Deconstructing Historic Buildings

Deconstructing Historic Buildings Workshop
35 Instructional Hours, April 7 -11
Taught by Noel Sanchez in person at 493 River Avenue in Providence
every day from 8am to 4pm.

This 5-day workshop teaches skills and techniques in the manual deconstruction of historic buildings, a sustainable practice that allows materials, decorative details or structural elements to be salvaged and reused, diverting building materials from landfills.

Participants will learn by doing, deconstructing the porch and decorative elements on a garage of a home in the Smith Hill neighborhood built in 1900 and owned by Sojourner House. Decorative details and building materials will be cleaned and prepared for reuse.  This course can enroll a maximum of six students and culminates in the award of a completion certificate from Providence Preservation Society. Instructor can teach in Spanish as well as English – course is open to Spanish-speaking students.

Pre-requisites: 2+ years of general residential construction. Ability to work off of ladders and have and are able to bring a set of hand tools (pry bars, hammer, knife, and chisel).

Application Deadline: Monday, March 10, 2025.  Applicants may be asked to interview by Zoom the week of March 10, and notifications of acceptance will be communicated by Monday, March 17.

Course Fee: $200. 1-2 needs-based scholarships are available upon application.

This course is subsidized by grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the City of Providence’s Department of Parks.

Apply here.

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