In order to thoroughly record historic properties prior to potential renovation or demolition, we research and write Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), and Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS) reports for our clients. Serving as the nation’s largest archive of historic resource documentation, these National Park Service (NPS) Heritage Documentation Programs are instrumental to the recordation of significant historical buildings, structures, and landscapes.

With years of recordation experience, we’re always staying up-to-date on the latest HABS/HAER/HALS requirements in order to produce high-quality reports. We’re proud of our ability to document any type of historic resource, whether it be buildings, roads, bridges, industrial plants, or landscapes. A number of our reports are even housed on the NPS website as examples to follow!

A few of our notable projects include documentation of a Navy wharf in Guam, an irrigation landscape on Kauai, and a jail in Hilo. In 2012, together with HHF Planners, we received a Preservation Commendation from the Historic Hawaii Foundation for our work on the Wake Island HALS. Another interesting HAER documentation project focused on a below-grade World War II-era gun emplacement complex, which was discovered during excavations for utility work on Ford Island in the Pearl Harbor National Historic Landmark.

Photo credit: David Franzen