Preservation Professionals Meet on Ellis Island
On December 7th, the Ellis Island Institute brought together a well respected group of historic preservation professional to discuss establishing a Center for Heritage Preservation within the Ellis Island Institute. The idea for the Center arose from a previous preservation meeting in June 2008 that looked as the ways in which the rehabilitation of the twenty-eight un-restored building on Ellis Island could serve as an educational opportunity about the value of historic preservation for all kinds of audiences. The rehabilitation project is the largest ever undertaken by the National Park Service and one which can continue to showcase the economic, social, cultural and sustainable benefits of preserving the nation’s built environment by incorporating the Center into the Institute.
Participants from academics, planning, architecture, government, trades, law and funding attended to discuss the original concept developed by the Ellis Island Institute in partnership with the New Jersey Historic Trust. As currently envisioned, the Center for Heritage Preservation will be a policy institute that commissions studies, publicizes this work, convenes conferences and workshops, provides informed testimony and gives voice to preservation’s role in a sustainable and economically strong future where our treasured resources are valued. Participants responded to this vision, and suggest ways to move the idea forward to implementation.
The day’s activities are supported by funds from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, AIA-NJ, the World Monuments Fund and the New Jersey Historic Trust. We extend our sincere thanks for their support of our preservation goals.
