Historic Preservation and Climate Preparedness: Strategies to protect property and community

The Fairmount Water Works is a significant National Historic Landmark for its engineering and an enduring work of architecture that has taken on an iconic role in the imagery of Philadelphia’s cultural landscape, drawing people to the river for over two hundred years. It is also a uniquely adaptable place, allowing a building built for a very specific use to survive and remain relevant to its original purpose and to the institutional legacy of its original founders – what is now the Philadelphia Water Department. Fairmount has proudly survived on the banks of the Schuylkill River, modified continuously as it adapted to innovative technologies and new demands over time. With increasing frequency of major flood events impacting the educational programming and public use of the buildings, the next major campaign is focusing on adapting to the increasing demands of climate change while continuing to preserve its history of tradition and innovation. The durability and original design of the buildings at Fairmount provide lessons and guiding principles for its ongoing and sustainable use. The presentation will describe flood mitigation strategies that were implemented 25-30 years ago during the last major restoration campaign and will consider, after Hurricane Ida, if this is enough for the future.

Learning Objectives
1. Evaluate the effectiveness of flood mitigation strategies implemented during the last major restoration campaign at Fairmount Water Works. 
2. Analyze how Fairmount Water Works has adapted to changing technologies and increasing flood events over its 200-year history.
3. Assess the impact of Hurricane Ida on the current flood mitigation measures and identify potential improvements.
4. Explore the principles of sustainability and historical preservation used in the ongoing adaptation of Fairmount Water Works to climate change.