The question that started it all was simple: What is historic preservation? But as I’ve come to learn through research, coursework, and field experience in the University of Florida’s Historic Preservation Program, the answer is anything but.
Historic preservation isn’t just about buildings—it’s about memory, meaning, and community. It’s about managing change while honoring the cultural heritage embedded in our built environment. From my earliest restoration project—a 1926 junior high school converted to apartments—I’ve seen how construction and preservation are not opposing forces, but necessary partners.
In the Cultural Resource Survey course, I worked alongside peers to document Jacksonville’s Springfield Historic District. We didn’t just catalog old homes; we told stories. We identified significance in mid-century structures overlooked in earlier surveys. We completed Florida Master Site File forms and met with residents. This process revealed how construction professionals—like those in our firm—can enhance preservation efforts by providing practical insight into materials, timelines, and implementation strategies.
In another course, The History and Theory of Historic Preservation, I wrestled with preservation’s complicated past—how early efforts often ignored or erased the histories of marginalized communities. Through deeply personal reflection, I’ve begun confronting my own upbringing and privilege, and embracing a preservation ethic that values inclusion, diversity, and justice. Modern preservation must champion not only the tangible—brick and mortar—but also the intangible: oral histories, craft traditions, and cultural practices that shaped these places.
The third course, a materials lab in St. Augustine, grounded me in the physical science of preservation—analyzing local coquina stone, aged wood, and traditional mortar. Construction professionals can contribute immensely in this space, helping preservationists understand building behavior, structural limits, and long-term resilience.
So how can the construction industry come alongside preservation efforts?
- By respecting local heritage during renovation or redevelopment
- By engaging early with preservation boards and Certified Local Governments
- By advocating for adaptive reuse instead of demolition
- And by training the next generation in both modern methods and traditional trades
As professionals in construction, we have the tools and know-how to not just build something new—but to build upon the history that came before. Preservation, after all, isn’t about freezing time. It’s about framing the past so it enriches the future.
If your company works on historic properties, or simply wants to understand more about preservation, I’d love to connect.