Preservation in Progress: Stabilization Design and Restoration of the Historic Clock Tower at the Trinity Chapel, Frederick, MD

Presented by: 

Ms. Kelly Whitton

Historic Preservation Specialist, Regional Opportunity Manager, The Durable Restoration Company, Savage, MD 

&

Mr. Douglas E. Bond, PE, SE

Principal, McMullan Consulting Engineers, Reston, VA

Dutch's Daughter (Frederick, MD)

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, April 15, 2026

About the Presentation: 

Representatives of The Durable Restoration Company and McMullan Consulting Engineers join ASCE Catoctin Branch to discuss the history, progress, challenges, and path forward for the Historic Clock Tower Restoration Project at Frederick’s Trinity Chapel. The chapel occupies the oldest continually operating religious site in Frederick and the 1807 timber steeple houses the city’s official clock. Restoration and preservation work on the tower uncovered significant unforeseen structural conditions requiring work stoppage with redesign and expansion of the structure’s stabilization scope.

About the Speakers:

Kelly is an architectural historian and historic preservation specialist with wide-ranging experience in design, construction, master planning, environmental protection, and resiliency in the Nation's Capital and beyond. She has nearly twenty years of experience contributing to historic preservation and comprehensive modernization projects in the architecture and construction industry.

Un various roles, she has provided extensive cultural resources management services ranging from forensic building and site analysis, archival research, design development, construction management, and state and federal compliance activities. Her work spans projects of all sizes and scales, with influence on more than $1billion in facilities management projects. Notable projects include the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) Modernization (2008-2012), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Modernization (2015-2017), and Amtrak accessibility projects nationwide. She served as the combined Cultural Resources, NEPA, and Natural Resources Programs Manager for the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort McNair (2018-2023) and as the primary historic preservation specialist and program deputy for GSA’s Office of Planning and Design Quality on the St. Elizabeths West Campus 

Kelly is a current board member (Director) of the National Preservation Institute. She is a prior officer and board member of the Association for Preservation Technology – Washington DC Chapter and Commercial Real Estate Women’s Maryland Suburban Chapter. She is an active mentor to University of Virginia School of Architecture and Arlington County (VA) public schools’ students and alumni.

Doug has over 36 years of experience in structural analysis, design, and evaluations of a wide variety of structures. Specifically, Doug specializes in historic preservation/restoration, stabilization of historic structures, and adaptive re-use. This extends to include the evaluation and design of stone masonry arch bridges and aqueducts, locks, and retaining walls, as well as existing masonry lock wooden foundations, aqueduct pier wooden cribbing, and wood pile foundations. He has completed many high-profile projects throughout the United States for the National Park Service, General Services Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, and private historic associations/trusts.

His notable projects include, but are not limited to, the multiple award-winning Washington Union Station Main Hall Renovation; the C&O Canal Locks 3 & 4 Rehabilitation for National Park Service that was also a finalist for the NCSEA Structural Engineering Excellence (SEE) Awards Finalist for Non-Building Structures Category; and the Mount Vernon Mansion Stabilization for the Mount Vernon Ladies Association.

Doug serves as both Principal Structural Engineer and Quality Control Manager. His experience includes educational facilities, hospitals, office buildings, recreational facilities, institutional buildings, and historic buildings, canals, and bridges. 

Doug is a licensed Professional Engineer in DC, Maryland, Virginia, and 25 additional states along with being certified by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). He holds both a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.