CALL FOR PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS

The Association of Preservation Technology Northeast Chapter (APTNE) invites the submission of abstracts for consideration for presentation at the upcoming 2026 APTNE Annual Meeting & Symposium, to be held on Friday, March 6, 2026 , with an in-person event in Morristown, NJ, as well as a virtual program. The overarching theme of the 2026 APTNE Annual Meeting & Symposium is the technological advancements in preservation and will feature presentations from professionals, emerging professionals, and local students.

The Northeast has long been a hub of technological advancement, with New Jersey’s contribution spanning from Edison’s incandescent light bulb to Bell Labs’ early advancements in laser research. This spirit of innovation has extended into the field of architectural preservation, where advanced technologies are being used to document and restore historic structures and used to interpret and protect cultural resources, ensuring that both positive and difficult memories are preserved. Based on a solid understanding of traditional techniques, preservationists and design professionals are leveraging modern tools, materials, and practices to best facilitate the continued preservation of these historical sites.

Presentations must be tied to one of the following tracks:

Impact of evolving technologies on documentation and construction practices: using technology to better understand structures and improving documentation for future generations (LiDAR, laser scanning, photogrammetry, geolocation of photos, GIS, energy and structural modeling, etc.)
Preserving sites of technological innovation: challenges of preserving once-innovative facilities or systems that are considered antiquated and how these spaces are adapted for modern use.
Evolution of technology that influenced building codes and safety regulations: from evolving fire safety standards to construction site material safety and quality control measures, how do we update buildings while maintaining their historic integrity?
Historic technology and advances in repair materials: repair and substrate degradation, material resiliency, material longevity, maintenance, failure, balancing tradition/innovation in preservation

We encourage not only technical discussions and case studies, but also social discussions and academic research.

Presentations are to be 22 minutes in length and are to be in English, with a maximum of two speakers. The due date for Abstract Submission is October 6th, 2025.

Abstract submission will be through the APTNE website.

The following materials will be required to submit an abstract:

Contact Information - Name, Email, Phone Number
Presenter Information - Resume, Head shot, Biography (200 words or less)
Abstract Information - Title, Abstract (300 - 600 words in word doc and plain text)
Thesis Statement - Up to two sentences about how your proposed abstract is related to technology in preservation and how it will build upon and/or advance the field of preservation.
Photographs - at least two high quality photographs referencing the abstract with caption and credit