Human Resources in Canada's Built Heritage Sector: Mapping the ...

HUMAN RESOURCES IN CANADA’S BUILT HERITAGE SECTOR4. Overview of Human Resourcesin the Built Heritage SectorDistinct Sector“The skills needed to restore a building are different from the skills needed to erect it in the first place.Restoration skills are not the same as new construction skills.”Workshop Participant, HalifaxOur point of departure is that the built heritage sector is distinct from new construction and ordinaryrenovation and repair. In many occupations, the skills in the built heritage sector required of professionals,technicians and skill tradespersons overlap with the skills required in new construction and ordinaryrenovation and repair. However, the differences between the two sectors are at least equally important.“Restoration of built heritage structures is completely a different world from regular construction.”Workshop Participant, Montreal• Construction methods, materials, and aesthetic principles may be unfamiliar are markedly different inthe built heritage sector. Consequently, an understanding of the historical context is critical to allaspects of work in the built heritage sector. Without this understanding, irretrievable errors will bemade. Because the construction methods, construction materials and aesthetic principles are different, soalso are the requisite design skills for architects and requisite trade skills for skilled tradespersons.• Conservation is the raison d’être of the built heritage sector. Repair, restoration and appropriateconservation methods are key. By contrast, in new construction, replacement of worn or degradedcomponents is the norm.“First, one must respect what is already there.”Workshop Participant, Montreal• On site customization of components is much more common in built heritage structures than the useof pre-fabricated components. For many construction trades, this implies a shift of work from the“shop” to the construction site. This reverses the trend that has been evident in many trades in newconstruction where greater reliance on pre-fabrication is one of the major methods of achievinghigher productivity in the industry.• In addition to distinct trade skills, the built heritage sector also requires distinct craft skills, such aleaded glass repair and stone carving, which have virtually no application in new construction.• Owing to the need to respect traditional building methods, materials and aesthetic principles, constructionwork in the built heritage sector is more labour intensive and requires longer time frames for completion.Project managers, contractors, and cost consultants who are unfamiliar with the built heritage sectorare at great risk of underestimating the time and resources required and subsequently being compelledto “cut corners” to remain within their planning and budgeting parameters.• In addition to knowing Building Code requirements, professionals, technicians and tradespersonsworking in the built heritage sector must also be familiar with conservation and preservation standards. Ofparticular importance are the Parks Canada Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of HistoricPlaces in Canada. The Standards and Guidelines have a general significance for the sector, but areparticularly important for work that is undertaken on designated heritage sites and on projects thataccess federal support under the Commercial Heritage Properties Incentive Fund. It is also importantfor professionals to be familiar with ICOMOS standards and guidelines and with the standardsadopted by their professional bodies.16©CULTURAL HUMAN RESOURCES COUNCIL