Presentation at the Association for Preservation Technology Conference, Detroit, Michigan.

There are hundreds of thousands of buildings over 50 years of age across North America, but with retirements looming, there is an imminent shortage of contractors skilled in heritage construction trades. The City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation is tackling the challenge of contractor access and affordability through the Living Heritage Trades Academy (LHTA). As a critical workforce development initiative, the LHTA program offers participants one week of traditional trades instruction - including window restoration, traditional carpentry, and more - followed by placement with a reputable contractor for a 10-week paid apprenticeship. Participants are also eligible for free OSHA certification, financial counseling, and support services while in training.  In partnership with community partners, the program is offered at no charge to eligible participants.   

In addition, the Office of Historic Preservation is working on a concurrent effort to reduce the amount of building materials that end up in local landfills through their Deconstruction & Circular Economy Program. A priority for San Antonio's program is directing reclaimed materials into the rehabilitation of existing affordable housing stock of a similar construction era. Like an organ donor, a structure may have reached the end of its life, but its parts and pieces can help extend the lives of dozens of other structures. 

As a culmination of both efforts, the Office of Historic Preservation launched a partnership in 2022 to establish a Materials Innovation Center (MIC). The MIC will divert construction and demolition materials from the landfill while providing support for existing trades workforce training and a community tool library. The MIC will serve as the “last stop before the landfill” and will work symbiotically with area non-profit and private reuse stores to take in excess and non-sellable materials and tools and redistribute them to local qualifying organizations for affordable housing preservation and production efforts.  It will also serve as one of three learning labs for the LHTA. 

This session will discuss the Living Heritage Trades Academy (LHTA), Deconstruction Program, and Materials Innovation Center (MIC) in depth, including program development, partnerships, policies, funding, and community engagement. These programs are groundbreaking examples of a municipal historic preservation office’s work to integrate the field into affordable housing, workforce development, and circular economy/climate action spheres, resulting in stronger intersectional partnerships and greater community impact that extends well beyond the typical regulatory role of a city.