Workshop 1: Guastavino Vault Construction and Restoration
Monday, Nov 7, 2022, and Tuesday, Nov 8, 2022, from 8:00am - 5:00pm
International Masonry Institute Training Center, Warren, Michigan
Transportation provided from The Huntington Place
AGENDA
The Rafael Guastavino Company, led by Rafael Guastavino Moreno (1842-1908), brought the traditional form of Catalan vault construction to the United States and created some of the country’s most distinct vaulted ceilings and domes. Guastavino’s structures ranged from short-span ceilings, valued for their “fireproof” construction qualities, to soaring monumental vaults, such as the dome of St. John the Divine in New York City or the waiting room vaults in Michigan Central Station in Detroit. Whether large or small, each vaulted ceiling system was built with the same components of thin structural clay tiles and mortar, relying on stability derived from both the strength of the material and the stiffness of the curved geometry.
Participants will take a deep dive into the creative engineering means and methods of Guastavino tile structures with the opportunity to build a self-supporting vault with the same materials and construction methods that the Guastavino’s company employed. Experts on Guastavino vaults will discuss the history, documentation, investigation, structural analysis, materials analysis, and quality control and testing during the work. Professionals involved in the restoration of the Michigan Central Station, including members from the design and construction teams, will discuss the process and lessons learned with restoring the Guastavino vaults on this current, headlining rehabilitation project in Detroit.
Attendees are required to wear clothes that can get dirty, long-pants, closed-toed shoes, and limit dangling jewelry and rings. Assume masks will be required based on the venue for this workshop. You are welcome to bring your own personal protective equipment (PPE) safety glasses, gloves, and hard hats; or you can use those that will be provided by the IMI training center for the workshop. Wearing this PPE will be required during hands-on exercises.
Registration fee: $650
WS2: Timber Construction: Preservation Challenges in Today’s World
Monday, Nov 7, 2022, and Tuesday, Nov 8, 2022, from 8:00am - 5:00pm
The Masonic Temple, Detroit, Michigan
Transportation provided from The Huntington Place
Timber was the first choice of building material in the first centuries of European settlement of North America due to material availability, relative ease of construction, and woodworking knowledge immigrants brought with them from their home countries. This timber workshop will delve into the technical aspects of assessment, evaluation, and adaptive reuse of timber structures. Repair methods and challenges, from the perspective of a timber contractor, and preservative treatments will be presented. The anatomical characteristics of wood as a material utilized directly from trees will be discussed, giving participants insight to the process of wood species identification—a fundamental step in the process of strength assessment—and opportunities to try to identify wood using hand-held magnifiers. On Tuesday, the students working with APT’s Preservation Engineering Technical Committee for the timber bridge build competition will join the workshop participants for networking and mentoring as all participants will be able to raise a historically accurate timber-framed barn model and experience first-hand the evolution of timber frame joinery and construction, including how timber framing is laid out and cut both traditionally and by modern carpenters.
On Tuesday, attendees are required to wear long-pants and closed-toed shoes. Limit dangling jewelry and rings. Please bring your own personal protective equipment (PPE) safety glasses and gloves for the hands-on exercises.
Registration fee: $650
WS3: Training our Future to Preserve our Past
Tuesday, Nov 8, 2022, from 8:00am - 5:00pm
The Masonic Temple, Detroit, Michigan
Transportation provided from The Huntington Place
Have you ever wondered why it is difficult to find qualified tradespeople or why there aren’t more historic trades training programs? Join us to explore these questions, find answers, and work toward solutions.
Workshop participants will be given real-life examples of trainees and employers for role playing exercises. As trainees, we will navigate training and education options while balancing personal situations and resources. As employers, we will investigate how to manage projects while onboarding new trainees. The workshop participants will identify areas where the preservation community can help support and bolster the trades workforce, with the guidance and experience of professionals from preservation education and training programs. Participants will come away with actionable items and connections to resources to continue this conversation beyond the time limits of the workshop.
Registration fee: $380