Services
Whisonant Preservation & Iron collaborates with architects, preservation professionals, and designers to deliver high-quality architectural metalwork. Services include traditional forging, contemporary fabrication, technical drafting, and preservation consulting — all tailored to support both legacy projects and design-forward construction.
Traditional Ironwork
Traditional architectural ironwork lies at the heart of this practice. All elements are forged using fire-based methods such as mortise-and-tenon joinery, hot punching, drifting, and decorative forming — without welding or shortcuts. This work reflects a continued lineage of European and American craft, informed by formal training at the American College of the Building Arts and Atelier Saint-Jacques under the Compagnon du Devoir. Ideal for bespoke commissions, restoration, and expressive detailing where integrity, scale, and authenticity are essential.
Modern Fabrication
Contemporary design often requires clean lines, engineered precision, and integration with mixed materials. With extensive experience in TIG, MIG, and hybrid fabrication methods, modern work is executed with the same care and craft discipline as forged pieces. Whether producing minimalist gates, architectural bronze work, or custom stairs, fabrication is approached as an extension of design — refined, functional, and built for long-term use in modern settings.
Historic Preservation
Preservation services are informed by hands-on experience with some of the most important heritage sites in the U.S. and Europe, including Notre Dame, the Palace of Versailles, Château de Villepreux, Colonial Williamsburg, and Drayton Hall. Work includes on-site assessment, material analysis, historic documentation, and reproduction using traditional methods. Trained through Fondation Coubertin and Atelier Saint-Jacques, preservation services are carried out in accordance with SHPO standards and preservation architect oversight.
Drafting & Design
Drawing is fundamental to architectural ironwork. Services include hand-drafted elevations, CAD-based shop drawings, and 3D design development for both new construction and preservation work. With over a decade of drafting experience and formal architectural training, drawings are developed to align with project workflows — clear, scalable, and fabrication-ready. This offering supports architects, designers, and builders from concept through execution.
Public Engagement & Education
Architectural ironwork is not only a building craft — it’s a cultural discipline worth documenting and sharing. Through a highly engaged Instagram presence, Joe shares behind-the-scenes process, historical technique, and fabrication insight with a wide public and professional audience. His work has been featured on PBS NewsHour, This Old House, Charleston Home + Design Magazine, the Architectural Digest Podcast, and L’Est Éclair during the restoration of Notre Dame. Services include live demonstrations, craft documentation, speaking engagements, and educational media for institutions, preservation groups, and design platforms.