| Pictures and descriptions of projects. |
| Background, education, business history, awards, events, organizations. |
| By Leland Torrence, as seen in Traditional Building Magazine and CRM Magazine. |
| A membership of skilled artisans joined together to preserve the tradition of durable, historic craftsmanship. |
BUSINESS HISTORY:
1978 to Present Leland Torrence Enterprises: Full service construction company. Owner's representation, analysis, specifications, design and construction management. Specializing in roofing, masonry and wood restorations of historic structures. Experts in ten year capital improvement plans for building envelopes and grounds including long term preventative maintenance programs.1995 to Present THE GUILD of Fine Craftsmen and Artisans: Executive Director of a membership organization of skilled tradesmen and independent contractors. The mission is to preserve and continue the tradition of craftsmanship and durable, historic building techniques and methodologies.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts, Williams College, Williamstown, MAPre-Architecture Program with a minor in Economics and PhilosophyRELEVANT BACKGROUND:
Leland Torrence is a woodworker by trade and apprenticed under three master craftsmen before starting his own wood shop and restoration company in the late seventies. In the eighties he and his craftsmen restored thirty-one turn of the century historic houses in the Fair Haven river section of New Haven. During this period his company designed and planned over 200,000 SF of new wood frame construction in the historic vernacular of the 1890's. In the nineties he has focused his attentions on consulting and construction management most often working in the capacity of owner's representative.Leland Torrence Enterprises typically enters into a relationship with an owner by doing a ten year capital improvement plan. Although our specialty is roofs and exteriors the plans most often include a full analysis of the buildings including programmatic needs as impact the facilities or structure. The clients generally intend to own their buildings for a minimum of thirty years and require a detailed preventative maintenance plan and budget. Materials and building systems are often selected based on the lowest annual cost over a relatively long time period. Prolonging the periods for replacement and extending the useful life cycle of these systems is of primary concern.
In 1995 Leland founded THE GUILD of Fine Craftsmen and Artisans for the purpose of developing and promoting good building techniques and the preservation of specialty skills in the building trades.
ORGANIZATIONS:
A.I.A., Affiliate Member and Education Committee, B.O.C.A., N.F.P.A., New Haven Preservation Trust, Board Member and P.A.C. Committee, Roof Consultants Institute, D.S.N.A., Connecticut Trust for Preservation, Building Committee, National Trust for Historic Preservation, International Brick Association, Friends of Terra Cotta, Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, Preservation Trades Network, Executive Committee, U.S. Heritage Masons, Consultant, Certified Kiemfarben GmBH for product application and specification, Restoration Trades Exchange, Advisory Board.AWARDS:
1996 Certificate of Recognition from The New Haven Preservation Trust for ìfurthering the goals of historic preservation with the sensitive preservation of three neighboring nineteenth century buildings: 220 College Street (1880 Federal), 228 College St. (1870 Italianate) and 230 College St. (1876 High Victorian Gothic)î.ARTICLES AND EVENTS:
Co-sponsor Preservation Clinic 1997, New Haven, CT.Co-sponsor International Preservation Trades Workshop, 1997, 1998 and 1999 - National Park Service, APT"There's No Such Thing as a Craftsman...." CRM Magazine, Vol. 20, No. 12, 1997 - U.S. Department of InteriorìMasonry Cleaningî Traditional Building Magazine, May/June 2000, Vol. 13/Number 3
