“Earth, Wind & Fire: Resilience and Recovery”

We invite proposals for presentations, case studies, workshops, and panel discussions for an upcoming symposium dedicated to the resilience and recovery of historic structures and landscapes following major natural disasters. The symposium will focus on the impacts of earthquakes, severe wind events (such as hurricanes and tornadoes), land fires fueled by wind, flooding, and sea-level rise. In addition to exploring best practices, innovative solutions, and lessons learned in safeguarding our cultural heritage related to these events.

Symposium Objectives

To share knowledge and experiences regarding the challenges and successes in restoring historic buildings and landscapes after natural disasters.
To highlight interdisciplinary approaches to resilience, including engineering, architecture, conservation, urban planning, and community engagement.
To foster collaboration among professionals, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders working in disaster recovery and heritage preservation.
To discuss policy frameworks, funding mechanisms, and advocacy strategies that support the protection and recovery of historic sites.

Topics of Interest

Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

Assessment and documentation of damage to historic structures and landscapes
Innovative engineering and architectural solutions for disaster resilience
Case studies of recovery efforts after earthquakes, severe wind events, or wind-fueled land fires
Traditional and modern materials for restoration and retrofitting
Community engagement and stakeholder collaboration in recovery processes
Risk management and emergency preparedness for heritage sites
Policy, legal, and ethical considerations in post-disaster recovery
Landscape restoration techniques and ecological resilience
Digital tools and technologies for disaster assessment and recovery planning

Submission Guidelines

Proposal Format: Please submit a 300–500 word abstract outlining your proposed presentation, workshop, or panel discussion. Include the topic, relevance to the symposium theme, and key points to be addressed.
Presenter Information: Provide the names, affiliations, and brief biographies of all presenters.
Presentation Information: Provide presentation time length estimate. Provide preference of Friday or Saturday morning presentation.
Submission Deadline: All proposals must be submitted by 12/15/2025 (5:00 PM PT).
Notification: Accepted proposals will be notified by email by 01/15/2026.
Submission Method: Email your proposal as a PDF or Word document to wcaptboard@gmail.com

Audience

The symposium welcomes participation from professionals in preservation, engineering, architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, emergency management, government, academia, and community organizations.

Location and Date

The symposium is scheduled for March 13 & 14, 2026 and will be held in Napa, California with both in-person and virtual presentations. The symposium is not limited to WCAPT membership nor the Western Chapter locale. Selected virtual presenters may join from off-site locations and attendance is not necessary to participate. Complimentary symposium admission given to the selected in-person presenters.