This summer, I had the opportunity to explore two distinct sides of masonry conservation – field documentation at a historic prison site and digital experimentation with augmented reality. I worked on-site at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia and remotely for the International Masonry Institute (IMI), gaining experience that bridged traditional preservation practices and emerging technologies.
Eastern State Penitentiary, a former prison operational from 1829 to 1971 and now a museum, served as the setting for my first project. I documented stone masonry across the 11-acre site. My work involved recording various typologies of stone, coursing patterns, mortar mixes, and existing conditions. While previous studies had examined specific sections of the site, a comprehensive, site-wide masonry survey was still lacking. My internship sought to tie data from earlier reports to field observations and identify potential research avenues to aid future documentation and conservation efforts. My process included archival research, field survey, data analysis, and drafting recommendations. I relied heavily on lessons from courses such as Documentation, Research & Recording; Building Pathology; and Digital Media for Historic Preservation. I learned how to create survey guides, synthesize field data, and produce documentation that can support conservation planning – a process that gave me a clearer understanding of masonry conservation.
My second project with the International Masonry Institute took me in a different direction – into digital experimentation through Preservation-AR, a pilot research project exploring the use of augmented reality as a tool for masonry preservation. The project included the deconstruction and reconstruction of a rubble stone wall approximately 7 feet wide and 5 feet high at the IMI/BAC John Flynn International Training Center in Bowie, Maryland. I processed laser scan data, created point clouds and orthorectified images, and developed a 3D model for AR projection. I also compared AR-assisted reconstruction with traditional techniques, analyzing advantages and limitations. My coursework in Digital Media for Historic Preservation proved invaluable as I navigated multiple software platforms and learned to generate digital outputs for AR workflows. This project also gave me the opportunity to collaborate with external researchers, including those from Fologram, the developer of the AR software, and the University of Bergamo in Italy – an incredible experience for a student.
Together, these two projects provided a rich combination of hands-on fieldwork and exposure to cutting-edge digital tools. They complemented my graduate coursework and strengthened both my technical skill set and my appreciation of masonry as a material and cultural resource. I am grateful to my supervisors and colleagues at Eastern State Penitentiary, the International Masonry Institute, the Center for Architectural Conservation, and external collaborators for their guidance and support throughout this experience.
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