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Architectural Conservation Laboratory

Last modified: 07.29.07


The Historic Preservation program has established two institutions to compliment the educational focus of the academic program furthering students’ experience in practical preservation /conservation site work and the development and research of policy issues. The Architectural Conservation Laboratory, through cooperative agreements with other universities, institutions, and grant organizations allows students to conduct field work on culturally significant building throughout the world. The Center for Research on Preservation and Society provides a framework for the students to study, explore, and define the emerging relationship between preservation and larger social issues such as economic development, public policy, cultural criticism, and social justice.


Recent Projects

Project History


Architectural Conservation Lab (ACL) Projects, 1990-Present

The following is a summary of projects that the ACL engaged in from 1990 to the present, listed in reverse chronological order. These projects include research, training, theses, advanced certificates, and field schools, and were sponsored numerous cooperative agreements and grant awards.

Documentation & Recording of Villa and Gardens:
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Miami, Florida
(Getty Grant)
2003-2004: Research



Exterior Masonry Survey and GIS Assessment:
Second Bank of United States / Independence National
Historic Park / NPS (Phase II)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Summer 2003: Field School / Internship
Spring 2003: Research



Documentation and Analysis of Gardens and Buildings:
Orto Botanico
Rome, Italy
(Kress Foundation Grant)
Summer 2002: European Conservation Summer Course
Summer 2003: European Conservation Summer Course



Exterior Masonry Study:
Capilla del Santo Cristo de La Salud
San Juan, Puerto Rico
(Getty Grant)
2003 - 2004: Conservation Praxis



Spruce Tree House Masonry Conservation:
Mesa Verde National Park (Phase I)
Cortez, Colorado
2003



Cavate Conservation and Ancestral Cultural Landscape Study:
Bandelier National Monument (Getty Grant)
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Summer 2003: Field School / Internship



GIS Mapping and Tomb Survey:
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
New Orleans, Louisiana
Phases 1 & 2: Louisiana Division for Historic Preservation, Office of Cultural Development.
Phase 3: (Save America's Treasures Grant)
Phase 1: 2000-2001: Studio
Phase 2: 2001-2002: Field Research
Phase 3: 2001-2003: Research / Thesis

Conservation of the Great Hall Plaster Ceiling:
Drayton Hall
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Charleston, South Carolina
(Getty Grant)
June 2001 - January 2002: Advanced Internship



Conservation of Archaeological Resources:
Bandelier National Monument
Los Alamos, New Mexico (NPS Modification #9)
September 1999
September 2000: Internship and Fieldschool



Cemetery Conservation:
Trinity Cathedral Burying Ground (Phase II)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2000: Advanced Internship



Conservation of Cliff Palace Architectural Surfaces Program
for Archaeological Resources:
Mesa Verde National Park (Phase VI):
Cortez, Colorado (NPS)
March 2000
January 2002: Internship / Advanced Internship



A Laboratory test program for injection grouting and limewater consolidation:
Casa Grande Ruins (Phase V):
Coolidge, Arizona (NPS Modification #8)
July 1999
January 2001: Research / Thesis



Conditions Assessment of the Exterior Masonry of the Second Bank of the United States:
Second Bank (Phase I):
Independence National Historic Park
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (NPS)
May - September 1999: Internship



State Historic Site Conservation Program:
Indian Key (Florida State Parks & Recreation)
January - December 2000: Internship



Cliff Palace-Conservation of Architectural Surfaces Program
for Archaeological Resources at Mesa Verde National Park:
Mesa Verde (Phase V): Cortez, Colorado
(NPS Modification #5, Amendment #1)
October 1999 - September 2001: Advanced Internship



Masonry Conservation Pilot Program for the Ayyubid City Wall:
Cairo, Egypt (Aga Khan Trust for Culture)
September 1999 May 2000 Research



Condition Survey and Recommendations:
Coronado State Monument: (New Mexico State Monuments)
Bernalillo, NM
July - November 1998: Advanced Internship



Masonry Conservation Pilot Program for the Ayyubid City Wall:
Cairo, Egypt (Aga Khan Trust for Culture)
September 1998
January 1999: Advanced Internship



Shelter, Stabilization and Presentation of Building 5:
Catal Hoyuk (Phase III)
Catal Hoyuk, Turkey
Summer 1999: Research and Internship



Documentation for the Historic American Buildings Survey:
National Park Service
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(NPS Amendment #6 to Supplemental Agreement #6)
September 1998
September 2003: Internship



Catal Hoyuk (Phase I)
Catal Hoyuk, Turkey
August 1998: Research
Summer 1998: Field School



Documentation for the Historic American Buildings Survey: National Park Service Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (NPS Subagreement #10) June 1997 September 2000: Internship



Site Conservation Program for Architecture, Murals and Relief Sculpture:
Catal Hoyuk (Phase I)
Catal Hoyuk, Turkey
(Kress Foundation Grant)
June 1997
December 1997: Research and Internship



Chief Tomokie Monument Stabilization:
Tomokie State Park (Phase 1)
Ormond Beach, Florida
March - June 1998: Advanced Internship



Inscription Conservation Program:
El Morro National Monument (Phase IV)
Ramah, NM
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
August 1997: Internship



Cultural Landscape Preservation Plan: Tsankawi, Bandelier National Monument Los Alamos, NM
(NPS Cooperative Agreement, Southern Region and Kress Foundation Grant)
June 1997: Internship
May 1998: Thesis



Conditions Survey and Site Preservation Plan:
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Casa Grande, AZ
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
September 1996 - 1997: Field School; Thesis
September 1997 - 1998: Field School; Thesis



