When she was a little girl growing up in Spring Valley, a suburb of New York City, Catherine Houska and her parents lived in a 250-year-old house that was being restored. One day her father happened to lean against a wall which suddenly opened up to reveal a secret staircase and room that had been used to hide slaves escaping to freedom on the Underground Railroad (between about 1810 and 18,50). From then on, Houska was interested in architecture. It wasn't long before she was spending endless hours with Lego~R, Lincoln Logs - building blocks, it would turn out, (or a varied and successful career. Houska is now among the world's leading experts on architectural metals, particularly stainless steel. The list of people who consult her include architects, building owners, contractors and fabricators on new projects and on existing buildings that are experiencing problems. As an architectural consultant for the Nickel Institute, as well as the International Molybdenum Association, the Ornamental Metal Institute of New York, and the Specialty Steel Industry of North America, she provides technical assistance and arranges workshops for thousands of high-level decision-makers.
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