New Directions in Heritage Practices
Dialogues on the Present and Future of Preservation and Cultural Resilience

What does it mean to preserve heritage in an age defined by environmental change, technological innovation, and social transformation — in a world increasingly detached from physical reality?

The Colloquium “New Directions in Heritage Practices” invites reflection on this essential question, bringing together scholars and professionals to explore how heritage conservation has evolved — from safeguarding the past to shaping more sustainable and resilient futures.

The program will feature research developed by the Center for Cultural Sustainability in recent years, highlighting both technical and philosophical approaches to conservation through projects at significant sites such as the San Antonio Missions, Cliff Palace (Mesa Verde), and the resilience of sacred places along the Texas Gulf Coast. These research initiatives rely on interdisciplinary methods that integrate humanities-based approaches, emerging technologies, value-led frameworks, and community engagement. Such methods can be shared and adapted across cultural contexts worldwide, supporting preservation as both a technical and humanistic endeavor.

Building on these studies, panelists from diverse backgrounds will engage in a dialogue on the multiple and interconnected dimensions of heritage — from technical and technological aspects to heritage planning and management, addressing the relationships between economy, infrastructure, communities, and cultural landscapes and identities.

The keynote lecture will explore another new frontier of the discipline, with a presentation by Dr. Davide Galleri (University of Naples, Italy) — Robie House: Architecture, History, Preservation.

The two-day Colloquium is free and open to the public, but registration is required via the QR code on the attached posters.