BRITTANY V. LAVELLE TULLA, MSHP
Proprietor & Lead Architectural Historian
When Brittany established BVL HPR in 2012, she had a mission of showcasing the stories of as many buildings as possible. Since the firm's founding, Brittany has been featured as one of ten women in the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America's national 2021 exhibit "Power in Preservation" at the Dumbarton House in Washington, D.C., named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 40 Under 40: People Saving Places, one of three women featured in Historic Charleston Foundation's "Women Who Impact Preservation" video series and has presented her research at both professional conferences and events across the nation.
Before establishing BVL HPR, Brittany served as an architectural historian for a government consulting cultural resources management firm, where she conducted historic research, architectural surveys and conditions assessments on large-scale government preservation projects, including the Statue of Liberty. While consulting, Brittany assisted her community in rebuilding following Hurricane Sandy by documenting and showcasing the historic architecture of the Central Jersey Shore through her weekly architecture blog, and she served as a contributing feature historian for local newspaper publications.
In addition to leading BVL HPR, she serves as an adjunct professor in the Historic Preservation and Community Planning Program at the College of Charleston, chairs the Young Preservationists of Charleston and serves on the board of the Preservation Society of Charleston's Charleston Heritage Symposium. She formerly served as the executive director and lead architectural historian for the non-profit Charleston World Heritage Coalition, which was dedicated to gaining World Heritage recognition for historic resources in Charleston, and as a former commissioner of the Town of Mount Pleasant Historical Commission. Brittany also served the 2015 Drayton Hall Wood Family Fellow (here is a featured blog post for Brittany's Drayton Hall research).
Brittany holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Elon University and she earned a Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation from the College of Charleston/Clemson University joint program where she was awarded the Ann Pamela Cunningham Award.
Watch Brittany's talk for Creative Mornings Charleston & hear her segment on Charleston's OHM Radio.
Emilie Crossan
Research Assistant
Emilie Crossan recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation and Community Planning, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies. While at CofC, Emilie was a member of the Hillel/Jewish Student Union and served as President of the Holocaust Education Awareness and Remembrance group on campus, which gave her the opportunity to learn about the rich Jewish history in Charleston through lifelong members of the community and local Holocaust survivors. She also interned with the Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina (JHSSC), where she documented the history of South Carolina’s Jewish merchants, and continues to work with the JHSSC to document the history of South Carolina’s synagogues and congregations.
During her time at BVL HPR, first as an intern and now a research assistant, Emilie has developed a special interest in the preservation of minority communities, including their neighborhoods, businesses, and religious structures.
Amanda Metze
Tax Credit Assistant
Amanda Metze recently graduated from Clemson University's undergraduate architecture program with a minor in history. During her senior year, she was the vice president of Clemson University's chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students. She came to Charleston her senior year, where a semester at Clemson's Design Center in Charleston allowed her to complete the design and build of a bridge along the West Ashley bikeway as part of Clemson's Architecture+CommunityBuild program.
Amanda's interest lies in the relationship between the built environment and the community and how buildings and spaces can communicate stories and uplift voices.
