Preservation in a Changing Climate Conference [09/23/26]

Mark your calendar for the sixth annual Preservation in a Changing Climate conference, hosted by Salem’s Preservation in a Changing Climate Partners. This day of thought-provoking talks aims to advance strategies that can help reduce climate change and boost resiliency of historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods.

Join us for case studies, conversations and panel presentations, beginning with a keynote by Lori Ferriss, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Built Buildings Lab and an internationally recognized expert on leveraging existing and historic buildings for equitable climate change mitigation and adaptation. We will close with remarks and refreshments at the National Park Service Salem Armory Visitor Center.

Read the City of Salem's press release on the conference.

Schedule

8:15 AM | CHECK-IN AND LIGHT REFRESHMENTS

Main Atrium

9–9:30 AM | WELCOME & OVERVIEW OF THE DAY

Morse Auditorium

Join us for opening remarks from Dominick Pangallo (Mayor, City of Salem), Kurt Steinberg (PEM’s Interim Executive Director and CEO), Jane Winchell (PEM’s Sarah Fraser Robbins Director, The Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center, Curator of Natural History, Salem Preservation in a Changing Climate Partners representative) and Steven Mallory (PEM’s Manager of Historic Structures and Landscapes and Salem Preservation in a Changing Climate Partners representative).

9:30–10:15 AM | KEYNOTE: LORI FERRISS

From Vulnerability to Value: Built Heritage as Climate Action

How reuse and long‑term stewardship of historic buildings can advance decarbonization, resilience and local climate goals.

10:15–10:30 AM | CLIMATE UPDATE: STEPHEN YOUNG

We Are Entering the Age of Acceleration

Recent research shows that temperatures in New England, and globally, are accelerating, making climate impacts more ominous and immediate action more vital.

10:30–11:20 AM | SESSION 1: KEEPING HISTORY ABOVE WATER: NONPROFIT AND MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIP IN NEWPORT

Newport Restoration Foundation and the city of Newport are teaming up to protect the city’s heritage from climate threats.

MODERATOR: Susan Baker, Curator of Collections, The House of the Seven Gables

SPEAKERS

Margaret Back, Preservation Projects Manager, Newport Restoration Foundation

Christine Truwit, Resilience Assistant, Resilience & Sustainability Department, City of Newport

11:20–11:40 AM | BREAK & LIGHT REFRESHMENTS

Main Atrium

11:40 AM-12:30 PM | SESSION 2: THE HEAVEN AND EARTH INITIATIVE

Case study of a local historic church’s struggle with high energy bills that has evolved into a community-focused clean energy movement, including geothermal, solar and energy storage in Salem.

MODERATOR: Neal Duffy, Director of the Sustainability and Resiliency Department, City of Salem

SPEAKERS

Reverend Nathan Ives, Saint Peter’s–San Pedro Episcopal Church

Abigail Despres, Project Manager, Working Power

12:30-2 PM | LUNCH AND LEARN

Main Atrium, Art & Nature Center, and St. Peter’s–San Pedro Episcopal Church

Table Conversations

Landscape Resilience (Barbara Warren, Environmental Consultant)

Historic Buildings and Coastal Relocation (Paul Wright, Director of Preservation, The House of the Seven Gables)

National Park Conservation Association - The Legacy Restoration Act in Action (Kristen Sykes, Northeast Regional Director, National Parks Conservation Association)

Kakawa Chocolate House station

Stop by for samples of sustainably sourced chocolate and to learn about Kakawa’s commitment to supporting sustainably grown cacao.

Knowing Nature: Stories of the Boreal Forest

Exhibition open for attendees to explore.

St. Peter's-San Pedro Episcopal Church open from 1–1:45 pm for attendees to see inside (24 St Peter Street, one block from PEM).

2–2:45 PM | SESSION 3: SALEM 400+: PAST LESSONS OF RESILIENCE FOR THE FUTURE

A conversation about how four centuries of change to Salem’s coastline, climate, architecture and industry can help us better understand the ways resiliency needs to evolve in the face of a rapidly changing climate.

MODERATOR: Barbara Warren, Environmental Consultant

SPEAKERS

Vijay Joyce, Executive Director of the Pickering Foundation and Steward of the Pickering House

Stephen Young, Salem State University, Professor Emeritus, Geography and Sustainability Department

2:45–4 PM | SESSION 4: RETROFITTING HISTORIC ASSETS WHILE PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE

How to decarbonize historic buildings without compromising their character, using energy retrofit strategies and resources like the Carbon Avoided Retrofit Estimator (CARE) Tool to demonstrate the environmental benefits of preservation and reuse.

MODERATOR: Sarah Kostecki, Senior Director of Data and Business Intelligence, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

SPEAKERS

Peter McPhee, Senior Director for Building Decarbonization, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

Liz Stetson, Senior Director of Capital Assets and Planning, Mass Audubon

Lori Ferriss, Executive Director, Built Buildings Lab and Co-Developer of Architecture’s 2030 CARE Tool

4–5 PM | CLOSING RECEPTION AND REMARKS

National Park Service Salem Armory Visitor Center (2 New Liberty Street, across the street from PEM and the Museum Place Garage)

SPEAKERS

Jennifer Hardin, Superintendent, Salem Maritime National Historic Site

Kristen Sykes, Northeast Regional Director, National Parks Conservation Association

Kate Machet, Vice President of Systems Initiatives and Government Relations, Essex County Community Foundation

Preservation in a Changing Climate Conference

Summer Concert Series & Beer Garden

Climb to the Roof of Crane Estate & Explore Historic Ipswich | Save 15% with Code BOSCAL15

Preservation in a Changing Climate Conference

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Summer Concert Series & Beer Garden

Climb to the Roof of Crane Estate & Explore Historic Ipswich | Save 15% with Code BOSCAL15