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APT 2026 Indianapolis conference
The Crossroads of Preservation: Where Industry and Craft Come Together
Indianapolis is known as the “Crossroads of America” for its heritage as a transportation hub, which united industry and craftsmanship, leaving an enduring legacy of design. The city’s industrial history is marked by its growth as a major rail center connecting it to many major Midwest cities and the Ohio River by the 1860s. As a significant automotive manufacturing center in the early 20th century, Indianapolis rivaled Detroit as a hub of automobile manufacturing and design with companies like Duesenberg, Marmon, and Stutz Motor Company being prominent. The discovery of natural gas in the 1880s, just northeast of Indianapolis, saw growth around this new and seemingly unending energy source. The gas boom fueled the growth of glassworks such as Indiana Opalescent Glass, Greentown Glass, and Ball Jars.
The railroad network of the 19th century brought the beauty and craftsmanship of Indiana Limestone to the world. Referred to as “God’s Concrete,” Indiana Limestone has been a reliable and ubiquitous material in the construction of buildings and structures including the Empire State Building, the Tribune Tower, many state capitol buildings, bridges, and monuments across North America. The stone’s beauty and enduring strength are accentuated by the artisanship of fabrication still thriving today with both traditional carving techniques and modern milling methods.
In response to urban renewal and the interstate highway system’s effect on historic resources, Indianapolis’ grass roots preservation movement began in the 1960s. Today, preservation efforts in Indianapolis are not just about honoring the past, they’re about leveraging historic buildings and sites for economic benefits and quality of life. Indianapolis demonstrates best practices on how collaborations between businesses, private organizations, and government agencies transformed vacant industrial spaces into vibrant hubs of commerce, culture, and housing. This conference will explore The Crossroads of Preservation: Where Industry and Craft Come Together in an ever changing and complex market.
TRACKS
Track 1: INDUSTRY: The Impact of Large-Scale ProductionIndustry has shaped Indiana’s history from the steel mills in the north to the limestone quarries in the south. Automobile related manufacturing and prefabricated home production were cornerstones to many communities throughout the state. As industry has changed and evolved with modern technology, an abundance of vacant historic industrial properties have been left behind. This track explores the history of industries that helped shape our built environment, technological advancements in the construction industry, and reuse challenges and possibilities for large industrial properties.
Possible topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Limestone quarries, conservation, and assemblies
- The impact of steel on the evolution of the built environment
- Prefabricated buildings and their impact on historic properties/neighborhoods
- Structural systems and innovation in design
- Innovation and preservation of industrial materials
- Industrial property reuse/adaptation and overcoming challenges in large industrial complexes
Track 2: CRAFT: The Beauty in the DetailsCraft encompasses all the little details that make historic buildings, structures, and objects unique. The art of materials such as stained glass, decorative plasterwork and stone carving are significant in the historic character of many properties, but the unique skills needed to repair many of these materials are becoming rare. This track explores the conservation and repair challenges of materials used to craft details, solutions for the gap being left in the arts industry, and the viability of alternative replacement materials.
Possible topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Stained/opalescent glass production, repair, and conservation techniques
- Terra cotta and fired ceramics
- Decorative plaster
- History and evolution of cemetery design and symbolism in headstone design
- Restoration of sculptures, statues, and architectural details
- Embracing innovative materials and methods to address the gap in historic trades
Track 3: CROSSROADS: Bringing Industry and Craft together locally and worldwideCrossroads can reference the intersection of two main roads, but can also reference decisions with far-reaching impacts. Indiana has a vibrant history of transportation routes impacting the development of the state, including highways, rivers, canals, and railroads. This intricate network of transportation brought Indiana products to the world and global design to Indiana. This track explores the impact of transportation on the built environment and community, and the local, regional, national, and global impact of material and design.
Possible topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Preservation of historic roadways, including masonry paving systems
- Challenges in maintaining historic bridges for modern vehicular use
- Railroad and canal routes and how their loss impacts communities
- Impact of the automobile on city planning, design, and the built environment
- The revival of mass transit and impacts on the future of neighborhood design
- The impact, at all levels, of using local materials
