Historic Preservation, Sustainability on the Agenda at Conference

Students, faculty, staff may attend for free

SUZANNE RAMSEY
College relations staff writer

Tusculum Institute, a center for historic preservation located at Sweet Briar College, will host the 24th annual Virginia Preservation Conference Sept. 20 through 22. Sponsored by Preservation Virginia, the theme of this year’s symposium is “Historic Preservation and Sustainability: Saving our History, Saving our Future.”

According to Tusculum Institute’s Web site, the conference is aimed at “an audience that reaches beyond the preservation and professional preservation ‘choir’ to include the rich variety of players who are involved in sustainability and historic preservation.”

In short, anyone with an interest in the subject matter is invited to attend — from preservation and sustainability professionals and government officials to students, teachers and people who own or have a passion for historic houses.

“This conference is going to talk in very practical ways about how to make your historic house green,” said Bob Carter, director of the community services division of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, which is a partner of Tusculum Institute.

“… Preserving existing buildings, historic buildings, makes good sense environmentally, but we can make historic buildings greener. We can incorporate the new technology and new materials and respect the historic character of existing buildings. I think that’s one of the [conference’s] big themes.”

The conference begins Sunday, Sept. 20 in Lynchburg with walking tour of the downtown historic district, followed by a reception at the Craddock Terry Hotel. On Monday, Sept. 21, it moves to Sweet Briar’s Elston Inn & Conference Center for two days of panel discussions, break-out sessions and lectures.

Highlights of the conference include, among other things, keynote presentations on “Greening the Commonwealth’s Historic Buildings” and “Greening Your Old House”; hands-on workshops at two of Sweet Briar’s historic structures; and a panel discussion on the impact of the federal stimulus bill and green jobs initiatives on historic preservation and sustainability.

Students, faculty and staff at Sweet Briar may attend all or any portions of the conference for free, but they must preregister. To register, e-mail Rainville at lrainville@sbc.edu . Registration for the general public is $99 per person and must be done via Preservation Virginia’s Web site.

Registration includes all sessions, workshops and tours; two continental breakfasts and a five-course lunch; receptions at the Craddock Terry Hotel and Sweet Briar House; and shuttle services between the conference sites and hotels.

The 24th annual Virginia Preservation Conference is presented thanks to its partners and sponsors: Sweet Briar College, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the National Park Service, city of Lynchburg and Preservation Virginia.