When water intrusion damaged the plaster walls and original hardwood floors of a 1920s Chicago landmark building in 2021, most restoration contractors proposed aggressive demolition and replacement. Angela Kowalski proposed something different: a precision structural drying protocol that would preserve the original materials while achieving the same moisture reduction targets.
The approach worked, saved the building's owner $180,000 in replacement costs, and launched Kowalski's career as one of a small number of restoration specialists in the country who focus exclusively on historic and architecturally significant structures.
Kowalski holds IICRC WRT, ASD, and CDS credentials, as well as a certificate in historic preservation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She has worked on more than 40 historic buildings in the Chicago metro area and has been called in as a consultant on projects in New York, Boston, and New Orleans.
"Historic buildings require a completely different mindset," Kowalski said. "The goal isn't to restore the building to new condition. It's to preserve what makes it significant while making it safe and dry. That requires understanding both the science of moisture and the history of building materials."
Kowalski charges a premium for her services — typically 40 to 60 percent above standard restoration rates — and has a six-month waiting list for new projects.