Documentation for the National Historic Landmark Data Base
National Park Service
Philadelphia, PA
(NPS Cooperative Agreement, Mid-Atlantic Region)
September 1996: Internship
September 1997: Internship



Documentation of Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)
and Historic American Engineering Record (HAER):
National Park Service
Philadelphia, PA
(NPS Cooperative Agreement, Mid-Atlantic Region)
September 1996: Internship
September 1997: Internship
September 2000: Internship
September 2003: Internship



Mural and Site Conservation Program Catalh–y¸k, Turkey
In cooperation with Cambridge University, UK
(World Monuments Fund and Kress Foundation Grants)
August - September 1996: Thesis / Internship
August - September 1997: Thesis / Internship



Rendez-Vous Folly, Lednice/Valtice
Czech Republic Cultural Landscape:
Documentation and Planning, Phase I
(World Monuments Fund and Kress Foundation Grants)
July - August 1996: Advanced Certificate in Architectural Conservation



Conservation Study of the Interior Surface Finishes:
The Tempel Synagogue
Krakow, Poland
(World Monuments Fund and Kress Foundation Grants)
June - July 1996:
Advanced Certificate in Architectural Conservation



Adobe Ruins Monitoring Program and Preservation Plan:
Fort Union National Monument (Phase V)
Watrous, NM
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
April 1996 - July 1996: Field School; Research



Prehistoric Plaster Conservation (Phase IV): Mug House Treatment
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde, CO
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
June 1997 - July 1997: Research and Internship / Thesis



List of Classified Structures
Independence National Historic Park
National Park Service
Philadelphia, PA
(NPS Cooperative Agreement, Mid-Atlantic Region)
August 1996 - January 1996: Internship



Stone Conservation Field Testing Program (Phase III):
El Morro National Monument
Ramah, NM
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
March 1996 - October 1996: Research



Pennsylvania Blue Marble Characterization and Consolidation
Treatment Testing:
Second Bank of the United States
Philadelphia, PA
(NPS Cooperative Agreement, Mid-Atlantic Region)
January 1996 - December 1996: Research and Thesis



Conservation Program for 18th-Century Decorative Ceiling of Belmont Mansion
Fairmount Park
Philadelphia, PA
(Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust Cooperative Agreement)
June 1995 - January 1997: Research and Thesis



Masonry Conservation Pilot Project:
Mission San Juan Capistrano (Phase II)
San Juan Capistrano, CA
December 1995 - December 1996: Advanced Certificate in Architectural Conservation



Ruins/Finishes Stabilization Program (Phase IV):
Fort Union National Monument
Watrous, NM
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Fort Davis, TX
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
June - December 1995: Research; Thesis



Prehistoric Plaster Conservation (Phase III): Mug House Pilot Study
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde, CO
(Getty Grant Award)
May 1995 - May 1996: Field School; Research and Training



Terra Cotta Conservation Research:
Bibliography and Technical Glossary
(With Bournemouth University, England)
September 1994 - January 1995: Research



Stone Conservation Field Testing Program (Phase II):
El Morro National Monument
Ramah, NM
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
July 1994: Research
July 1995: Research



Conservation Survey of the Prehistoric Plasters of Mug House (Phases I & II):
Mesa Verde National Park
Mesa Verde, CO
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
July 1994: Research and Internship
June 1995: Research and Internship



Ruins / Finishes Stabilization Program (Phase III):
Fort Union National Monument
Watrous, NM
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Fort Davis, TX
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
July 1994: Field School
June 1995: Field School



Stone Conservation of the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials:
Phase I, Technical Literature Review and Assessment
Washington, DC
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
March 1994 - June 1995: Research
May 1996 - June 1996: Research



Conservation of Plaster Fragments:
Convento of the San Jose Mission
San Antonio, TX
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
March 1994 - July 1994: Research



Masonry Conservation Program (Phase I):
Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA
December 1993 - November 1994: Research and Thesis<



Evaluation of Methods for the Reattachment of Delaminating
Sandstone (Phase I):
El Morro National Monument
Ramah, NM
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
August 1993: Research and Thesis
September 1994: Research and Thesis



Ruins / Finishes Stabilization Program (Phase II):
Fort Union National Monument
Watrous, NM
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Fort Davis, TX
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
June - October 1993: Field School



Consolidation and Repair of Argillaceous Limestone: Convento
Column of San Jose Mission
San Antonio, TX
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
January - May 1993: Research and Thesis



Ruins / Stabilization Program (Phase I)
Fort Union National Monument
Watrous, NM
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Fort Davis, TX
(NPS Cooperative Agreement)
June - October 1992: Field School



Conservation Program for the Exterior Concrete of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
New York, NY
(Getty Grant)
January 1992: Research
April 1993: Research



Assessment of Cleaning Techniques for Unglazed Architectural Terra Cotta:
The Brooklyn Historical Society Building
Brooklyn, NY
(Getty Grant)
August 1991: Research
February 1992: Research



Investigation, Documentation and Condition Assessment of the
Great Entry Hall Ceiling at Drayton Hall
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Charleston, SC
May - October 1991: Internship



Center Church Crypt
New Haven, CT
December 1990: Research and Training
December 1991: Research and Training



Desalination and Cleaning of Interior Limestone:
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Mt. Kisco, NY
July 1990: Research and Internship
June 1991: Research and Internship



Development and Implementation of a Conservation Program
for Glass Mosaics:
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Mt. Kisco, NY
June 1990: Internship
May 1991: Internship



Masonry Conservation Program
Ohio Statehouse
Columbus, OH
June 1990: Research and Internship
April 1991: Research and Internship



Conservation Master Plan (Phase I):
Trinity Cathedral Burying Ground
Pittsburgh, PA
June - December 1990: Research and Internship

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