Tuesday, October 21, 2025
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET

Cast stone, precast concrete molded and finished to resemble cut natural stone, played a significant role in late nineteenth and early twentieth century architecture in the United States and Canada. This presentation will clarify the differences between the many different names that have been applied to precast materials, review the different cementing agents that have been used, and explain the significant differences in the methods of manufacture that were introduced in the twentieth century. The talk will explain how cast stone weathers and deteriorates, and review the conditions which warrant repair or replacement, and those which should be considered normal weathering. Richard Pieper will review how cast stone evolved stylistically as tastes in natural stone for architecture evolved, and how this complicates replication for replacement. Pieper’s talk will be followed by a presentation by Douglas Schickler of Essex Stone Works, a precast concrete firm with extensive experience in replicating historic installations. Doug’s talk will review methods and processes of the fabrication process starting from in-situ assessments to shop manufacturing and onsite installation. Doug will cover the steps craftspeople take to provide appropriate replacement pieces that respect the original fabric and are installed to remain in service for decades. At the conclusion, Doug will provide input on things he wishes designers knew prior to starting a cast stone project as well as his input on the future of cast stone.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the historic cast stone fabrication processes.
• Define historic names that describe cast stone.
• Identify typical cast stone deterioration methodologies.
• Implement onsite observations to determine cast stone conditions requiring repair.
• Integrate cast stone fabricator’s requirements into repair design planning.

Continuing Education Credits
1.5 LU/PDH CEUs

Accreditation guidelines dictate that CEU credit is only available to participants of the live program. 

Can't join the webinar live? A limited-access recording of this session will be available exclusively to those who register for the webinar.  Please note, per AIA guidelines, only participants of the live program are eligible for continuing education credits.

Registration Fees

• APT Members: $20
• Emerging Professionals: $15 $0*
• Students: $10 $0*
• Non-Members: $35

* Thanks to the generous support of the Preservation Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, APT is pleased to offer this program at no cost to Student members and Emerging Professional members. Not a member? Learn how to join here. 

Register

Speakers:

Richard Pieper, Architectural Conservator and Adjunct Associate Professor, Columbia University Richard Pieper is an architectural conservator in New York City specializing in the conservation of metals and masonry materials, and the former Director of Preservation for Jan Hird Pokorny Architects. Since 1996 Pieper has served as an adjunct associate professor of historic preservation in the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation at Columbia University. Pieper authored National Park Service Preservation Brief #42, “The Maintenance, Repair, and Replacement of Historic Cast Stone.” In 2022, the APT Bulletin published his article “The Stylistic Evolution of Historic Cast Stone.”

Douglas Schickler, Founder, Essex Works, Ltd. Douglas Schickler is the founder of Essex Works Ltd, an exterior decorative arts fabricator. The primarily focus of the company is in the replication of natural stone, terra cotta and cast concrete replications.  Materials of fabrication are Precast Concrete, GFRc and Plasters. Since Essex Works Inception in 1995, Essex Works has employed draftsmen, sculptors, trade-persons, laborers and artists to provide a durable/believable product for replacement decorative elements in a composite material. Essex Works Ltd has been recognized by the NY Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), having received numerous Lucy G Moses awards, Victorian Society, Upper east side, and Upper west side neighborhood awards. They have worked on over 300 projects throughout the NYC metro area, New Jersey, Philadelphia, California, Korea, Japan and Germany.

Presented by the APT Technical Committee for Materials

Online Educational Content Sponsor	This project has been funded in part by a grant from the National Trust Preservation Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Specifically, in support of growing participation of students and emerging professionals in online programs.