Our role as contemporaries in the lineage of American architecture is to preserve the historic fabric that links our environment to its people. The challenge of doing so is to at once maintain the authenticity of our vintage building stock while thoroughly embracing modern at- construction techniques. I believe it is an architect's greatest responsibility to resolve this inherent duality between human aspiration and lasting design integrity. Once complete, what remains and is contained are the indelible traces of repeated human celebration. The Old Capitol in Iowa City, then, is exemplary of such repetition. Its multiple preservation campaigns including the most recent fire restoration should be seen by our discipline as a testimonial to the unwavering commitment of a people and its institutions.