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
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
*Special in-person program!*
Frost Woods: Wisconsin’s Next National Register Historic District
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Nestled in the gently rolling terrain along the east edge of Wiicawak Bay, the Frost Woods neighborhood began as a cluster of modernist houses for University of Wisconsin faculty in the 1930s and exploded in the 1950s during a post-WWII population boom. Guided for decades by a homeowners’ association, the neighborhood contains a wealth of midcentury architecture, along with the earliest and finest concentration of the International Style in Wisconsin.
The Wright and Ednah Thomas House, designed in 1931 by Hamilton and Gwenydd Beatty, was the first International-style house in Wisconsin. Courtesy of Justin Miller.
The story of Frost Woods stretches back millennia, however, from Late Woodland effigy mounds to Ho-Chunk seasonal camps to a 19th-century white settler who spared an oak forest. Today, careful stewardship preserves this layered landscape of archaeology, architecture, and community planning.
The neighborhood is in the process of being listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This presentation will highlight the history and architecture of the neighborhood and will explore what makes Frost Woods a unique place and worthy of preservation.
Speaker Justin Miller is an architectural historian at UW-Milwaukee Cultural Resource Management, a research center specializing in historic preservation and archaeological consulting. Justin served as the primary author of the Frost Woods National Register nomination, a collaborative process that brought together the Frost Woods Homes Association, the Monona Landmarks Commission, and the State Historic Preservation Office.
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.