Roger Williams University

School of Art, Architecture, and Historic Preservation

HP150: Introduction to Historic Preservation

The goals of this course are twofold; one, to acquaint students with the evolution of Historic Preservation in contemporary American culture; and two, to allow students to explore the varied professional disciplines available in this broadening field.  To achieve this, the course incorporates a variety of speakers and site visits as a means of exposing students to real world projects and professions.  Field trips allow students to further explore historical sites, historic districts and museums, in order to learn about conservation practices, contemporary issues and heritage education.

HP160/530: American Architecture and the Western Tradition

This course serves as an introduction to the architects, architectural styles, and building trends in America from the seventeenth century to approximately World War II.  Students are exposed to a great variety of buildings, both high style and vernacular, landmark and common, American and European as a means of understanding our nation’s built heritage.  The course touches on many different topics throughout the semester covering issues of style, aesthetics, trends, technology, and social and cultural history.

HP 301/503: Architectural Conservation

Provides an overview of the professional role of the architectural conservator in the preservation of historic structures. It addresses architectural styles, construction technology, and dating techniques; the composition, properties, uses, and conservation of traditional building materials and systems; conservation standards, treatments and practices. 

HP341: Pre-Industrial America

Pre-Industrial America provides an in-depth examination of American architecture from the seventeenth century to the opening years of the nineteenth century.   Strong emphasis is on the study of domestic architecture, both vernacular and high style, in addition to public buildings, landscapes and decorative arts as a means of understanding the cultural environment that influenced and shaped design aesthetics during this timeframe.  While the principal focus will be on New England, the course examines parallel themes as they relate to the architecture and material culture of the Chesapeake and Hudson River Valley.  

While the course examines the concept of styles and how they relate to design (whether  architectural, fine or decorative arts, etc.), there is greater emphasis placed on the critically analyzing buildings, dissecting them into their core elements.  Close study is made of European precedents, building materials and construction systems, floor plans and the internal organization of buildings, and the various social and technological factors that shaped and influenced the evolution of our nation’s domestic and public architecture. 

HP382/582: Architectural Conservation Lab

This course and associated lab examines the various materials and building systems (wood, brick, stone, metal, glass, and finish systems) used by the building trades from the seventeenth century through the middle of the twentieth-century.  Study focuses on their characteristics, manufacture and uses in building construction through time.  The course addresses common issues associated with these materials and systems such as maintenance, repairs and replacement.  Having the advantage of dealing with existing buildings students look at how materials perform, how they fail, and what can be done to remedy these situations in a manner sensitive to the historic fabric of the building.

This course is set within the realm of building conservation. The course deals with existing buildings from all periods of our nation’s history, both high style and vernacular, landmark and common as a means of understanding building technology that has gone into their construction.  

Boston Architectural College (BAC)

TM573: Traditional Construction

Traditional Construction serves as an introduction to the various building systems and materials used in New England architecture from the seventeenth century through the middle of the twentieth century.  This course is set within the realm of historic preservation or more accurately building conservation. Students study existing buildings from all periods of our nations history, both high style and vernacular, landmark and common and examine the building technology that has gone into their construction.  

Each class examines a different building system or material and studies its evolution.  Focus is placed on understanding the characteristics, properties and uses of various materials used in building construction through time.  The course addresses common issues associated with these materials and systems such as maintenance, repairs and replacement.  Having the advantage of dealing with existing buildings, emphasis is placed on looking at how materials perform, how they fail, and what can be done to remedy situations in a manner sensitive to the historic fabric of the building.