2025 Tech Talk #1

We are back with APT DC's second annual Tech Talk Series! These virtual presentations are a continuation of our annual symposium, this year with a theme of UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS.

**Please note that a webinar link will be provided to registrants a few days ahead of the event.

Chris Steward (GBG Group): Working Around a Millenia of Artifacts: Navigating Unforeseen Conditions at the British Museum, London

Learning Objectives:

• The importance of planning.
• The importance of desk study research and obtaining as much preliminary information as possible.
• Adaptability and understanding of various techniques to achieve desirable results. Within this, the importance of survey technique strengths/weaknesses.
• Demonstrate understanding of how to plan for unknowns.

Having studied geology at St Andrews, Chris has spent many years drilling in various forms. His career began working offshore drilling for oil and gas before moving on land as a geotechnical engineer providing advice for foundations. Following a brief spell with a piling contractor, he has now worked his way out of the ground and work as a Senior Project Manager for GBG. He is in the process of gaining his MRICS qualification (hopefully early 2026) and have been with GBG for 6+ years. GBG specializes in Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) and Heritage Surveys along with material analysis and has offices in New York, the UK, and Australia. Chris has spent many years overseeing investigations at the Houses of Parliament as part of the Restoration and Renewal Scheme (R&R) and the Northern Estate Programme (NEP). Other notable projects have included the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London, The Shell Centre, multiple surveys of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) at NHS properties across the UK, and what was identified as the first “American Construction Technique” at the Ritz Hotel, London. With the large range of building age and techniques, he is well versed in concrete, masonry, timber and steel framed buildings all of which hold unique challenges.

Shawn Beckwith (Tidewater and Big Bend Foundation): South Garden, "The Gift that Keeps on Giving"

Learning Objectives

• The value of performing preconstruction services with the selected General Contractor as a way to "learn" the building to aid with the problem solving when changes occur.
• Using preservation philosophy and existing pathways to install modern mechanical systems in a historic building with intent to retain as much original fabric as possible.
• Using pen and paper, and computer-aided design to take conceptual ideas to fruition in the field.
• Having a venue (as Tech Talks) to showcase real world situations and how seasoned professionals rely on past project experience to arrive at a workable solution when a change event is encountered.