Preservation in a Changing Climate Conference 2023

In September, the City of Salem and the Salem Preservation Partners held the third annual conference to raise awareness of and discuss adaptation strategies to address climate change impacts on the region’s historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods.  This year’s conference featured a full day of panel discussions with extended opportunities for Q&A with presenters and a closing reception with the new Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer.

Due to technical difficulties, we are not able to offer recordings from the 2023 Conference. Click on the titles below to access slide presentations for each of the conerence sessions and lightning talks as well as conference welcome and Closing remarks:

Session 1: Landscape Strategies in a Changing Climate

• Historic Landscapes: Adapting Historic Gardens to the Realities of Climate Change Joann Vieira, Director of Horticulture, Trustees of Reservations

• Residential Scale Solutions to Managing Climate Impacts Michael Blier, Principal, Landworks Studios

• Living Shorelines and Rain Gardens: Dealing with Increasing Water Barbara Warren, Executive Director, Salem Sound Coastwatch

Session 2: Climate Mitigation Solutions

• Building a Positive Climate Culture Frank Lowenstein, Senior Director, Climate Culture Boston at Rare

• The Oldest LEED-Certified Building in the U.S. - Harvard Radcliffe Institute’s Fay House Kate Loosian, Senior Director of Planning and Design, Harvard Business School

• Resilient Together: Salem’s Climate Action Plan & Mitigation Efforts Neal Duffy, Director of Sustainability and Resiliency, City of Salem

Session 3: climate adaptations for the built environment

• Flood Adaptation in Unique Contexts Sarah Korjeff, Historic Preservation Specialist, Cape Cod Commission

• All Beach, Without the Background: Historic Preservation and Sea Level on Nantucket Mary Bergman, Executive Director, Nantucket Preservation Trust

• Climate Challenges and the Gables’ Coastal Zone Management Project Susan Baker, Collections Manager, The House of the Seven Gables

lightning talks

• Remembrance of Climate Futures: Thomas Starr, Project Director and Art + Design Profession, Northeastern University

• Commonalities and Takeaways: Adaptation Projects Across New England: Kara Babcock, Associate, Union Studio Architecture and Community Design

Welcome and Closing REmarks

• Dominick Pangall0, Mayor, City of Salem

• Melissa Hoffer, Massachusetts State Climate Chief