In 2018, STGM’s heritage architects came together to discuss issues related to heritage conservation and the growing number of requests for professional opinions regarding the demolition of historic buildings. Already preparing to take part in several conferences and architectural site visits organized by Québec’s Ministry of Culture and Communications, Michel Boudreau proposed the idea of organizing a Heritage Month to create a space for discussion and exchange around topics we considered important and timely. Several other firms soon joined the initiative, generating the momentum and impact we had hoped for.
Now in its fourth edition, the heritage division aims to focus on the contribution of new technologies to the team’s daily work and that of its consultants. While heritage architecture is often associated with historic structures, this field has long since moved beyond pencils and drafting triangles. Material characterization, on-site surveys, and understanding the behavior of existing structures now require—if not demand—the use of advanced tools and sophisticated software. Often insufficiently documented, these buildings have become cultural assets and places of memory, where every available conservation effort must be mobilized to ensure their preservation.
Over the past decade, new technologies for capturing and interpreting information have become increasingly accessible to architects, pushing tape measures further away from drafting tables. Data capture by drone, orthophotography, point clouds, integrated virtual models, WUFI studies, temperature and humidity sensors embedded within walls, drone-based thermography, and many other technologies are now part of the daily practice of STGM’s heritage architects and technologists. While these tools have transformed our workflows and conservation approaches, they have become essential for large-scale projects.
The integration of new technologies into heritage architecture also fosters shared responsibility, collaboration, and a strong sense of fulfillment that comes with working on meaningful, collective projects. The award presented to STGM last week by the Canadian Association of Heritage Consulting Experts, recognizing the work completed at the Louis-Joseph Papineau Manor National Historic Site, is the result of this collective commitment—of a team willing to push boundaries and invest in acquiring new knowledge.
At STGM, integrating new technologies inevitably involves a broader, fully integrated team that extends beyond the heritage specialists alone. By combining the skills and strengths of colleagues across disciplines, an entire team comes together—sometimes over several years—for conservation and restoration projects. This team brings multiple specialists to the same table, whose roles and contributions to the use of new technologies in heritage preservation we will present over the coming months.