Summer Opportunities - National Park Service

If not already, many architecture students have already begun searching for their summer opportunity -- employment, study abroad, etc.  However, if you have not started, there is still time, but for some the deadline is approaching. 

Below are opportunities not in a firm, but rather provide an unique chance to document historic structures through programs of the National Park Service.

Summer Opportunities:

Tompkins Fellowship

https://www.nps.gov/hdp/jobs/tompkins.htm

The Sally Kress Tompkins Fellowship, a joint program of the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) and the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), permits a graduate student in architectural history or a related field to work on a 12-week HABS history project during the summer. The Fellow will conduct research on a nationally significant U.S. building or site, and will prepare a written history to become part of the permanent HABS collection. The Fellow's research interests and goals will inform the building or site selected by HABS staff. The Fellow is usually stationed in the HABS Washington, DC, office. Recipients are also required to upload a minimum of 50 images to SAH's SAHARA image database.

Architect Intern/Historic Preservation Technician

http://serve.gyfoundation.org/architect-intern-historic-preservation-technician/

The need for preserving all of our nation's history has never been greater, we're counting on you! HBCUI (Historically Black Colleges and Universities Internship) Program is a 10-week summer experience brought to you by Greening Youth Foundation in partnership with the U.S. National Park Service. As a part of HBCUI, students from schools around the country are putting their unique skills and talents to work in preserving the contributions of African Americans to our nation's history and culture. Participants gain real-world, on-the-job experience as they explore federal careers in the U.S. National Park Service.

Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)

https://www.nps.gov/hdp/jobs/summer.htm

The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) is the nation's first federal preservation program, begun in 1933 to document America's architectural heritage. Creation of the program was motivated primarily by the perceived need to mitigate the negative effects upon our history and culture of rapidly vanishing architectural resources.

Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP): Summer Architect

https://www.hispanicaccess.org/historic-american-building-survey-washington-dc

Historic American Building Survey (HABS) Architects measure buildings, landscapes, industrial structures, sites, and objects, including floating vessels, and produce existing-conditions drawings in Computer-aided Design (CAD), including drawings that interpret and explain industrial processes and engineering works. The position requires hand sketching and hand measuring in the field and the production of detailed, as-built, measured drawings of historic sites and structures in AutoCAD.

Dr. Architecture

Preservation Education

I am in the process of applying to doctoral programs in historic preservation and I am wondering if you have any advice. I have a B.A. in Environmental Design and had my own practice as a building designer for ten years. There are many historic buildings in the area and so I have done a lot of work with historic structures. I have also taken some preservation classes at the local Junior College. I have a masters in technical theater (long story) and now would like to pursue a PhD in preservation. I have found likely programs at the University of Colorado in Denver, University of Maryland, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Cornell. I would prefer a program which emphasizes design/technique over policy/theory. I also enjoy teaching and have some teaching experience.

1. Would you recommend any of those programs in particular and are there any others I missed?

2. Do you have any tips for getting accepted into these programs? Is there anything I should emphasize about my experience and interests?

_______

First, my true expertise is on becoming an architect and your question is about preservation.

I do not provide recommendations or endorsements on particular programs, but one resource you may wish to consider is the National Council for Preservation Education

http://www.ncpe.us/chart.html

As for tips on gaining admission, the best advice is to contact each of the programs and ask directly what it takes to gain admission.  How do they make decisions on admissions?  What materials do they emphasize?  How can you put your best foot forward?  If possible request connections to current students or recent alums and ask them the same questions.

I hope this helps!

Historical Architecture

I am considering a degree in Historical Architecture or Historical preservation. I last studied in London on a study abroad program but due to some issues with the Community College I went through to study abroad I am currently not enrolled in college. I was working on a degree in history and am currently lacking three classes towards my associates. My GPA reflected on my official transcript does not reflect my London grades (although the grades themselves are shown on the transcript) and therefore my current GPA is low and inaccurate. Due to the low GPA I don't know if I can get in to a major university to continue my studies and therefore am trying to figure out what my options are at this time.

While I was studying abroad I took a class in English Palaces and Country homes and really enjoyed it. I am considering switching my major. Since I've been having such a difficult time with my grades and the school I have been attending, I was thinking about basically starting over on my schooling and going towards a bachelors degree in Art History then moving onto a Masters in Historical Preservation/Historical Architecture. I was just wondering if this is the right path for me to pursue or if there was a bachelor's degree you would suggest that would be better than art history to help me go on to my Masters in Preservation.

My long term goal is to go back to England and help their national trust with the preservation of the country homes and old churches.

Any suggestions you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
________

It is truly hard to determine if the path of historic preservation/historical architecture is the right path for you based on just your comments below, but I outline the steps to help you.

Separate from the difficulties with your issues with the community college, I would suggest you follow your heart. First, do some assessment to confirm your interest in historic preservation. Read up on the topic, talk with professionals in the field, etc. Continue to explore the discipline including research programs; visit the following -- http://www.ncpe.us/chart.html -- to learn about degree programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Once you have do some assessment and explored, you can better make an informed decision on if this path is right for you. When the decision is made, you can make plans to meet your goal.

Although you are not in school now, see if you can still use their Career Center to research the field or meet with a career counselor. All of these steps can help you in your path.

Dr. Architecture