During the 2024 Summer semester, Clemson’s School of Architecture launched the inaugural session of the new Historic Preservation Summer Minor at the Clemson Design Center, Charleston (CDC.C).

The new minor, aimed at undergraduate students, teaches historic preservation in one of North America’s oldest cities. Students live in Charleston during the summer term and learn skills through hands-on experiences at sites like the Edmonston-Alston House, the Warren Lasch Conservation Center and the Nathaniel Russell House.

“We are very excited to offer the Historic Preservation Summer Minor,” shared Amalia Leifeste, the director of the graduate program in historic preservation. “ This program helps potential preservationists learn about the field and gain skills that will help them as they either bring a preservation lens to their main discipline of study at Clemson or decide to go ‘all in’ to the important and purposeful work of caring for the places and stories that give our built environment meaning.” 

Learning from professional preservation practitioners

Students are taught by industry professionals and have the opportunity to learn about firms and gain insight into the professional field of historic preservation.

“It’s really fun to see all of the teacher’s passions about historic preservation and learn about their firms and what they do outside of teaching,” said Diamond Mann, a third-year architecture student. “It’s cool to see how our teachers are using their degrees and to see how everyone in this industry seems to know each other.”

The program teaches students building fundamentals, hand-measured drawing, architectural photography, landscape mapping and architectural conservation

“My favorite part of this program so far has been the field trips. Getting out of the studio and being able to experience all of the things we are learning has made a huge difference,” explained Annie Cagle, a third-year undergraduate architecture student. “Going to places like the Nathaniel Russell House and the Old Exchange Building makes what you’re learning in the classroom come to life.”

Preservation Fundamentals

During the summer semester, students take five classes, including Introduction to Historic Preservation, Researching Historic Properties, Preserving American Architectural History, History Preservation Documentation and Conservation for Historic Preservation.

“The classes in the minor cover each main sphere that you get in historic preservation,” shared Hannah Adams, a second-year architecture student. “We’ve been working in conservation, which is keeping things as they are in their historic state. The class has done documentation, which is going to old buildings, taking pictures and drawing them for records in case something happens. We’ve done legal work by going to the deed office and following a building history. We’ve done a little bit of everything!”

Twila Madden, a rising third-year history major, noted that the minor does not require prerequisite courses in architecture.

“I chose the program because I was interested in learning conservation, specifically with buildings,” she explained. “I’m a history major, and everyone has been super nice and welcoming. My professors and classmates are willing to listen to my thoughts since everyone else is an architecture major, and they’ve all been helping me learn AutoCAD and other basic architecture skills.”

Continuing education

For Maizie Clark, a rising fourth-year architecture student, the moment she heard about the minor, she knew she wanted to sign.

“I’ve always been interested in historic structures,” explained Clark. “I remember my parents dragging me out of every archeological site that we went to when I was a kid. So when I heard about this opportunity, I knew I wanted to do it.”

Several of the students expressed that during their time in the historic preservation minor, they have been inspired to pursue a graduate degree once they finish their undergraduate education.

“I’m planning on going to graduate school,” expressed Hamilton Sprawls, a fourth-year architecture student. “If you’re thinking about graduate school, this minor opens up a whole new field for you. Academically and career-wise, I think this minor is going to have a big impact on me.”