Providence Preservation Society

On Thursday, July 9, we’ll present Bite-Sized Preservation: Reading Architectural Drawings. We'll explain the different kinds of plans, show how they are produced and used, and discuss how they have changed in the internet age. Are architectural blueprints Greek to you? This session, featuring architect Joel VanderWeele, will explore striking historical examples of architectural drawings […]

Preservation, far from representing a neutral position, is a symbolic, political act. How has a preservation practice informed by racial bias and power shaped our built environments and reinforced inequities, here in Providence and more broadly? And how do “we the people,” tell the stories of places that matter — who is included, and who […]

Take in 300 years of architectural history as you cruise Providence’s waterways! This 90-minute boat tour, led by the Providence Preservation Society, highlights the stories, sightlines, and subtle details that define Providence. From the most eye-catching landmarks on the city skyline to hidden architectural gems, you’ll discover historic Providence from the best seat in town!

“I Was Asked to Stand” educates and empowers us to understand the cause and possible solutions to the disparity in the lack of representation, documentation, and acknowledgment of the great works of women and diverse designers. Pascale’s presentation focuses on the history of the problems, how we can proactively change architecture and design, and future […]

Who “authorizes” cultural heritage and decides what places are worth protecting and celebrating? How are these decisions made and whose histories do they preserve? This panel discussion will explore the formal preservation systems currently in place and how they work for and against communities. Our guests will offer insight on how preservation works at the […]

Who shows up to public meetings? Whose interests are they advocating for? And how do decisions made by the few shape the social and political fabric of our communities? This talk discusses how neighborhood participation in the housing permitting process exacerbates and reproduces existing inequalities, limits the housing supply, and contributes to the current affordable […]

Many regard the preservation field as being in the midst of a relevancy crisis — its systems outdated, its practices exclusionary, and its practitioners out of touch. In order for preservation to become more accessible and relevant to more communities and to survive into the future, deep change is necessary. But can we reform preservation or do […]

Launched in December 2019, @hoodmidcenturymodern catapulted to fame as Instagram’s leading Black voice in architecture. HOOD CENTURY fills an industry gap as a preservation society for the streets, centering communities traditionally excluded from the conversation. This is preservation for us, by us. With HOOD CENTURY, Jerald Cooper utilizes pop culture and classic hip-hop imagery from an architectural and […]