Speaker:

Sara Holcomb, PE, QEWI

Director of Historic Preservation

Walker Consultants, NYC Office

Sara Holcomb, PE, QEWI is a Director of Historic Preservation and Building Envelope at Walker Consultants, bringing 18 years of experience in historic preservation, façade inspections, and building enclosure consulting. A licensed Professional Engineer and NYC Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector, she leads complex restoration and preservation projects for landmarked and architecturally significant buildings throughout New York City and across the United States. Her work focuses on the long-term performance of historic structures, material compatibility, and complex waterproofing systems. Sara partners closely with building owners and stakeholders to balance safety, constructability, regulatory requirements, and preservation goals. She is an active throughout the preservation and masonry repair industry and currently serves as Vice President of the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) Metro New York Chapter, supporting the advancement of restoration and preservation practices.

1) Understand primary recommendations discussed within selected Sec. Of Interior NPS “Preservation Briefs” to understand core concepts related to material preservation

2) Identify example materials in historic and landmarked exterior wall assemblies.

3) Examine how environmental exposures and deferred maintenance affect the durability of these materials over100+ years in service.

4) Assess the impact of original construction conditions and deferred maintenance on long-term performance of these assemblies and structures.

5) Discuss effective preservation and restoration strategies to maintain the integrity of the historic fabric through actual project case studies.