Noreen Stonor Drexel Historic Preservation Keynote: Dr. Donovan Rypkema

5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13
DiStefano Lecture Hall, Antone Academic Center

The Noreen Stonor Drexel Cultural and Historic Preservation Program is pleased to welcome Dr. Donovan Rypkema to deliver this year's keynote address: "The Impacts of Historic Preservation: Beyond Gargoyles."

Historic preservation has traditionally been advocated for its aesthetic and cultural contributions to a community. While that is as true as ever, research in recent years has demonstrated the multiple impacts that historic preservation can have. These include the economic, livability, environmental and social justice roles of preservation. Further, while the arguments for preservation have usually been qualitative, more recent analyses quantitively demonstrate the multiple values of preservation. This presentation will share findings from around the U.S. and elsewhere on how historic buildings, neighborhoods and policies benefit a community.

Dr. Donovan Rypkema is president of Heritage Strategies International and principal of PlaceEconomics. Working at the nexus of historic preservation and economic development, he has undertaken assignments in 49 U.S. states and more than 50 countries. Recent projects include a study of the impact of historic preservation in Phoenix, recommendations for incentives for modern heritage in Abu Dhabi, an analysis of the heritage trades in the U.S. and leading a UNESCO workshop on using public-private partnerships for heritage buildings.

Rypkema serves on the real estate market advisory committee of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, the board of directors of Global Urban Development and the advisory boards of the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network and of Doh Eain, a Myanmar-based heritage development NGO. His book, "The Economics of Historic Preservation," has been translated into Russian, Korean and Georgian. Rypkema teaches preservation economics at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received the G. Holmes Perkins Award for Distinguished Teaching. He is also the recipient of the Crowninshield Award from the National Trust, which is the nation's highest preservation award and is presented for lifetime contributions to the field of historic preservation.