14 October – 18th November 2026
Booking is now open for our five-day course in Historic Building Conservation aimed at architects and related professionals working in the fields of conservation, refurbishment and restoration. This course is designed to meet the formal accreditation criteria for the Conservation Registrant (CR) level of the RIBA Conservation Register but will be of equal benefit to technologists, engineers, planners and all construction professionals involved in conservation work.
On projects that are supported by historic building grant aid, the Historic Environment Division – Department for Communities (HED) encourages a formal conservation accreditation for a member of the design team. The National Lottery Heritage Fund also recommends that conservation-accredited professionals are employed on schemes involving historic buildings.
The course programme is based on the ICOMOS Education and Training Guidelines and the format of the Understanding Conservation training website which has been agreed across a wide range of professional and statutory bodies. Full details of the RIBA Accreditation Scheme can be found on the RIBA website.
The course will be co-ordinated by Dawson Stelfox and speakers will be a mix of local and national experts. This is an intensive course of lectures maintaining the high reputation that the previous RSUA courses have held. Please note the course will include a written essay requirement.
Preliminary course schedule
| Module 1 | PHILOSOPHY OF CONSERVATION |
| 14.10.26 | Conservation Principles |
| Charters, Conservation Management Plans | |
| Overview of Historical Styles in NI | |
| Statutory Listing and Second Survey Conservation legislation – Gov Protocol | |
| Module 2 | SURVEYS AND RECORDING |
| 21.10.26 | Surveying Buildings and Building Tour |
| Structural Surveys and Assessments | |
| HERONI and PRONI Sources of Information | |
| Asset Management Systems | |
| Module 3 | INVESTIGATION, MATERIALS & MAINTENANCE |
| 4.11.26 | Stone Identification, Decay and Repair |
| Timber Surveys and Repairs | |
| Maintenance | |
| Case Studies | |
| Module 4 11.11.26 | SITE VISIT DAY |
| Module 5 | BUILDING RETROFIT AND ADAPTION |
| 18.11.26 | Thermal Performance of Historic Buildings |
| Building Regulations & Historic Buildings | |
| Options for Sustainable Refit | |
| Essay Review and Certificates |
Please note the sequence of lectures and topics may vary according to availability of speakers.
