Preservation Design (PRES)

Working collaboratively, preservation designers examine the interrelationship between heritage and contemporary life to create innovative strategies that balance societal demands of the present and future with the need to preserve what we value from the past. Students are introduced to this rapidly evolving discipline through a comprehensive review of its foundational principles and practices, and an examination of global perspectives for managing and adapting heritage resources.

The preservation of heritage resources plays a pivotal role in the culture and economy of contemporary society. Through extensive research within physical and digital archival repositories, students unearth and elucidate the social, cultural and architectural significance of historic properties, documenting their findings through National Register nominations and other historic property surveys.

A thorough understanding of traditional to modern materials — including their properties, deterioration mechanisms and conservation methods — is paramount to the practice of conservation science. In this course, students simulate scenarios within laboratory exercises, field work and independent research to inform and recommend treatment strategies for deteriorated or damaged architectural features.

Emerging preservation practice incorporates innovative digital technologies to investigate, document and record heritage resources. Through rigorous and engaging projects, students learn the leading-edge applications that have advanced research and communication within the discipline and transformed the practice of preservation.

Creating design solutions that meet the needs of communities while protecting significant heritage resources requires a comprehensive understanding of preservation policy. Through a combination of field research and studio work, students design innovative, place-based solutions that balance planning practices and preservation principles.

Construction materials and assemblies define the form and function of a structure. Through hands-on examination of diverse construction methods, students identify, analyze and interpret the role of these materials within historic and contemporary building systems. Students hone their examination skills through the creation of condition assessments and present their findings in compelling written, photographic and illustrative formats.

Designers leverage their understanding of the classical elements of the built environment to enhance the historical character and aesthetic experience of spaces. Students explore the elements and principles of the classical tradition that have shaped the built environment for millennia, exemplified in the elegant buildings of Savannah's historic district. Students visualize and describe classical features in a series of sketching, drawing and design exercises.

Preservation-based development strategies empower local economies to attract new investment, address constituent needs, enhance quality of life, manage aging infrastructure and adaptively reuse heritage resources. In this course, students explore the dynamic relationship between real estate development and public and private investment. With this interconnectivity as context, students ideate solutions to preserve a community’s sense of place and invigorate economic growth.

Enduring expressions of luxury are founded upon principles of authenticity, quality and beauty, as well as an underlying appreciation for heritage. Through an exploration of historical and contemporary luxury settings, students examine how to incorporate these principles into astute designs for adaptive use and new construction projects. Interactions with leading professionals provide inspiration during the design process as students develop unique luxury design proposals.

Students in this course undertake a field assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

Collaborating across building arts disciplines, students design an innovative use for the successful adaptation of a heritage resource. From research and market analysis to financial considerations and long-term feasibility projections, students engage in all aspects of adaptive use project planning and management.

Galvanized by thorough research and analysis, students cultivate and present innovative, self-directed projects. To commence their post-graduation careers, students create and curate portfolios that communicate a well-developed personal preservation philosophy informed by an understanding of the discipline’s ethics and professional practices.

Contemporary preservation designers use digital technologies to craft rich visual representations of historic structures. In this course, students learn to fuse traditional hand drawing with digital technologies to record, document and communicate the characteristics and cultural significance of heritage resources in the built environment.

Students explore the essential principles of building design and additions to historic buildings in the context of restoration and adaptive use. Complying with federal standards for building rehabilitation and applying design theory and hierarchy, students solve design challenges and present programmatically effective and contextually appropriate solutions. Students examine design parameters, such as accessibility, codes, sustainability, structural systems and mechanical systems.

Within a global context, students explore historic preservation’s collaborative and entrepreneurial foundations while immersing in the dynamic, interdisciplinary and emerging field of preservation design. Students honor and advance established practices as they critically assess strategies for examining global preservation as well as managing and elevating the legacy of our collective past.

