Congratulations to new PTN Board Members Jeremy Ballard, Jim Houston, Brian Robinson and returning Director Simeon Warren. They will be joining current Board members Rob Cagnetta, Adrian DeRan, Jamie Duggan, Bill Hole and Gerard Lynch on the 2010 PTN Board of Directors. Thanks to outgoing Board members Lisa Sasser (President), Laura Saeger (Secretary) and David Gibney. Read more about the PTN Board and staff <here>.
Jeremy Ballard
Jim Houston
Brian Robinson
Simeon Warren Vice President
Rob Cagnetta President
Adrienne DeRan Secretary
Bill Hole
Gerard Lynch
Jamie Duggan Treasurer
Save the Date for IPTW 2010: the 14th annual International Preservation Trades Workshop Frankfort, Kentucky - October 21-23, 2010
IPTW-ITES 2009 August 25-29, 2009, Leadville, Colorado
The 13th annual International Preservation Trades Workshop was held by the Preservation Trades Network in partnership with the Colorado Mountain College Historic Preservation program. The 3rd International Trades Education Symposium was held in conjunction with IPTW 2009. These combined events will take place in the spectacular natural setting of the Rocky Mountains. Both events provided unique opportunities for tradespeople, educators, architects, preservationists, students and others from the US and abroad to network while sharing experiences, learning new skills and finding common ground in their experiences relating to trades education and “hands on” conservation of the built environment.
Workshops, "hands on" demonstrations of preservation techniques and symposium sessions took place in historic Leadville, Colorado and at the Hayden Ranch National Register Historic site, an intact example of a high country ranch and agricultural operations c.1872-1947. Colorado Mountain College purchased the ranch for use as a learning laboratory, interpretive site, and classroom space for students in the preservation trades program. <read more>
Robert Adam, 2009 Askins Achievement Award
One of the highlights of IPTW-ITES 2009 was the annual presentation of the Askins Achivement Award to Robert Adam, founder of the Preservation Carpentry Program at North Bennet Street School in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Adam is the principal architect of one of the most successful full-time preservation skills training program in the country. In 1982, he was hired to work as a carpentry instructor at North Bennet Street School to teach contemporary construction methods and subsequently became head of the department. However, while in that position, he proposed that the school offer preservation training that would be unique in the field: a curriculum-based training program to teach comprehensive traditional carpentry skills in the classroom and shop and on projects chosen to teach and reinforce those skills. Instead of a single site, Mr. Adam foresaw the opportunity to work on historic sites throughout New England and the Northeast.
Since its beginning in 1986, the Preservation Carpentry program has graduated more than 200 students who enter the field with manual skills, hands-on experience and analytical abilities. He follows the graduates’ careers, often advising on site-work problems, and is proud to find many of them are now his colleagues in the field. In addition to woodworking skills, Mr. Adam has included painting, plaster, masonry and metal work training whenever possible, as an
encouragement to his students to continue to learn skills beyond those of the carpenter. His resourceful direction and problem-solving made possible the operation of the program in limited quarters for many years, working on-site or in borrowed space when projects required it. <read more>
Recent PTN News and Events
Preservation Rendezvous, Frankfort, Kentucky - June 27-July 4, 2009
During the week of June 27th thru July 4th the Preservation Trades Network (PTN) partnered with the Timber Framers Guild (TFG), the Dry Stone Conservancy and the Slate Roof Contractors Association to hold their first Preservation Rendezvous in Frankfort Kentucky. The event was most graciously hosted by the Kentucky Heritage Council, The Frankfort Tourist Commission and the City of Frankfort parks department who showed the participants what a real Kentucky welcome means. <read more>.
2009 Preservation Studies Summer Field School: “Cities of the Dead: Above-Ground Cemetery Preservation, Conservation, Documentation Methodology and History”
July 13 - July 31, 2009 - New Orleans, Louisiana
The 2009 Preservation Studies Summer Field School was offered by the Tulane School of Architecture Preservation Studies Program and Preservation Trades Network in partnership with the 1772 Foundation, National Center for Preservation Training and Technology, World Monuments Fund and Save Our Cemeteries. <read more>
12th Annual International Preservation Trades Workshop IPTW 2008 - "A Place for the Trades"Barre, Vermont - July 18-20, 2008
The International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) is the only annual event in North America which brings the foremost practitioners of the traditional trades together in a single venue dedicated to sharing the skills and knowledge of all of the traditional trades through interactive "hands on" demonstrations and educational sessions. Since 1997, masons, timber framers, carpenters, painters, plasterers, roofers, metal workers and practitioners of other traditional trades have come together with tools in hand to share their knowledge and demonstrate their skills at the annual "gathering of the trades". The IPTW is an interdisciplinary event designed to attract participants of many backgrounds, ages and skill levels including tradespeople, contractors, architects, engineers, conservators, educators, preservationists, students and interested members of the public.
One of the highlights of IPTW 2008 was the presentation of the Askins Achievement Award to David Gibney of Smithsburg, Maryland on July 19th during the International Preservation Trades Workshop in Barre, Vermont. J. Michael Logan, Supervisor of Heritage Conservation with the Howard County Recreation and Parks Department, introduced David citing his outstanding craftsmanship, dedication to teaching and sharing his skills, and his distinguished record of public service for Habitat for Humanity, PTN, and the people of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. David served as an instructor in the 2008 Traditional Building/Historic Preservation Field School in New Orleans sponsored by the World Monuments Fund, Preservation Trades Network, and University of Florida, where his skills and enthusiasm earned him the nickname "Super Dave" among the Field School students. He was also instrumental in the work on the Greater Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church and repair projects in Holy Cross completed during IPTW 2006.
The Askins Achievement Award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions and accomplishments in the promotion, education, and application of preservation trade skills. The Askins Achievement Award recognizes contributions over and above the noteworthy. The award criteria includes contributions to the preservation trades for: the continuance of traditional building skills, advocacy of training in preservation trades, practicing a building trade at master level of skill and knowledge, and extraordinary effort given to advancing the awareness of traditional building trade skills and knowledge. <read more>
One of the highlights of IPTW 2008 was the presentation of the Askins Achievement Award to David Gibney of Smithsburg, Maryland on July 19th during the International Preservation Trades Workshop in Barre, Vermont. J. Michael Logan, Supervisor of Heritage Conservation with the Howard County Recreation and Parks Department, introduced David citing his outstanding craftsmanship, dedication to teaching and sharing his skills, and his distinguished record of public service for Habitat for Humanity, PTN, and the people of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. David served as an instructor in the