Preservation Programs
The Madison Trust's programming provides our members and the public with opportunities to learn about historic preservation through webinars, seminars, and workshops.
These may include best practices for the restoration and maintenance of older and historic homes; how to contribute to historic preservation work happening in your community; discovering more about architectural history; and a better understanding of local, state, and national designation tools and resources.
2026 Architectural Series
Landmarks
Benjamin & Amy Butts house, Madison Landmark #184
Building Community: The Story of Benjamin and Amy Butts
Wednesday, January 21 at 7:00 PM
Learn about the family whose home is Madison’s newest designated landmark. Benjamin and Amy Butts built a life for themselves and also partnered with other early African-American leaders to build Madison’s first neighborhood for Black Americans. Located at 633 E Johnson St, the City of Madison designated this property a landmark on March 31, 2025.
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Speaker Heather Bailey has served as Madison’s Preservation Planner since 2019 and has a PhD in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University. She is currently a board member for the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions. In her free time, she practices martial arts with her children.
Heather Bailey
Wisconsin Historical Society entrance
Preserving the Past, Digitizing the Future: Historic Preservation in the Digital Age
Wednesday, February 11 at 7:00 PM
Historic buildings tell the story of our communities, but preserving them comes with big challenges. This program invites you to explore how new digital technologies are changing the way we care for these treasured places, making preservation safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.
Using real-life examples from historic landmarks around Madison and beyond, you’ll learn how tools like 3D laser scanning, drone photography, and digital building models (also known as “Scan to BIM”) are used to capture detailed records of buildings without touching or damaging them. These digital records help with everything from planning repairs and renovations to meeting preservation rules and creating long-term maintenance plans.
We’ll also look at how these tools support creative new uses for old buildings, help experts assess building conditions, and ensure important architecture is digitally archived for future generations. No technical background is needed! Just curiosity about how we can use today’s technology to protect the past and plan for the future.
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Vince Scalici
Speaker Vince Scalici is the Director of Engineering at TechRENDER LLC, a Wisconsin-based startup specializing in advanced architectural and engineering technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Vince began his career in civil engineering, progressing from an engineering technician to Senior Project Manager over the course of eight years. During this time, he gained extensive experience in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry, working on projects for commercial, industrial, municipal, and internationally recognized clients.
Driven by a passion for innovation, Vince now leads engineering initiatives at TechRENDER, where he focuses on integrating cutting-edge technologies—such as laser scanning, photogrammetry, and CAD documentation—into modern workflows. His work bridges traditional engineering with emerging digital tools, offering valuable insights into the preservation, documentation, and restoration of historic structures.
Garver Feed Mill at dusk, courtesy of Jason Tish, Madison Landmark #117
Madison Landmarks - Why We Do It (plus My Favorites)
Thursday, March 19 at 7:00 PM
Jason will talk about 9 of his favorite Madison Landmarks and the fascinating details about their place in Madison history - plus one that he nominated for Landmark designation. He'll also discuss the big picture of why communities adopt such ordinances, how they're different from the National Register of Historic Places, and how they can be used together.
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Jason Tish
Speaker Jason Tish has worked with historic preservation policies at the national, state, and local levels since 1996. He has worked in the public and private sectors as an archaeologist, architecture historian, historic preservation consultant, and director of the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation. He currently serves as the Certified Local Government and Preservation Education Coordinator at the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office, where he advises Wisconsin municipalities on planning for cultural resources and leveraging them for economic and community development
We are working on a special in-person program for April! More information will be posted soon.
Have Questions?
Do you have questions about our programming? We're here to help!
Contact us at (608) 441-8864 or by email at info@madisonpreservation.org.