For Women’s History Month, HRA is featuring some of our women employees who contribute to all aspects of the company!
Kirsten Freeman came to HRA in 2021 with three and a half years of experience as a seasonal architectural historian in the Interior of Alaska, through Colorado State University’s Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands. While living there, she also served on the Fairbanks North Star Borough’s historic preservation commission for nearly two years. She received her M.S. in historic preservation from the joint program of Clemson University and College of Charleston, based in Charleston, South Carolina. Kirsten has experience in Section 110 inventory and evaluations; Section 106 reconnaissance and intensive level survey; archival research; and the development of historical contexts. She has had her work published in Alliance Review and has presented her research results at the Alaska Anthropological Association’s 2020 annual meeting.
Kirsten’s favorite project at HRA so far has been the Blue Heron Redevelopment, during which she helped with a series of cultural resources tasks on behalf of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde in pursuit of redevelopment of the former Blue Heron Paper Mill property in downtown Oregon City, Oregon. HRA evaluated several structures for the National Register of Historic Places and worked with the Tribe to change the designations of several structures to allow for their demolition and/or rehabilitation.
In her free time Kirsten likes to create art, cook, read, travel, and hike with her dog Bowie.