“Concrete—the most destructive material on earth.” So goes the dramatic title of a recent  Guardian podcast, launching a week-long investigation of concrete’s widespread use and the consequences. The articles and reactions generated indicate that concrete is reviled, beloved and everything in between. Susan Macdonald of the Getty Conservation Institute will discuss both the legacy and future use of concrete in a lecture presented as part of the Columbia University GSAPP Preservation Lecture Series.

The use of reinforced concrete initially developed slowly, from its early humble beginnings in the late-nineteenth century, as a cheap alternative to stone and brick. Gradually this gave way to large-scale production and use in creating bold, new, innovative and extraordinary structures, securing concrete’s position as the predominant construction material in many parts of the world. What are the implications of this vast concrete landscape? Where does conservation fit in the debate on the future of concrete? Are there implications for how we undertake conservation to embrace wider concepts of sustainable development?

Susan Macdonald joined the Getty Conservation Institute in 2008 as Head, Buildings and Sites, where she oversees over 20 projects that aim to advance conservation practice internationally involving research, field projects, training and dissemination. Susan has a BSc (Architecture) and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Sydney, and a Masters in Conservation Studies (University of York/ICCROM) and is a certified practicing planner. Susan has worked as a conservation architect in private practice in Australia and in England. She has also worked in the public sector where she was involved in a wide range of conservation issues at the strategic and bottom-up level, involving urban planning, development, economics, policy, technical matters and world heritage issues. Susan has as an interest in 20th-century heritage and is a member of the DOCOMOMO International Specialist Technical Committee and a Vice President of the ICOMOS 20th Century Committee.

Thursday April 15, 6:30pm
Virtual lecture, free and open to the public
Register to attend