At the recent National Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Conference in Pittsburg , PA , EYP expert and historic preservation principal David Fixler, AIA, served as a member of the panel entitled, “Informed Decisions in a Material World.” The panel explored ways of making informed decisions about restoration, repair, and/or replacement of materials for buildings designed in the mid-20th century. David Fixler’s portions of the session primarily focused on the idea of newness as a value in modern architecture, how material transformations affect the character of modern buildings, and the importance of systems in modern architecture. He also used several case studies – including the Wellesley College Science Center, the International Union of Operating Engineers building, and Harvard University’s Hilles Library – to help illustrate his talking points.