Conservation architects preserve historic buildings and monuments, typically requiring a bachelor’s degree in architecture, art history, or chemistry and a master’s degree in conservation architecture or historic preservation. Prior experience and strong communication, problem-solving, and management skills are also important.
Conservation architects specialize in preserving and conserving historic buildings and monuments to prevent deterioration. A bachelor’s degree in architecture, art history, or chemistry from an accredited university is usually required, depending on the region. To become a conservation architect, you may need to have a master’s degree in conservation architecture or historic preservation. Experience in the conservation of historic buildings or monuments, either during an internship or at a professional level, is usually a requirement for becoming a conservation architect.
While some conservation architects may hold an architecture degree, many have chosen related degrees such as art history or historic preservation to pursue their calling. For many conservation architect jobs, a master’s degree is required. Some graduate programs in related disciplines offer certificate programs in historic conservation or preservation. Typically, no licensing exam or registration is required to become a conservation architect, as in traditional architecture careers.
Many conservation architects find a solid scientific background, especially in chemistry, to be good preparation for this career. Conservation architects frequently test materials, repair structures and manage projects, so any additional knowledge and experience in these areas could give the job seeker an advantage.
As in most fields, it can be difficult to become a conservation architect without some related prior experience. Some conservation architects enter the field after completing an internship or working as part of a historic reserve team to gain valuable experience. Some colleges and universities offer associate degrees in historic preservation that can be used as a stepping stone on the path to becoming a full-fledged conservation architect.
A conservation architect can wear many different hats and must be equally comfortable working in the field, researching and testing in the lab, and communicating with teams. It is helpful to be able to communicate ideas well, orally and with the written word. Conservation architects must be able to accurately document when they are in the field and relay information to others on a preservation team.
It’s helpful to be able to balance attention to detail with being able to see the big picture. Thinking critically, finding creative solutions to unique problems and being comfortable with limited resources or less than ideal working conditions is crucial. Sometimes a conservation architect is required to travel extensively to work sites in various regions.
The best conservation architects have good management skills, both people and projects. Historic preservation projects can contain unforeseen variables and take several years; therefore, a conservation architect must have the patience, organization, and clear thinking to see a project through to final completion.
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