.Arch from the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture. Additionally, he frequently serves as an Adjunct Instructor and Academic Advisor at Hope College (Holland, MI), teaching courses which range from First Year Seminar to Senior Engineering Design “Capstone”. Nick has served on the Historic District Commission in his hometown of Holland, Michigan, and currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at the Holland Museum. 

Nathan Nietering, Project Coordinator for the Michigan SHPO 

Nathan Nietering is the Project Coordinator for the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and works extensively with special projects, external outreach, social media, and the National Register of Historic Places designation program. Coming from prior experience in the museum field, Nathan believes strongly that historic places – buildings, sites, objects, structures, and districts – can foster the same experiential connections to the past as artifacts and exhibits. Nathan joined the SHPO in 2018 after a working in both historic preservation and museum roles in Connecticut and Michigan (including Saugatuck-Douglas). He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public History from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree in Historic Preservation from Eastern Michigan University. He also serves on the Advisory Council for the Kutsche Office of Local History at GVSU. 

Students of the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, Master of Science in Historic Preservation will co-present.

Supported in part by an award from: