As the 2025 recipient of the APT DC’s Emerging Professionals Sponsorship Program, I had the incredible opportunity of attending the APT Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island. The conference’s tagline, “The Power of Water, Craft, & Architecture,” structured the various field sessions and presentations and demonstrated how the three themes were interwoven.

On my first full day at the conference, I attended a field session at Roger Williams Park, which was established as a gift to the city of Providence in 1871. It has grown from 100 acres to 420 acres today and remains a model example of the Urban Parks Movement during the late nineteenth century. I was particularly interested in this field session since my undergraduate thesis was focused on urban park field houses in Chicago, born out of the same movement and time period.

The field session began with a presentation led by the Park staff in the Clark Dalrymple Boathouse and progressed into a tour by bus and on foot around the park to visit several key buildings. Over the last decade, the park has undergone a series of major capital improvement projects for its buildings, landscape, and infrastructure. This work ranged from repaintings, interpretative signage, and public art to major repairs to bridges, roadwork, stormwater management, and building enclosures and roofs. The staff emphasized necessary upgrades for accessibility and life safety on several properties. One particular standout on the tour was an impromptu visit through the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium’s basement taxidermy collections, which I will never forget now.

Temple to Music (1924) is sited at the edge of a lake within the park and is a popular venue for concerts and prom photos

Museum of Natural History and Planetarium (1895)

Betsey Williams Cottage (1773) is the oldest structure in the park and has recently reopened to the public after restoration efforts

I spent the following two days attending the various paper sessions organized around three key themes: water, craft, and architecture. Topics ranged from improving San Francisco’s Indian Basin Waterfront Park, the installation of the Royal Thai Pavilion in Madison, Wisconsin, and the craft tradition of stone carving in Quebec. Dorothy Krotzer’s presentation on the use of linseed oil paint to restore the Maryland State House posited that technological developments need to be balanced with traditional crafts and techniques.

A similar argument was made by Todd Matuszewicz in his presentation “Neon: More than Signage.” Matuszewicz, a decades-long neon tube bender, presented a very moving account of how the craft has changed in the last century. Neon took off in 1933 due to the confluence of three factors: the New Deal's enactment, the patent on neon lighting expiring, and the end of Prohibition. Though neon craftmaking has been declining both in its demand and as a trade, Matuszewicz argued for how it could evolve in the future as an art form and as a practical and sustainable lighting method.

Another presentation that stayed with me was given by Colleen Chapin on the Souther Tide Mill, located in Quincy, Massachusetts. It is one of the few remaining tide mills in the United States and is located in a flood zone where it has been flooded once a year. She highlighted a key sentiment that was raised by other presenters  — the difficulties and unpredictability of building with, or in some cases, against water. Chapin argued that it may not be enough to just have the technical knowledge on how to preserve the building, but that stakeholders need to think through what it’s being preserved for, especially if it’s awaiting a use that never comes. Even though we were at a conference focused on the technical aspects of preservation, I realized that it was also important to ask why and for whom we are preserving.

I had a wonderful few days in Providence, being able to meet and learn from fellow architects and preservationists. A key highlight of the weekend was the APT Chapter Breakfast, where I was able to reconnect with and meet other professionals from DC. I also spent time meeting people from the Western Great Lakes chapter when the DC table became too popular and crowded. 

The DC table at APT Chapters Breakfast

Outside of conference programming, one of the best parts of the weekend was the chance to walk around Providence and explore all the beautiful historic architecture throughout the city. Throughout the weekend, I spent time walking through College Hill, Federal Hill, Jewelry District, and the downtown area.

Fleur-de-lys Studio, located opposite the First Baptist Church in America (where the Welcome Keynote was held)

Barnaby Castle in Federal Hill

When I was in graduate school a few years ago, I took a policy course on managed retreat and climate adaptation policy. During one of the seminars, our professor asked everybody to go around and describe a childhood memory related to water. Regardless of where in the world they were from, my classmates shared a precious memory they held onto — be it the river that cut through the city they were born in, the lake they would go to during the summer, or the creek close to their house. Our built environment and the memories we embed in it are formed and shaped by water, and this year’s conference was a wonderful reflection of that.

In November I had the privilege of attending the Association for Preservation Technology

International's yearly conference in Providence, Rhode Island. Through the APT DC chapter, I received the Emerging Professional Scholarship Award, which sponsored my attendance to the conference.

The conference was structured around three central themes: "Water: Building Strength from Vulnerability," "Craft: Traditional Craftmanship in a Technical World," and "Architecture: Fabric of Industry and Innovation." As I recently completed my graduate thesis work on the preservation of historic lighthouses and the impacts of climate change, I was particularly excited to attend the "Water" sessions and learn more about coastal resilience projects. I greatly enjoyed learning about the India Basin Waterfront Park, in which a San Francisco coastal industrial site was developed into a public park through equitable, community-driven e/orts. The effects of global warming on historic architecture was a common thread amongst many of the “Water” presentations given the threat it poses to coastal infrastructure.

The conference also highlighted several preservation engineering projects, including several by my firm, TYLin. I attended a lecture on the restoration of the Great Dome at St. Bartholomew's Church, for which TYLin provided engineering services. The ornate guastavino dome was facing issues with shrinkage cracking and mortar deterioration, as well as degradation of the steel compression ring in the dome. Made possible by the erection of a complex scaffolding system, the church now has a completely revamped waterproofing system and all new decorative tiling.

Great Dome at St. Bartholomew's Church before and after restoration efforts

I also had the pleasure of attending Margaret Cowie's and Derek Trelstad's lecture, "Defying & Defining Gravity: Using Modern and Archaic Analysis Methods as Tools for Structural Preservation of Guastavino Vaults." They discussed the complex analysis of guastavino vaults, ranging from graphic statics methodologies to advanced FEM tools. Margaret explained the process of studying these vaults and approaches to repair and preservation, using case studies from Michigan Central Station and Buffalo Central Terminal.

The day of presentations culminated in a keynote speech by Jonathan Bell of the World Monuments Fund. Bell presented a fascinating talk on the relationship between historic monuments and water. One highlight from this talk was a discussion of the role of preservation in water scarcity crises, exploring a case study in Kathmandu. A recent project in Kathmandu Valley sought to restore historic water structures known as ‘hitis,’ some of which were constructed as early as the 6th century. By restoring and maintaining the hitis, local residents were able to use them as sources of clean water. Bell emphasized how preservation technology can play a crucial role in global water stress issues with existing historic infrastructure that can be adapted or restored to serve populations in need.

Another exciting event at the conference was the PETC student masonry arch competition. Three teams of college students built arches from a variety of materials, and the arches were load tested until failure. Columbia’s lightweight triangular arch (pictured on the bottom) ended up taking first place!

PETC Student Masonry Arches Competition

Finally, I took time between sessions to explore historic Providence. The conference kicked off in the first Baptist church in the United States (see first two images below), and the downtown historic district had an assortment of lovely architecture.

The EPSP scholarship was a wonderful opportunity to network and broaden my preservation horizons, and I look forward to more APT events!

Interior of the First Baptist Church

First Baptist Church’s historic organ

This year’s Association for Preservation Technology (APT) conference was held jointly with Canada’s National Trust in the city of Montreal. The conference truly lived up to its theme “Building Bridges: Connecting Places, Cultures, and Practices,” and as an emerging professional, I valued the opportunity to learn about the multifaceted ways in which preservation can serve as a bridge between past and present, between diverse cultures, and between human development and environmental stewardship.

The conference opened with a powerful reminder of our relationship with the natural world. Kanien'kehà:ka elder Otsi'tsakèn:ra (Charles Patton) shared "The Words That Come Before All Else," also known as "The Thanksgiving Address," a traditional Kanien'kehà:ka (Mohawk) recitation delivered at the beginning and end of important gatherings. This address honors various interconnected elements of our world, including edible and medicinal plants; animals, fish, and birds; water; the four winds; and the sun, moon, and Mother Earth. After each acknowledgment of gratitude came the refrain "Now our minds are one," calling on attendees to empathize not only with each other but with the natural world that sustains us. Otsi'tsakèn:ra emphasized the importance of gratitude as an antidote to greed and reminded the audience that while the natural world has long provided for human needs, we now bear the responsibility of healing the damage we've caused through overconsumption and environmental degradation.

Following this opening, Katsi'tsakwas (Ellen Gabriel), a Kanien'kehà:ka human rights and environmental advocate, delivered a compelling keynote that challenged empty reconciliation rhetoric. She called the audience’s attention to how preservation practices, land ownership systems, and legal frameworks perpetuate inequities rooted in colonialism despite promises of change. While she addressed these issues from a Canadian perspective, her message was profoundly relevant for practitioners from the United States, challenging us to rethink our participation in exploitative practices and systems, both as preservation professionals and as individuals living on indigenous lands.

On the following day, I had the opportunity to attend a field session called "Underground Landmarks: A Closer Look at the Metro's Architectural Ceramic Finishes," during which attendees were guided through seven of Montreal’s iconic metro stations. The metro system, which first opened in the 1960s and was expanded through subsequent decades, was constructed according to the maxim "one station, one architect,” creating a network of unique spaces that are in equal parts infrastructure and public art. The tour raised important questions about how to encourage the public and other key stakeholders to accept original materials despite mild—largely cosmetic—deterioration. This issue highlighted the need to reconcile expectations for pristine public spaces with value of material integrity, particularly with regard to modern heritage sites where signs of age are often less accepted than in older structures.

Figure 1. The Peel metro station, which features large, colorfully striped ceramic wall art.

Figure 2. The Jean-Talon metro station, which originally served the orange line and was expanded in the 1980s to accommodate the blue line. The dominant color of the ceramic floor tiles reflects the metro line accessible from each of the station’s levels.

Figure 3. The recently renovated of Crémazie metro station. Although project constraints prevented the preservation of the original wall tiles, architects successfully maintained the station's distinctive aesthetic with commercially available materials. The effort taken to preserve the station’s historic appearance reflects the growing recognition of the metro system's architectural value, even without it being formally designated as heritage.

I spent the next two days attending presentations, focusing primarily on those dedicated to the intersection of preservation and environmental sustainability. I particularly enjoyed the presentation “Residential Energy Retrofitting: Meeting Modern Energy Standards in Pre-1940 Homes” by Meghan Lenz, which showcased the Vancouver Heritage Foundation's initiative to help homeowners improve their houses' energy efficiency while maintaining its historic character. The program emphasizes affordable, minimally disruptive interventions that preserve architectural integrity. By documenting energy performance before and after these interventions, the Foundation has developed an evidence-based methodology for recommending sustainable retrofits that are financially and logistically accessible to homeowners at a large scale. The interventions that have yielded the best results include the use of blown-in post-consumer cellulose insulation, sealing air leaks, improving attic insulation, and the installation of storm windows and heat pumps.

Perhaps one of my favorite presentations was “The Four Mills Barn and the Rising Water” by Kate Cowing. Located adjacent to the Wissahickon Creek near Philadelphia, this late 19th-century barn faced increasing challenges from the changing flood plain. Rather than fighting against the rising water, the non-profit Wissahickon Trails, the barn’s owner, worked with Cowing to adapt the barn through wet floodproofing. This approach acknowledges that flooding is inevitable and focuses on minimizing damage by ensuring water rises and recedes uniformly inside and outside the building, thus avoiding a build-up of hydrostatic pressure. Other key measures include relocating utilities and storage above flood-prone floors and using water-resistant, easily cleanable materials for interiors. Wissahickon Trails highlights these floodproofing interventions, using them as an opportunity to inform visitors about the very real consequences of climate change. 

Beyond the formal sessions, the conference offered a wonderful chance to reconnect with old friends, meet new preservation professionals, and explore Montreal for the first time. In addition to touring the metro system, I also enjoyed visiting the old town, especially the Notre-Dame Basilica. This Gothic Revival church opened in 1829 and features exquisite decorative painting.

Figure 4. The richly painted interior of Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica, looking towards the apse.

Figure 5. The richly painted interior of Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica, looking towards the narthex.

Overall, the conference demonstrated that successful preservation requires us to think holistically, considering not just physical structures but the complex web of relationships between people, places, and the environment. From indigenous perspectives on our relationship with the natural world to technical solutions for climate adaptation, from artistic expression in public infrastructure to practical approaches for energy-efficient housing, this conference broadened my understanding of how preservation can help us navigate contemporary challenges while honoring the past and preparing for the future. I am incredibly thankful for APT DC for making this experience possible for me!

As an architect based in Washington, DC, I have been dedicated to working on historic preservation projects while actively researching preservation methods and sustainable design. My professional experience in architectural design and my research interests in historic preservation continually drive my learning in preservation and sustainability for historic buildings.

As the recipient of the APT DC 2024 Emerging Professional Sponsorship, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to attend the APTi Conference. This event provides a unique platform to connect with experts from across the country and around the world.

This year’s conference, held in Montreal, Canada, is a collaborative effort with the National Trust for Canada, the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP), and the Indigenous Heritage Circle. The central theme, “Building Bridges: Connecting Places, Cultures, & Practices,” explores diverse aspects of heritage preservation through five distinct tracks:

· Track 1: From the Drawing Board to the Worksite: Techniques, Materials, and Practitioners

· Track 2: Historic Structures Meeting Contemporary Requirements

· Track 3: Climate Imperative for Historic Buildings and Places

· Track 4: Heritage and Social Justice: Reconciliation, Diversity, and Inclusion

· Track 5: Removing Systemic Barriers to Heritage-Led Reuse

This conference not only encourages cross-cultural exchanges but also enriches our understanding of the heritage sites we are committed to preserving.

1.    Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Founded by the French in 1642, Montreal is a city rich with layered heritage buildings and landscapes. Between conference sessions, I explored downtown Montreal, the Notre-Dame Basilica, the Royal Bank Building, and the historic district of Old Montreal. The city seamlessly integrates French culture, heritage architecture, and thoughtful urban planning, showcasing a harmonious blend of historic preservation and modern development.

Figure 1. Historic District of Old Montreal

One standout example is a modern café located within the historic Royal Bank Tower; a landmark repurposed through adaptive reuse. Visitors are welcomed into a banking hall that evokes the grandeur of a Florentine palace, complete with porcelain-tiled coffered ceilings, a striking intersection of historic elegance and contemporary functionality.

Figure 2. Cafe at Royal Bank Tower

2.    Habitat 67: Challenges of a Modern Landmark
The APTi conference offers exceptional programs like field sessions that provide in-depth site visits to historic preservation projects. I had the opportunity to attend Field Session 11: Habitat 67: Challenges of a Modern Landmark, where a group of enthusiastic guides and volunteers took us on a tour of Habitat 67. This unique event allowed us to closely explore and learn about this iconic residential building, its history, and its architectural significance.

Figure 3. Habitat 67

Designed by architect Moshe Safdie, Habitat 67 is a groundbreaking residential complex and a celebrated symbol of innovation from Expo 67 in Montreal. Originally conceived as Safdie’s master’s thesis, it was envisioned as a solution to urban housing challenges during the Cold War era, prioritizing affordability, individuality, and community living. As one of the official theme pavilions of Expo 67, Habitat 67 addressed humanity's housing needs under the overarching theme, “Man and His World.”

As an emerging professional in the field of architectural preservation, I’m constantly seeking opportunities to learn from and engage with fellow preservation and conservation professionals. The APTi conference provides just that; a forum for students, emerging professionals, experts, and educators to come together and speak on the unique experiences that make preservation such a meaningful and exciting field. As the recipient of APT DC’s 2023 Emerging Professional Sponsorship Program, I’d like to start by thanking the DC chapter and its members for supporting my professional trajectory and sponsoring my attendance at this year’s APTI conference in Seattle, Washington.

With this year’s conference in the coastal northwest it was appropriate that the primary theme of the conference was ‘The Future of TECH - Technology, Environment, and Cultural Heritage’. An early acknowledgment of the land on which the conference took place — the ancestral land of the Duwamish, Stillaguamish, Muckleshoot, and Suquamish peoples — provided an apt reminder to all preservation professionals that where and what we work to preserve goes beyond bricks and mortar; just as there are tangible histories, there are intangible histories. There are difficult histories behind the development of our cities and as the built environment grows rapidly, we as professionals have a responsibility to acknowledge and contextualize the full history of people and place. The topic of cultural heritage and land use remained a constant theme throughout the conference, from the opening keynote by David B. Williams (Too High and Too Steep: Reshaping Seattle’s Topography) to the College of Fellows keynote by architect Dr. Yasmeen Lari (Lessons from Global South: Community Engagement for Decolonization and Decarbonization of the Built Environment).

In addition to topics of cultural heritage and land use, learning tracks in technology and environment were supported by field sessions, seminars, and symposiums related to climate change, resilience, seismic retrofits, material conservation, envelop upgrades, and other topics — far too many to list here. With my professional experience working on cultural projects, and personal research related to resilience, I took advantage of sessions related to technology and the changing environment.

The first of these was a field session which explored Seattle’s historic theatres, the goal of which was to introduce our multidisciplinary group to the ins-and-outs of how these cultural centers have been adapted to meet the needs of contemporary productions, modern codes, and increasing threats of climate and tectonic activity. During this field session we had an opportunity to explore The Moore Theatre (1907) - originally a vaudeville house and one of Seattle’s oldest theatres, The Paramount (1928) - a grand movie palace that now hosts large scale theatrical tours and music acts, and the Martin Cinerama (1962) - a mid-century movie theatre restored with a mix of retro and modern technologies. The care taken in adapting the theatres to meet contemporary production needs, while still maintaining the original historic fabric, was tasteful and inspiring. Hidden seismic stabilization, upgrades for rigging and production support, and retractable orchestra level seating were presented as necessary upgrades that, while sometimes visible, ensured the theatres stayed economically viable. This economic viability is important to maintain that the historic theatres remain open, preserved, and cared after for generations to come. Preservation of such theatres not only provides a stage for ticketed shows but they have become community hubs to support local performing arts and youth programs, their preservation providing an added societal benefit.

For the breakout sessions I was thrilled to see the number of presentations related to the environment and climate, highlighting the importance of climate preparedness, adaptation, resilience (coastal and inland), embodied carbon, and cultural protections related to environment and landscape. The resounding theme of these presentations was the participatory component, describing the means and methods of communicating with local stakeholders to identify what is deemed historically or culturally important, and should a natural disaster occur, which sites should be prioritized for the restoration of community and place. Another noteworthy topic was that of embodied carbon. The adage “the greenest building is the one that’s already built” was emphasized by presenting advancements on measurement tools and data analysis that can fairly accurately compare the carbon already embodied in an existing structure with that required to construct a new structure (CARE tool). 

Overall, APT 2023 was an unforgettable experience that brought further meaning to the work we perform in preserving historic and aging sites, buildings, and artifacts. The conference provided a forum to learn, network, and share our common and unique experiences, supporting knowledge and best practices that will result in more equitable, responsive, sustainable, and lasting preservation results.

The APTI Conference in Detroit this year provided a sneak peak of the historic places in Detroit, opportunities to meet other historic preservation enthusiasts from around the world, and a focused crash course like no other.

There were several types of events throughout the week, and I took advantage of two field sessions, several paper sessions, and networking events. Field sessions were trips to different preservation-related projects and historic landmarks/places around Detroit. I enjoyed learning about the building-wide infrastructure modernization project of the historic Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse, or as the team called it, Detroit’s largest “Rubik’s” cube.  During this field session, the project team detailed the complex technical and coordination challenges they took on to upgrade MEP systems and new code-compliant stair well while maintaining a fully operational courthouse and not disturbing court sessions. We took a trip to the roof to see the new stair tower from inside the courtyard, and we got a beautiful view of the city (and Canada across the river). The attention to detail on this project was immaculate, and it was inspiring to learn about the dedication and creativity of the team. Later that day, I joined the group for the field session around Belle Isle, an island park in the Detroit River, that combines nature, history, and activity. Our tour guides discussed the history of several structures, site planning challenges, flood mitigation considerations, and the historic landscape of the park’s integration with the city. Among several stops was a trip to the aquarium which showed off unique architecture. The exterior of the aquarium has almost a cave-like appearance with stone carved resembling stalactites around the entry arch. The interior features green tile walls and domed ceilings with quite the array of sea-life.

The paper sessions offered numerous opportunities to learn about project case studies and a wide variety of topics. I particularly enjoyed learning about design considerations of flood mitigation strategies, including the idea of designing homes in high-flood risk areas to employ amphibious foundations and work with flood waters. I also spent one afternoon learning about music in the Midwest; each of the presenters engaged the audience with jazz, blues, and techno. These presentations explored sites in the Midwest associated with music heritage (e.g., Paradise Valley, the Muddy Waters MOJO Museum in Chicago, and techno in Detroit) and how music influenced several underrepresented communities. It’s not every day you get to attend a conference session that gets people dancing along in their seats; this was a great addition to the paper sessions.

APTI Detroit 2022 was a great first APT conference experience, and I am looking forward to attending the future conferences. The mix of topics, learning events, and networking opportunities provided a perfect blend to see preservation from many vantage points and get a glimpse at the extent of a community it takes to preserve our historic places.

The 2022 Association for Preservation Technology International conference took place in the historic city of Detroit, Michigan. This year’s conference was the first in-person conference since 2019’s conference and may have contributed to the large turn-out of over 670 attendees.

For the general public, the conference kicked off with Field Sessions on Tuesday, November 7^th. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend two field sessions on the first day of conference activities. In the morning, I attended F3: From Brownfield to Beauty: How Preservation and Economic Redesign Saved the Ford Rogue Plant. This session included an exterior discussion and interior tour of the Historic Ford Rogue plant which was renovated in the early 2000s, becoming one of the largest green roofs in the country with more than 10 acres of sedum covering the current F-150 productive plant (Image 1).

Image 1: The (currently dormant) green-roof on the Ford Rogue Plant.

In the afternoon, I attended a second field session, F8: Detroit’s Signature Towers: the Guardian, Book, and Fisher. This field session was one of my favorite activities of the week-long conference.  In the Guardian building, an iconic feature of the downtown Detroit skyline, we discussed the building’s need for continuous renovation due to water intrusions through the load-bearing brick façade’s lack of cavity wall between itself and the steel structure. Even with its damage, the building maintains cultural significance in the city with its Art Deco detailing (Images 2 and 3).

Image 2: Inside the lobby atrium where Art Deco tile work mesmerizes building guests.

Image 3: Inside the original bank atrium where an Art Deco horse-hair plaster ceiling awes where it’s not cracking from water damage.

The Book Tower was actively under restorative construction and the field session received an in-depth tour of notable parts of the building. Due to its grand opening in late 2022, we were not able to take any interior pictures. The interior highlights include a beautifully intricate skylight and detailed painted ceilings, all restored to all known original conditions. The exterior was similarly challenging and the design and construction team work diligently to conform to SHPO requirements in order to receive both a Federal and Michigan State Historic Tax credit (Image 4 and 5).

Image 4: Across the street view of Book Tower.

Image 5: Close up of replicated “stone” detailing throughout façade.

The third building during the Three Towers Field session was the Fisher tower, originally designed with an unlimited budget by Detroit architect Albert Kahn (Image 6). The triple height concourse housed some of the building’s famous plaster painted murals which still need renovation after significant water damage (Image 7).

Image 6: Exterior view of the Detroit architect Albert Kahn’s Fisher Tower.

Image 7: Interior concourse hallway.

I attended 6 Paper Sessions and the Keynote speaker during the next three days in Detroit learning about various topics ranging from WWII-era plane crashes to renovating the Empire State Building satellite tower to building enclosure continuity best practices to renovation challenges of Detroit’s Michigan Central Station. Exploring various locations throughout Detroit throughout the week in tours, events, or paper session talks brought much first-hand knowledge to center stage regarding preservation and the future of the industry, especially in modernly decreased population cities like Detroit. I would highly recommend attending future APTI conferences and am hoping to be able to attend APTI 2023 in Seattle.

The conference was great, the overarching theme was 'Preservation Beyond Politics,' and was hosted by the DC Chapter, which made all the lectures and paper discussions very applicable to the projects I’m working on around the DMV Region. Attending the conference very much had common themes that I come across while working on those projects. Having recently located from Charlotte, NC to DC at the beginning of the project, this conference provided me a lot of insight of the challenges the project encounters.

The virtual field survey titled 'Washington National Cathedral: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Hands-on Masonry Repair and Restoration' discussed the affects of the 2011 earthquake, that impacted many local historic structures including the one I am working on. Learning about the Washington National Cathedral’s masonry repair, restoration and seismic upgrade approaches provided me a deeper understand of approaches our team is investigating ourselves.

Other topics from envelope performance of historic structures to complying with accessibility code standards of historic handrails were also discussed which directly relate my job.

I feel very fortunate to have been selected to receive the scholarship and attend the conference, worked in tandem with my project.

APT DC added some in-person field sessions following the conference and I was able to attend a few of the sessions to complete the conference experience. One session, titled "Wonderland of Fun - the Preservation and Management of Glen Echo Park," particularly stood out.

"I learned about the importance of community and how this ensures the preservation of places — and how the programs offered at an historic site help ensure its place in the future," Danielle said. "The unique relationship between the National Parks Service and the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, allows them to continue their mission of liberal and hands-on education which started the park in 1891 by the National Chautauqua Assembly. The Assembly taught the sciences, arts, languages, and literature, but then turned the site into an amusement park during the Art Deco period.

NPS owns and operates the site, but the year-round cultural and recreational activities essential to the spirit of Glen Echo Park are provided by the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. Glen Echo Park offers a variety of classes that engages the public to visit the site. Classes include dance, glass blowing, and pottery which continues community engagement in the spirit of its original intent."

I was honored to have received the 2019 Emerging Professional Sponsorship to attend the Preservation Trade Network’s (PTN) International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) in Stirling, Scotland this September. The event took place at The Engine Shed, an adapted early 20^th-century goods transfer shed, which now serves as Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) central hub for building and conservation professionals and public discourse and learning (Figure 1). HES is the lead Scottish “public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment.”

Workshops covered fascinating topics, from familiar subjects such as historic brick masonry joint profiling, stone carving (Figure 2), carpentry, steel and leaded glass window restoration, traditional timber framing, and decorative wood finishes to more obscure specialized subjects such as traditional and modern scagliola, thatched roofing, and earthen construction. All presentations I attended included hands-on demonstrations.

Gerard Lynch, an animated mason from outside London, demonstrated several different traditional English mortar joint profiles, and explained that masons prior to the beginning of the 17th century “pencilled” crushed calcium carbonate (called “whiting”) onto their joint profile for an exaggerated aesthetic (Figure 3). Until the 19th century, masons also applied an ochre color wash to the brick and mortar on the primary facades of buildings which created a vibrant orange and consistent appearance. It was not until the 19th century when kiln technology advanced that bricks with relatively uniform color could be produced.

David Hayles offered modern and traditional scagliola demonstrations in between sharing anecdotes from his world-wide cycling trip. The modern technique includes placement of dyed silk and flowable pigmented plaster in a mold to create a marble column reproduction (Figure 4). The traditional technique involved a moldable pigmented plaster mix, where layers of pigmented plaster were folded and molded into a column plinth form.

James Turner and Andrea Sevonty from Detroit (near my hometown) demonstrated the restoration of a steel window with leaded glass—a captivating program (Figure 5). They showed that two linear feet of rust on steel frame windows could be removed in roughly a minute using a “needle-scaler” followed by a grinder with a metal wire brush attachment and that dutchman repairs can be performed on leaded glass window panes. Sevonty also demonstrated a window pane replacement and polished the lead using calcium carbonate (“whiting”).

The most memorable feature of my time in Scotland was the scaffolding tour of Doune Castle (Figure 6), backdrop for Game of Thrones (Episode 1), Outlander, and Monty Python. HES masons gave guided tours of their ongoing masonry conservation work focusing on moisture infiltration from the head of the exterior masonry walls. HES methodology included mortar and stone analysis and installation of an NHL 5 (natural hydraulic lime) mortar at the top of the walls with an NHL 3.5 mortar several feet down. The idea is that the harder NHL 5 mortar will limit absorption of moisture at the top of the wall and slow moisture-related deterioration of the wall. 

IPTW concluded with a “Ceilidh” (Scottish social gathering) in the Great Hall of Stirling Castle (Figure 7), featuring an auction to support PTN, traditional Scottish fare (including haggis and tablet dessert), dancing, and music (complete with bagpipes). The kilt-wearers and whisky gave a rousing ending to a marvelous educational opportunity! I had the pleasure to sit next to two Scottish HES masons-turned-project managers and the head of the US-Scottish Consulate, so talk centered on Scottish traditions and the work ongoing to preserve cherished Scottish monuments. I loved every moment of this opportunity to meet and talk to tradespeople from all over the US and UK!

The sun-drenched Biscayne Bay served as the backdrop for this year’s APTI Conference in Downtown Miami. Hundreds of international preservationists congregated at the Intercontinental Miami Hotel to engage in workshops, view presentations, and connect with the global preservation community. The subtropical climate and turquoise ocean waters contrasted with some of the serious-minded conference themes this year, including climate change, sustainability, and the socio-economic challenges faced within the context of heritage sites. Heavy-handiness aside, the general vibe was upbeat as attendees explored Miami’s rich cultural history and global influence. Having never attended an APTI conference, or any conference for that matter, my arrival to Miami was met with nervousness and excitement. Not knowing what to expect, I began the conference with the mindset of meeting new people and learning from the experiences of others.

The first field session I attended was the Downtown Miami Historic Architecture Walking Tour guided by Cheryl Jacobs, Executive Vice President of AIA Miami and the Miami Center for Architecture & Design. We toured Miami’s collection of Art Deco, Neoclassical Revival, and Art Moderne styled buildings. I was most impressed by the second-floor lobby of the Alfred i. DuPont building. Brass adorned finishes with tropical motifs and an entire wood coffered ceiling with hand-painted depictions of the Seminole Tribe were the small details in a open space filled with natural light.

The second half of the conference was comprised of paper sessions typically structured with four presenters led by a session chair. I found myself checking the conference schedule and hopping between presentations of interest. The Zero Net Carbon Collaborative for Existing and Historic Buildings (ZNCC) Session led by Carl Elefante was both fascinating and shocking at the same time. Larry Strain (Siegel & Strain Associates) presented on building reuse and its role as a critical climate action strategy. He made a compelling point when he stated that any new net-zero buildings are not enough to combat climate change and if we are to make any significant progress, building reuse is the solution. This presentation changed my perspective on what it means to be a preservation engineer. I originally saw myself as structural engineer whose goal was to preserve the beauty and cultural significance of historic buildings. I now realize that I need to expand my career beyond just historic buildings and include transforming the more mundane building stock into something fresh and modern.            

I began the APTI conference seeking to connect with other preservationists and to learn more about preservation. I am leaving with a renewed energy and purpose in my career as a structural engineer. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the patrons of the APT DC Chapter who donated to make this experience a possibility for me.