Even in a rapidly changing world, much of the architectural fabric of our cities and towns remains the product of a classical tradition of building that has endured for millennia. Students examine this tradition to enhance their aesthetic discernment. The historic buildings of Savannah provide a living laboratory as students analyze and apply principles of classical architecture through sketching, drawing, discussion and design.

Students employ diverse research tools and methods to explore and unearth the significance of historic structures. Within this process, they meticulously assess archives and collections according to accepted research conventions. To protect significant heritage resources, students synthesize and strategically position their research within broader contexts through participation in historic resource surveys and National Register nominations.

By engaging stakeholders and leveraging conservation practices, students in this course formulate planning and design solutions to preserve and adapt heritage resources in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Students synthesize field and studio research, as well as knowledge of preservation policies, to inform advocacy strategies that harmonize responsible growth, preservation, and economic development.

By examining construction technologies in the built environment, students engage with diverse materials and assemblies, ranging from historic to contemporary. Through onsite investigations, students apply this knowledge to effectively document, analyze and interpret the form, material and condition of features within buildings and structures. Students follow National Park Service guidelines as they professionally present their findings in written, photographic and illustrative formats.

Through a scientific approach to investigation and analysis, students examine the composition, function and application of architectural materials to learn their properties, deterioration mechanisms and conservation methods. Students conduct research and laboratory testing on a diverse range of traditional and modern materials to cultivate interventions and corrective measures that align with philosophical, ethical and professional considerations.

Based on a conceptual exploration of luxury design and precedents in historical and contemporary settings, students develop projects that enhance aesthetic appeal and an underlying appreciation for heritage in the built environment. Students examine high-quality materials, custom features and finishes in a variety of preservation projects. Incorporating skills and knowledge from other building arts fields, students infuse an appreciation of art and beauty into designs for adaptive use and new construction.

Preservation designers offer communities proactive strategies to enhance historic and cultural resources in response to economic and social change. In this course, students examine place-based development to encourage sustainable, responsible growth while effectively preserving heritage. Through the exploration of entrepreneurial strategies for real estate investment, financing and development, students explore creative revitalization tools that build social and economic value for communities.

Using advanced digital technologies to investigate and record heritage resources, students pioneer the field of preservation design beyond traditional research methodologies and documentation practices. Project-based assignments provide students with real-world experiences that champion innovative applications at multiple scales to effectively interpret resources and engage with diverse stakeholders.

Creative adaptation of buildings and structures leverages heritage resources as economic drivers and vehicles for community strength and sustainability. In this course, students fuse knowledge of conservation, construction technology and real estate development to design innovative adaptive-reuse solutions that incorporate contemporary construction standards and codes. By analyzing market factors and project feasibility, students validate the long-term viability of their designs.

Working in an interdisciplinary studio environment, students design innovative solutions for the adaptation of buildings and structures to satisfy stewardship goals and enhance economic performance. Students streamline design and construction management while navigating design parameters, such as managing value in adaptive use projects, minimizing adverse impact to a structure's integrity, identifying the most appropriate new uses and encouraging sustainable practices.

Working in an interdisciplinary studio environment, students develop marketing and implementation strategies for new uses in rehabilitated buildings and structures by applying skills in real estate and entrepreneurship. Best practices in commercial and residential real estate development, branding and advertising inform the development of innovative strategies for long-term feasibility. Interaction with marketing and development professionals provides students with additional opportunities to refine skills and strategies.

Students in this course undertake a field assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

Students in this course undertake a teaching assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

Preservation design challenges convention by redefining the symbiotic connection between the historic and contemporary. Illuminating this objective, students propose innovative strategies for managing or adapting heritage resources within the context of preservation theory and criticism. Within a culture of constructive inquiry, faculty, peers and practicing professionals critique and guide students engaged in thesis research and development.

Preservation designers revolutionize and advance preservation discourse through scholarly research and by challenging conventional strategies for managing or adapting heritage resources. Focused interactions with faculty, peers and practicing professionals elevate students’ thesis defense and cultivate a compelling professional portfolio. Through this process, students synthesize and apply preservation philosophy and theory and thoughtfully define their path toward professional practice.