Timely

In the pre-modern world, the notion that buildings would continue into perpetuity was a given, and the buildings that have endured through history demonstrate that they were built with perpetuity in mind, that is, they were built to last. Embodied time is integral to the development of a building's authenticity, extending past the material denotation of natural and human inscriptions, and including the gathering of cultural significance and history over time. This history is significant because it demonstrates how changing global economic conditions can affect local economies, and that the architecture built to support the Berkshires' industrial activities can adapt to meet new needs. Although such design moves are more deconstructions than conservation, they may be acts of preservation by creating such extraordinary spaces that authors will want to keep them in perpetuity.