Gropius House Building Conservation Technician
The Gropius House Building Conservation Technician is a limited-term advanced training position intended to provide practical experience for recent graduates of historic preservation or architectural conservation training programs. Under the supervision and guidance of the team leader for property care and the metro-Boston preservation manager, the Gropius House Building Conservation Technician will support the development of a conservation management plan for the Gropius House, Lincoln, Mass. The 1938 house was designed by Walter Gropius as his family home when he came to Massachusetts to teach architecture at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. Modest in scale, the house was revolutionary in impact. It combined traditional elements of New England architecture such as wood, brick, and fieldstone with innovative materials rarely used in domestic settings at that time, including glass block, acoustical plaster, chrome banisters, and the latest technology in fixtures. Today the house is a museum open to the public year-round.
The primary responsibilities of this position are to document past maintenance and treatment protocols and log them both chronologically and by feature to create a record of work completed at the site. For specified repair protocols, the technician will analyze how the repairs have held up over time. The first deliverable will be a comprehensive conservation management plan that outlines the preservation philosophy for both the site and its key features, identifies past treatments for each feature, and identifies either a successful repair protocol or issues with the previous repairs. The position has potential flexibility to pursue additional avenues of exploration as long as they support the ongoing conservation of the Gropius House. Other duties may be assigned that support the project including but not limited to interviews with past staff about their interactions with the building fabric and the creation of a completion report for the Getty Foundation’s Keeping it Modern project at Gropius House.Location: Lyman Estate, Waltham, Mass
The preferred candidate has a Master’s degree in architectural conservation, historic preservation, architecture or a related field and experience in conditions assessments, building pathology and historical research. The Technician must be able to operate effectively both independently and in a team environment, where communication within and among teams is essential to success and must have the ability to interact and communicate with staff both orally and in writing. The technician must have fully competent computer skills, including the use of word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software, and internet research. A valid driver’s license and means of transportation are required.
This is a salaried exempt position with a minimum commitment of 40 hours per week for a six-month term. This position is benefit eligible. The position requires regular travel to Gropius House, Lincoln, Mass., and to local research institutions.
Please send resume and cover letter tojobs@historicnewengland.org.
April 08, 2016
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