This course was devised by instructor Paul Falsetto to explore two movements - historic preservation and sustainable design - with seemingly similar goals: to protect/maintain/sustain elements seen as essential to the human condition. A full-bodied investigation explored the relationship between convergent and divergent philosophies and methodologies. Students researched how 'green' is measured, analyzed what those measurements tend to value, and assessed how they might affect historic preservation efforts.

Case studies were prepared, providing real life examples of preservation work conducted with a sustainability approach. For the final project, students worked in groups to apply rehabilitation and sustainability standards to a specific project to better understand their synergies and conflicts. The results of this work should prove useful to students of both the design and preservation disciplines, and shared with interested members of the Portland professional community.