The Architectural Conservation Laboratory at PennDesign has received funding to support the National Park Service’s Vanishing Treasures Program—a leader in the preservation of traditionally built architecture—in meeting its future education and training goals.

Vanishing Treasures helps parks, associated communities, and partner organizations develop and implement proactive historic preservation programs founded in science, technology, and applied research through the delivery of expert technical assistance and training.

Under the partnership, Frank Matero, a professor of architecture at PennDesign, and his team will review current education and training programs, projects, and past studies related to technical heritage preservation/conservation both in the United States and abroad, and undertake a needs-based survey and assessment of all parks and regional offices within the Vanishing Treasures Program. They will then make recommendations for education and training needs, and develop model curricula to be implemented in the near future.