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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION

The Preservation Trades Technology Program

Program Overview 

All students in this program take three core preservation courses: Fundamentals of Historic Preservation, History of American Architecture and History of Building Technology, to give them a common basis of understanding of preservation and historic architecture.  From there, students can specialize by taking a series of courses in a trade area concentration in either carpentry or masonry.  The core courses are primarily lecture format, but include field visits or tours of historic properties.  The trade specialization courses include both lecture and hands-on laboratory/workshop experiences.

 

At the successful completion of each course, the student will receive a certificate of completion for that course.  Students will receive a certificate of completion for the Preservation Trades Technology Program by successfully completing all 3 core preservation courses and at least 3 of the courses offered in either the preservation carpentry or preservation masonry specialization.

What is this program?
The Preservation Trades Technology curriculum has been developed to train students and incumbent workers in the preservation of historic buildings. It provides a series of short courses in preservation trades technology leading to a certificate of completion for the program. This program is the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania and only one of a few programs nationally that offer this special combination of historic preservation and building trades education. Courses are offered at the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Why is it important?
As more people and communities in Pennsylvania realize the advantage of preservation of historic buildings, the number of preservation projects has increased. This has resulted in a demand for more contractors and craftspeople in the building trades with the knowledge and experience of working on historic buildings. It is often difficult or impossible to find companies or individuals with this type of expertise.

Who is this program for?

  • Incumbent workers already in the building trades who want to supplement their knowledge and skills to work on historic preservation projects
  • Building contractors who want to expand their business into historic preservation work
  • Students enrolled in a building trades program who want to expand their education to work on historic preservation projects
  • Maintenance employees who have responsibilities to maintain and repair older buildings
  • Historic building owners and others with basic building trades skills who want to learn how to preserve and maintain their buildings

Who is involved with this program?
To develop the Preservation Trades Technology Program, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has entered into a partnership with:

  • Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology,
  • Lancaster County Planning Commission,
  • Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board and
  • Lancaster County Historic Preservation Trust.

Department of Workforce Development and Continuing Education
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
750 East King Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
717-391-3543
wdce@stevenscollege.edu