Last week, the third annual Duda Forum on Historic Preservation and Sustainable Development was held in Austin and New Braunfels. This year's forum emphasized the preservation of Texas's historic courthouses and included a diverse range of speakers.
The event began with an evening reception and a keynote address by Brantley Hightower at the Travis County Probate Courthouse in Austin. Hightower discussed his book, The Courthouses of Central Texas, and illustrated the evolution of courthouses in Central Texas from the mid-1800s to today.
The second day of the Forum was held at the Comal County Courthouse in New Braunfels, beginning with a welcome from Comal County Judge Sherman Krause. Tere O’Connell of O’Connell Architecture presented the work completed on the restoration of the Comal County Courthouse. Susan Tietz from the Texas Historical Commission’s Courthouse Preservation Program discussed the over 100 courthouses that have received funding through the program to restore original features and update them to meet modern standards.
Three panel sessions followed, with the first session dedicated to the "Historic Importance and Preservation of Courthouses." Judge Jerry Bearden from Mason County and architect Alexis McKinney of Architexas shared the story of how the Mason County Courthouse endured a devastating fire that necessitated its reconstruction. Michael van Enter of van Enter Studios highlighted the restoration of decorative elements in courthouses and discussed the challenges of working with historic materials.
The next panel focused on the “Technical Challenges of Courthouse Restoration.” Judge J.D. Clark of Wise County discussed the difficulties involved in restoring the two-story volume of the courtroom in the Wise County Courthouse, as well as the process of restoring the heavily altered original staircase. Architect Jack Pyburn from Lord Aeck Sargent explained how to incorporate modern features and programming into a historic courthouse during the restoration process. Dale Sellers from Phoenix I Restoration & Construction concluded the panel by sharing highlights from his company’s work on over 30 courthouses in Texas. He addressed construction issues related to working with older buildings and emphasized the importance of collaborating with architects and owners to complete restoration projects successfully.
The final panel focused on the "Community Impact of Courthouses." Josie Falletta from San Marcos Main Street and Rush Harris from Marshall Economic Development discussed the significance of historic courthouses to the overall well-being of a community. They highlighted how these courthouses can stimulate business development and foster community pride through events held around the courthouse square. Chris Moore from the Texas Main Street Program provided examples of successful Main Street communities, illustrating how their courthouses have played a key role in revitalizing local commerce.
The day concluded with a tour of the Comal County Courthouse, led by O’Connell, who was involved in its restoration. This year, over 90 people registered for the Forum, a notable increase from last year. The 2025 Duda Forum was highly successful, providing attendees with valuable insights on how to maintain the vibrancy of courthouses for future generations and ensure they continue to serve as community anchors across the state.
Brad Patterson (THC), Steven Semes and Paul Kapp (Notre Dame),
Susan Tietz and Elizabeth Brummett (THC), and David Preziosi (THF)
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The 2025 Duda Forum was coordinated by THF, the Notre Dame Michael Christopher Duda Center for Preservation, Resilience, and Sustainability, and the Texas Historical Commission's Courthouse Preservation Program
