Katherine Dowdell | Symposium Committee Co-Chair

Katherine Dowdell

1st term: 2025-2027

Principal
Farragut Street Architects

I am the founding principal of Farragut Street Architects, a small firm specializing in the renovation, restoration and adaptive reuse of older buildings, bringing my clients over 30 years of experience in architecture and historic preservation. Throughout my career, I’ve undertaken a broad range of project types, which has provided me with a unique skill set in dealing with the many issues—and surprises—that one may encounter when working with older buildings. As a longtime member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Preservation Alliance, my more recent involvement with APT has rounded out my experience with older buildings. I appreciate the detailed nature of many APT educational sessions, from which I’ve learned a lot, and I always enjoy the social events.  

The Rowhouse City symposium in 2022, for which I was a panelist, was a particular favorite, and area of interest, for me. Most of my practice deals with helping individual homeowners care for and adapt their historic houses, without inadvertently destroying the features that make these houses not only beautiful, but long-lasting. I look forward to continuing to learn the best practices for older building maintenance, and to helping APT continue its educational mission.  

In addition to my interest in APT DVC, I have served on the boards and building committees for a number of landmark buildings in Philadelphia. Currently I am a board member at the Wagner Free Institute, a Victorian-era natural history museum in North Philadelphia.