UTSA’s Antonio Martinez-Molina is expanding his research on missions preservation.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 — Assistant professor Antonio Martinez-Molina of UTSA’s College of Architecture, Construction and Planning has been awarded a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Interior to expand his research work to include San Antonio’s historic Mission San José, Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Espada.
Funded by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, the grant is part of the National Park Service’s efforts to create new technologies and training opportunities to preserve historic and cultural resources.
“The primary innovation of this project is to simultaneously pursue multiple HVAC design priorities: building and collection preservation and improving indoor environmental quality for occupants,” said Martinez-Molina, who has been collaborating with the university’s Center for Cultural Sustainability on this initiative. “Our goal is to adapt historic buildings to current indoor environmental quality standards without damaging their integrity, allowing them to be admired by present and future generations alike.”
Most historical buildings in the south of the nation require HVAC systems to maintain necessary indoor conditions for artwork preservation and occupant satisfaction and health. These structures were not designed to sustain “forced” indoor environmental conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity that mechanical systems create and could contribute to the deterioration of the buildings.
The UTSA research team is comprised of architecture students Kelsey Williamson and Mayra Landin. The students will examine the potential impact of automated heated and cooling systems on historic stone buildings.
“When we think of historic buildings, the words sustainable or energy-efficient usually don’t come to mind, especially for a 300-year-old building,” said Landin. “Being able to work on this preservation project has allowed me to have a clearer vision and understanding, and with thorough research the merger of sustainability and preservation is achievable.”
The first step of the research will focus on conducting a holistic analysis, using state-of-the-art technology and combining the objectives of collections conservation, building preservation, and indoor environmental quality. Work on the project is expected to begin late this year.
Williamson, who was recently named one of 18 student scholars by the Association for Preservation Technology and National Trust, will present the research findings during the association’s conference in October in Canada. Her presentation will demonstrate the team’s research assessing the impact of the HVAC system on moisture levels on Mission Concepción’s wall surface.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
