John Burton, who is a Senior Partner at the Colchester office of the leading architect and historic buildings consultant Purcell Miller Tritton, recently gave the keynote speech to American heritage experts in the US capital and warned his hosts of the danger of neglecting the upkeep of their Embassies around the world.
Talking to a specialist invited audience in the famous Archive Building, which houses the original copy of the American Constitution, John Burton addressed the US Department of State’s Cultural Heritage Symposium for Overseas Building Operations, giving a lecture entitled “Saving the Department’s Treasures.”
John’s work on the American Ambassador’s house in London and other projects for the American Government has given him a unique insight into their heritage and he was well placed to give the keynote lecture.
He said, “At last the message is getting across to the politicians that it is important to care for the US Embassies around the World and the $55m furniture collections that they house. I have been honoured to be the keynote speaker at the first public airing of the subject in the heart of the American administration.”
Commenting on his trip to the US, John Burton said, “They gave me a very warm reception and, even at this time of economic challenge, realised that the US needs to look after their cultural heritage if it is to survive for future generations.” He went on to add, “We were given a special breakfast in Blair House, the Presidential Guest house, which is directly opposite the White House and usually used for visiting heads of state as well as the President Elect. It is interesting to reflect that either Barack Obama or John McCain will be following in our footsteps when they accede to the Presidency.”