Contact:
Susan E. Schur
Publisher-Editor
76 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: 617-623-4488
Fax: 617-623-2253
E-mail: ses_tec_con@msn.com

Membership Information
For the publication: Subscriptions to Technology & Conservation are available to individuals and organizations: $28/year in the U.S. and Canada; $60/year elsewhere.
For conferences: attendance is open to all, upon payment of registration fee.
AIA/HRC members can subscribe to the publication and/or attend conferences.

Brief Summary of the Organization and Its Mission
Technology & Conservation, through conferences and publications, provides information on developments and practices pertaining to the analysis, documentation, conservation, preservation, restoration, and protection of historic and cultural properties and collections. Architectural emphasis includes all aspects of the built environment, such as materials—their properties and performance, material availability and compatibility, structural design and engineering, environmental interactions, and maintenance and repair/replacement.

Initiatives in the Past Year Illustrating the Focus and Direction of the Organization
1. Conference held in March 2006 -- “Clay Bricks in the 21st Century: Design, Preservation, & Care of Contemporary & Historic Architecture”
This conference was sponsored by Technology & Conservation, the MIT Dept. of Architecture – Building Technology Program, and the Boston Society of Architects/AIA, Historic Resources Committee. Held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this intensive 2-day conference featured 25 speakers from the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Belgium. The program covered • the basic material properties of clay bricks, the role of mechanical, thermal, and water absorption properties on performance and durability, and the effects of environmental conditions on both traditional clay brick buildings and on modern thin-veneer structures and artistic works • how these material characteristics and interactions need to be considered in specifying clay bricks for new designs and for restoration/preservation projects • new developments in manufacturing and fabrication operations and in construction techniques • practical, cost-effective strategies for identifying historic bricks • procedures for determining/evaluating brick deterioration • methods for replicating historic color/appearance. Several case histories were presented which illustrated the performance of clay bricks in the outdoor environment and the appropriate selection, specification, use, and maintenance of these bricks for existing and new buildings and sculpture/monuments. Attendees could select one of the following tours on the thirrd day – a tour through a brick manufacturing facility, a walking tour focused on Guastavino vaulting, or a tour of a training facility for brick masons.

2. Conference to be held in March 2008 in Cambridge, Mass., will focus on concrete and cast stone. Program information will be available early in 2007.

Preservation Issues that are of Particular Concern to Your Organization
The few courses in materials and in technology, particularly as related to preservation of buildings, offered in architecture degree programs.

Ways the AIA/HRC and Its Members Can Be Supportive of Your Organization
Joint sponsorship of conferences.