Building Conservation Summer School 2022

A fully immersive and practical residential course, presented by 20 different countrywide experts in a wide variety of fields. With ample opportunity for discussion and questions, as well as 'hands on’ sessions, The Building Conservation Summer School is the most comprehensive course on offer for anyone seeking a career in the the repair of old buildings.

All bookings for this event are now closed.

Dates for the Building Conservation Summer School 2023 will be made available later this month.

The full course provides up to 47 hours formal CPD.

Introduction

This course runs over four and a half days at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester. Previously organised by RICS, it is now a Not-For-Profit joint venture by three of the most experienced conservation focussed Chartered Building Surveyors in the country - Marianne Suhr, Stephen Boniface and Duncan Philips.

The course is aimed at building professionals who would like to get a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of building conservation from a large number of leading experts in one place at one time. It will also be of interest to those who wish to gain additional building conservation knowledge to enhance their career and general understanding of the subject. It is particularly suitable for APC candidates, Building Surveyors, Structural Engineers, Conservation Officers, Architects, building contractors and all related conservation trades.  The course is not a formal accredited qualification and does not lead to any recognised certification other than being acceptable as CPD.

New for 2022 - 'CONSERVATION STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING’ - this year we are delighted to be joining forces with CARE (Conservation Accreditation Register of Engineers) to deliver a day of lectures by specialist engineers covering a range of topical subjects relating to structural defects in historic buildings. This day can be booked separately as a stand alone event, or taken as an option instead of the Lime Practical Day for those on the full residential package. Whilst it is aimed at engineers, the programme will be of interest to all building professionals who seek a better understanding of the issues. 

There are five different packages available.  Please go to the Ticket Booking page for details.

The full residential package includes: 4 nights 'student' ensuite accommodation on campus (Sun, Mon, Tues, Weds). Dinner on Sun, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Mon, Tues and Weds, breakfast and packed lunch on Thursday. Refreshments during the breaks. It also includes evening lectures, town walk and a very special drinks gathering with open access at a unique building in Cirencester. Those opting for the residential package will have a chance to mingle with speakers and delegates during the relaxed evening sessions in the student bar.

Note: Only 40 places are available for the full residential package: book early to avoid disappointment..!

VAT - This is a Not-For-Profit event and has been priced stay under the VAT threshold.   There is no VAT within the ticket cost.

Covid-19 Refund Policy - We will be monitoring the situation and government restrictions closely. If the covid-19 restrictions are still in place in June 2022 and the event needs to be cancelled we will offer either a full refund or the option to defer your place to 2023. This decision will be made ahead of time and we reserve the right to vary this policy should anything happen at short notice and outside of our control.

General Refund Policy - If for any reason we need to cancel the event, or you need to cancel your booking, we will provide a full refund up to Tuesday 4th May 2022. After this date will be not be able to provide a refund but we can defer your place to the 2023 Summer School.

Programme (we reserve the right to makes changes, if needed)

Sunday 12th June - Repair of Old Buildings - Setting the Scene

Chair: Marianne Suhr

15:00 Registration, tea/coffee

15:30 Welcome to the Building Conservation Summer School 2022 - Marianne Suhr, Stephen Boniface, Duncan Philips

15:45 Historic Buildings and Vernacular Diversity - Stephen Boniface

16:15 Favourite Buildings - Interactive Session - Stephen Boniface, Marianne Suhr, Duncan Philips

17:15 Refreshments

17:45 Building Defects and the Architectural Timeline - Geoff Hunt, Hunt Building Surveying Services

• what is a defect?
• how to spot common defects
• the architectural timeline

Evening Session (available only for those on the residential packages)

19:00 Dinner

20:00 Building Conservation - A Global Perspective - Duncan Philips, Listed Building Surveys

• interactive session, with contributions from delegates

21:00 Close

Monday 13th June - Introduction to Building Conservation - The Basics

Chair : Stephen Boniface

08:30 Registration and Refreshments

08:45 Welcome and Introduction to Surveying Historic Buildings - Duncan Philips, Listed Building Surveys

• The basics - what do you do first?
• Decision making - what is actually a 'problem' that needs to be fixed?
• Inspection, assessment and report writing

09:30 Building Conservation Philosophy and the SPAB approach - Matthew Slocombe, Director, SPAB

• Origins of modern building conservation ideas
• SPAB Manifesto 1877 and charters and principles

10:30 Refreshments

10:50 Solid Wall Construction and the need for Old Buildings to Breathe - Marianne Suhr, Old House Consultancy

11:45 Agreed Methodology for Investigation of Moisture and its Effects in Traditional Buildings - Duncan Philips

12:15 Timber Decay and Repair - David Watt, Hutton and Rostron

• The growing tree and the freshly felled tree - the challenges involved
• Timber decay mechanisms and treatments

13:00 Lunch

13:45 Planning and Legislation for Listed Buildings - Stephen Boniface, Boniface Enterprises

14:30 Energy Retrofit for Older Buildings - Marianne Suhr, Old House Consultancy

15:45 Refreshments

16:00 Structural Diagnosis and Repair - Is that Crack Serious? - Patrick Stow, Structural Engineer

17:00 Controlling Costs for Conservation Projects - Duncan Ball, Quantity Surveyor, Synergy

• Cost risk v Quality risk
  
• Challenges of providing easy cost advice and controlling the unknown
• Tender documentation - the good, the bad and the ugly

18:00 Close

Evening Session (for those on the residential package)

18:30 Evening meal

19:30 The Repair of a Cirencester Townhouse - Rory Young, Artist, Conservator, Builder

