Daniel Saldaña

Hometown: Lima, Peru
Education Background: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC)

How did you get interested in your field?
My passion for Historic Preservation evolved over time since I was a child.  I remember loving my grandparents’ stories about how our neighborhood in Lima changed throughout the years. The idea of my house being the silent witness of all these stories fascinated me. This lit the spark to learn more about the heritage of my city and wander around its 18th-century historic center to discover new treasures as a hobby. Then, I decided to study civil engineering aiming to reduce the shortage of engineers in the preservation field.

What was your background prior to coming to Penn?
Prior to attending Penn, I received a Bachelor’s degree at UPC in Lima, Peru and worked in construction projects (ports, highways and buildings). Although I was away from the preservation field, my curiosity encouraged me to take courses in architectural history, write essays about the Peruvian Baroque architecture and get involved in my community. I volunteered in the NGO Cultura Intacta where we aided municipal agencies to perform condition assessments, preservation projects and work along the local residents in the historic center. An enriching experience that defined my career path.

Why did you choose Penn?
After talking with many preservation professionals and scholars in Peru and the USA, they agreed that Penn has one of the best programs in the world. I was impressed by the curriculum as it acknowledges the interdisciplinary nature of the field as well as the number of full-time professors providing many research opportunities. Also, the concentrations approach is unique and very helpful in order to take advantage of your time at Penn.

What do you like best about Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is an amazing place to discover and experience. The city has many activities and hidden treasures you will find every time you wander around its neighborhoods. Although Philly is a major metropolis, this energy is balanced by the small-town atmosphere of its historic districts and narrow streets. I would recommend visiting Fairmount Park and the numerous museums around the city!

What kinds of activities and/or organizations are you involved in?
This semester I am working as an editorial assistant of the Historic Preservation journal Change Over Time and became a member of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I would also like to take part in the numerous preservation initiatives and organizations around the city.