The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (the Pennsylvania SHPO) is partnering with Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, the Preservation Trades Network, Inc. and other organizations to bring one of the largest gatherings of preservation and traditional trades people and enthusiasts in the world to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The 15th annual International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) will be held August 2-6, 2011 on the campus of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, 750 E. King Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. IPTW 2011 will bring together hundreds of the best preservation and traditional trades crafts people, as well as preservation architects, preservation consultants, building trades contractors and others from the US, Canada, Europe and beyond, who are interested in learning more about preservation and traditional trades techniques, tools, materials and practices. For those who work in the preservation and traditional building trades, this is a gathering of their 'tribe.' For others, it offers a unique opportunity to see some of the finest crafts people at work and learn more about how historic building preservation is accomplished in construction.

With the theme, Hands on Heritage: Trades, Knowledge, Community, IPTW 2011 will include a keynote address by Donovan Rypkema, an internationally known preservation consultant, writer and lecturer who will address the important contribution to a local economy provided by the preservation trades, and also the role of historic preservation in comprehensive sustainable development. More than 50 presentations and in-depth hands-on demonstrations will showcase the talents of some of the world's best preservation and traditional crafts people. There will also be two-day in-depth pre-conference workshops in Preservation and Repair of Porches and Painting Historic Buildings, and a one-day Lead Safety for Renovation, Repair and Painting EPA certification course. Special pre-conference tours will include a trip to the Mercer Museum, Fonthill and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works. Another tour will include a demonstration of a water powered vertical saw mill at Daniel Boone Homestead, a behind the scene tour of the Ball and Ball Hardware workshops and a tour of the Wharton Escherick home and studio.

Conference and workshop sessions are eligible for American Institute of Architects continuing education units. Opportunities currently exist for demonstrator proposals, event sponsorships, product and service exhibitors, and student scholarships. Visit the web site www.iptw.org for more information and registration, and see the attached save the date postcard for more details. Or email info@ptn.org with your questions.