What We Do

Education. Advocacy. Preservation.

These are the tools the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy uses to save Wright.

A Conservancy group at Unity Temple during restoration

Restoration work on the Glasner House

Representatives of Wright public sites at a Conservancy-organized summit

Meeting at the Ennis House to discuss its preservation

Breaking ground on the Ennis House restoration

Restoration work at the Westcott House

Police protection was deployed at the David and Gladys Wright House after a demolition permit was issued erroneously.

The Gordon House on its 28-mile journey from Wilsonville, Oregon, to Silverton, Oregon

The Conservancy has played an important leadership role in the years-long effort to inscribe Wright buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The Conservancy's biannual scholarly magazine SaveWright

2014 annual conference presentation at Taliesin West
Photo by Mark Hertzberg

2016 annual conference presentation
Photo by Mark Hertzberg

Executive director Janet Halstead speaking at the opening of the Laurent House
Photo by Mindy Joy Photography

Wright's photographer Pedro Guerrero addresses the Conservancy

Wright homeowners address issues in a panel discussion at the 2014 conference.
Photo by Mark Hertzberg

Wright scholar Neil Levine discusses Wright's work in Arizona at the 2014 conference.
Photo by Mark Hertzberg

The Wright Spirit Awards have been presented since 1991 to extraordinary individuals and organizations that have preserved the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Photo by Mark Hertzberg

Saving Wright means educating the public about the importance of Wright's work.

We preserve Wright’s legacy by fostering continued research and scholarship through our magazine SaveWright and presentations at our annual conference. We recognize extraordinary individuals and organizations through the Wright Spirit Awards, and encourage the next generation of advocates and preservationists through the John G. Thorpe Young Professionals & Students Fellowship, which offers scholarships for students and young professionals to attend our annual conference.

The best way to learn about Wright’s buildings is to experience them firsthand. We provide the public the opportunity to experience the artistry of Wright’s architecture through the unique special events and tours, including our annual fall conference, our spring Out and About Wright weekend, private dinners and more. Thanks to our strong network of supportive homeowners and building administrators, the Conservancy is able to provide tours of seldom-seen private houses and special behind-the-scenes access to public buildings.

Touring the Davis House

Touring the Bogk House
Photo by Mark Hertzberg

Touring the V.C. Morris Gift Shop

Touring the Ennis House

Touring the Price House
Photo by Brie Smith

Touring the Boomer House
Photo by Brie Smith

Touring the Carlson House
Photo by Brie Smith

Touring the archives at Arcosanti
Photo by Patrick J. Mahoney

Lunch at the Walton House

Touring the Buehler House

Touring the Tacoma Museum of Glass
Photo by Patrick J. Mahoney

Touring the Bachman-Wilson House

Touring the Marin County Civic Center

Touring the Berger House

A reception at Unity Temple

Dinner at Auldbrass
Photo by Zachary Matthews

Dinner at the Walker House

In its first 30 years, the Conservancy has assisted or strategically intervened in the situations of more than 100 Wright buildings.

Advocating against the destruction of Wright buildings has led to the successful rescue of many important works over the Conservancy’s history. Advocacy can take on many forms—from quiet and careful behind-the-scenes negotiations with multiple stakeholders to mounting a public campaign, generating national awareness in major publications and launching petitions against a building’s demolition. We also advocate for the appropriate restoration and care of Wright’s architecture, encouraging communities and owners to recognize the importance of these buildings through landmarking and other protections, as well as sensitive restorations or updates when needed. We have contributed to U.S. landmark and World Heritage nominations, appeared at public hearings and provided letters of support. Our work complements the efforts of Wright public sites and preservation organizations across the country. We are concerned about both the preservation and the sustainability of all Wright buildings.

Providing Wright building owners with resources to assist with maintenance, preservation and restoration is an important component of the Conservancy’s mission.

Since 1989, we have served as a first line of defense against demolition or neglect by monitoring the status of all Wright buildings. We stand ready to provide informational resources and referrals to support all Wright building stewards.

The News & Resources hub on our website includes articles specifically related to the stewardship, preservation and maintenance of Wright-designed buildings. Posts address diverse topics, many chosen from questions we have received and from responses to building steward surveys. We also host an online forum for discussing all things Wright, Wright Chat.

The Conservancy is continuously developing its list of professionals who have experience working with Wright structures. Depending on the need, we may be able to suggest appropriate professionals in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, crafts, conservation, building contracting, research, historic preservation and real estate. To request or share a referral, please contact us at [email protected].

Wright on the Market is the only online listing service dedicated exclusively to Wright-designed structures. It connects the sellers of Wright-designed buildings with preservation-minded potential buyers.

The Conservancy currently holds a number of preservation easements on buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. In carrying out its responsibilities as easement holder, the Conservancy regularly monitors the sites and, when appropriate, assists owners in determining effective means of maintaining these sites.