Tuesday 14th June - Old Building Repair - Materials and Specification

Chair : Marianne Suhr

08:30 Refreshments

08:45 Welcome : Marianne Suhr

08:50 Traditional Roof Coverings and Rainwater Disposal - Duncan Philips, Listed Building Surveys

10:00 Conservation and Repair of Stone Masonry - Angus Lawrence, Odgers Conservation

11:15 Refreshments

11:45 Introduction to Historic Timber-framed Buildings - Charley Brentnall, Xylotek

12:45 Lunch - with optional handmade brick demonstration and 'have a go' opportunity - Duncan Philips

13:45 History, Care and Repair of Brickwork - David Pope, Project Manager, Ernest Barnes Ltd

14:45 An Introduction to Thatched Roofs - Stephen Boniface

15:30 Refreshments

15:50 Earth Building, History, Construction and Repair Techniques - Marianne Suhr

16:45 Plain Glass and Glazing -Ben Sinclair, Director, Norgrove Studios

17:45 Questions

18:15 Close

Evening Session (for those on the residential package)

18:30 Evening meal

19:45 Back from the Brink - Repair of a Derelict Farmhouse - Marianne Suhr

20:45  Close

Wednesday 15th June - Option 1 - Understanding Lime and Practical Workshops

09:00 Drive to The Rural Skills Centre at Harnhill, (own transport, or share a lift) - 15 minute drive

09:30 Demonstrations and workshops to include..:

• Health and Safety
• The lime cycle
• Looking at sands
• Understanding hydrated limes - wet and dry hydrates
• cold and hot mixing limes

10:30 Refreshments

10:45 Practical sessions (on rotation)..:

• Group A - Plastering, with Sean Wheatley
• Group B - Mixing lime mortars, with Marianne Suhr and Michal Wolf

11:45

• Group A - Mixing lime mortars, with Marianne Suhr and Michal Wolf
• Group B - Plastering, with Sean Wheatley

13:00 Lunch

13:45 Practical demonstration - Running a cornice in-situ - Sean Wheatley, Plastering Specialist

14:15 Mixing and applying a limewash - Marianne Suhr and Michal Wolf

14:45 Hydraulic lime explained - demonstration of mixing hydraulic lime - Marianne Suhr

15:15 Refreshments

15:25 Plaster and Render Case Studies - Sean Wheatley and Michal Wolf

16:30 Close and return back to RAU by own transport or lift

Evening Session (for those on the residential package)

17:30 Evening meal

18:45 Cirencester Town Walk, followed by drinks at 7 Park Street

Wednesday 15th June - Option 2 - Conservation Structural Engineering

08:30 Refreshments

08:50 Welcome

09:00 Why The Need for Conservation Engineers?  -  James Miller

• the philosophy and history of the modern conservation movement
  
• the reasons why structural conservation requires skill beyond those of other engineers
• how the CARE register supports and promotes this objective

09:45  Inspection and surveying historic structures - Sarah Tattersall 

• Understanding the objectives of an historic structure survey or inspection
• Methodologies, techniques and what is important to look for
• When to be concerned and when to recognise aspects that are of less concern
• Why prioritising aspects of inspections is important

10:30 Refreshments

10:50 Innovative non-invasive assessment techniques for historic structures - Jon Avent / Brian Jarvis

• New techniques available for the non-invasive assessment of historic buildings
• How structural response to dynamic loadings enables true performance characteristics to be established
• Where the technique can be utilised on a range of structures

11:30  Practical Demonstration of Dynamic Assessment of an Existing Structure - Brian Jarvis / Jon Avent

• Introduction to the basic equipment used
• A practical demonstration of the equipment in operation
• How the data collected is used to assess the structure

12:15 Questions and Discussion

12:30 Lunch

13:30 Subterranean Historic Structural Challenges - Sinclair Johnston

• Challenges presented when adapting and evolving historic buildings
• When to consider remedial foundation works
• How alterations can affect load paths

14:30 Climate Influences on Historic Structures - Ed Morton

• Wind loading
• Flood risk
• Options to protect

15:30 Refreshments

15:45 Conservation on Limited Budgets - Case Studies - Jon Avent

• Options to get best value from limited budgets
• When to make difficult decisions
• The need to prioritise

16:45 Questions and Discussion

17:00 Close

Thursday 16th June - Study Visit to Woodchester Mansion

Mark Hancock, Director, Centreline Architectural Sculpture

David Hardwick, Duncan Philips, Stephen Boniface

Day trip to Woodchester Mansion in Stroud, where delegates will be asked to put into practice what they have learned so far

08:45 Depart Royal Agricultural University - own transport - 30 - 40 minutes drive

09:30 Meet at Woodchester Mansion Car Park

Through the gates on the grass field to the left, Walk down the path to the Mansion, or there will be minibus available for those who do not wish to walk.   Please note, there is uneven ground and there are many steps.   

10:00 Tour of Woodchester Mansion, history and construction - Mark Hancock, Director, Centreline Architectural Sculpture

11:30 Specification Workshop - David Hardwick, Chartered Building Surveyor

Students will be divided into groups to identify defects and prepare a specification for an element of the building.

13:30 Lunch (a packed lunch will be provided by RAU).  Please advise us of any dietary requirements.

14:30 Review of Specification Workshop

15:00 Repairing Woodchester Mansion - A review of projects past and present - Mark Hancock

• Looking at drawings and specifications and how they are translated on site

15:45 Historic Building Recording - David Hardwick

• Why is recording of such importance that the process is elevated into a conservation principle?
• What is the purpose of recording?
• What are the key issues relating to recording?
• What are the processes and techniques and when might they be used appropriately?

16:30 Close and depart for home - End of Building Conservation Summer School 2022