'EXCELLENCE AND AUTHENTICITY': THE 'BRICKS AND MORTAR' OF A NEW MASTERPIECE (9/05) As master of his work and a visionary artist, Frank Lloyd Wright incorporated painstaking attention to detail into each of his creations. In a new century, the MHRC, in partnership with historic preservation officials, is applying the same exacting standards of excellence to the restoration of one of Wright's grandest Prairie-style residences?the Martin House complex. The Martin House's prominence as a National Historic Landmark, the highest possible federal designation, means the site possesses "exceptional value" in commemorating or illustrating the nation's history. To prevent harm to such national treasures, strict historic preservation standards are set by the Secretary of the Interior/National Park Service, administered in New York State by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Commissioner Bernadette Castro and her senior team (James P. Gold, Ruth Pierpont and Edward J. Rutkowski) have been providing invaluable guidance and technical advice throughout the restoration of the Martin House complex and the development of the new Visitors' Center. Their advice encompasses all aspects of the project, including materials and methods, to help ensure excellence and authenticity. The emphasis is on preserving as much of the original fabric as possible. For restored components, materials and methods are chosen that most nearly match the originals. New materials, however, must not be artificially "aged." The MHRC recently completed an exhaustive nine-year search for just the right manufacturer to re-create the site's original golden-yellow, Roman bricks. The Belden Brick Company in Sugar Creek, Ohio, met all the technical standards-including color, range, iron spotting, size, and shape. The brick's mortar also had to meet exacting standards. Because the original mortar appeared dark, it was assumed that white mortar had darkened with age. But recently, Hamilton Houston Lownie Architects LLC discovered that the original mortar may have been darkened by the application of linseed oil. In the restored structures, a through-color mortar with a darkening tint will be used. Once completed, the restored Martin House will be New York State's first 20th century historic site. Generous state support (more than $5 million since 1993) has helped to ensure its future.