Preservation Academy
Preservation Academy
The Office of Historic Preservation's Preservation Academy offers free classes and workshops for residents interested in all aspects of historic preservation and property maintenance. These regular sessions cover topics like:
- How to take care of old buildings
- Working with the City
- Making buildings more environmentally friendly, and more!
Our goal is to empower the community and property owners by sharing the knowledge and tools they need to take good care of their historic places.
Join one of our classes to further your knowledge and find the information you need for your next project.
Wood Window Restoration Workshop (ticketed event)
A one-day wood window restoration workshop presented by the Living Heritage Trades Academy!
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Registration opens at 8:00 am
Location: Artchitectural – Learning Studio at 1350 E. Southcross Blvd., San Antonio TX 78223
Cost: Registration cost to attend is $25. Lunch will be provided.
Discover the art of wood window restoration in this hands-on workshop designed for homeowners, DIYers, and anyone interested in learning traditional trade skills. In just one day, you’ll get practical experience with basic repair techniques while working directly with window sashes.
Guided by Victor Salas, Master Craftsman and Living Heritage Trades Academy Instructor, you’ll learn how to:
• Identify window parts, assess condition, and perform basic maintenance
• Repair sashes, re-glaze windows, and remove paint safely
• Explore weatherization techniques and preservation standards
• Practice hardware repair, glass work, millwork, and troubleshooting
No experience needed—just bring your curiosity and willingness to learn. You’ll leave with new skills and the confidence to take on your own restoration projects.
If you have a window sash that needs some TLC, bring it along; otherwise, we’ll have one for you to work on.
Financing your Rehab
Need to find the money to do some work on your house? This class Rodney Cabrera from Firstmark Federal Credit Union will walk you through the different options for financing your home rehab. You’ll learn about different financing products available, questions to ask, and what the process includes start to finish.
Breakfast tacos and coffee available. Registration required.
Class will be in the Board Room at the Development Services Building, 1901 S Alamo. Free parking on site. All attendees will need to go through security.
Sponsored by Firstmark Credit Union.
Grow a Pollinator Garden
Native gardens offer many benefits: minimizing landscape maintenance, reducing your water bill, attracting pollinators, and avoiding fertilizers and pesticides. Come learn how to get started, choosing native plants, and what to consider along the way. You’ll learn from David Jimenez, Nature Preserve Officer with COSA Parks & Recreation, Natural Areas Parks.
Class will be in the Training Room at the Development Services Building, 1901 S Alamo. Free parking on site. All attendees will need to go through security.
Historic Architecture of SA
You may have noticed there are lots of historic homes in San Antonio of various architectural styles. Join us to learn the names and character defining features of the common residential architectural styles in SA. You’ll also learn a little bit about when and why these styles came to be in our city. Your guide will be Amy Fulkerson, Senior Historic Preservation Specialist.
The presentation will be hosted virtually on Teams.
REGISTRATION
Historic Preservation 101
Historic Preservation 101
At this class, you'll become familiar with San Antonio’s historic preservation program, why preservation is important, and the benefits it offers to our community. Cory Edwards, Deputy Historic Preservation Officer, will guide you through the various preservation tools and programs used by our department.
Class will be in the Board Room at the Development Services Building, 1901 S Alamo. Free parking on site. All attendees will need to go through security.