Architectural Survey

What is an architectural survey?

  • A systematic record of the built environment within a specified geographic area or time frame;
  • A method to understand trends in building and design;
  • A process that documents the life cycle of a place.

How is survey linked to the National Register?

The information collected during an architectural survey forms the basis for determining the eligibility of resources for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Surveys provide visual, structural, and historical information that can be evaluated against the National Register criteria; they help to identify trends in style and design; chart neighborhood evolution; and illuminate buildings, sites, objects, structures or districts of historical importance.