The 2010 National Preservation Conference (Oct. 27-30) brought twelve students from Pratt to the great state capital of Austin, Texas. Pratt Historic Preservation Organization (PHPO) secured funding from both Pratt SGA and the Historic Preservation Department to subsidize ten students’ travel, registration, and educational sessions at the conference.  PHPO is a strong proponent of attending this conference.  We believe it gives our students an opportunity to increase their historic preservation knowledge, and learn from—and connect with—a network of experts and community leaders from across the nation.

The opening ceremonies began with a speech by National Trust President Stephanie Meeks, followed by former First Lady Laura Bush, and a keynote speech by New Yorker architecture critic Paul Goldberger. Their complete remarks are available here.

The theme of the conference was “Next American City/Next American Landscape,” which is especially fitting in Austin, where, as in other fast growing cities, sprawling growth and out-of-scale development affect sustainability, and quality of life. Preservation is strong here, but the city still has development issues to address. Austin has saved many important structures, but parking lot canyons still dominate in some areas of downtown.

As an organization, Pratt Historic Preservation Organization (PHPO) strives to provide its students with as many opportunities as possible, so that our alumni enter the professional world of preservation with strong skills.  The Historic Preservation program at Pratt, resides within the Department of Programs for Sustainable Planning and Development in the School of Architecture.