The Traditional Building Conference in Cape May was a Day at the Beach!
A recap of our June 2026 Traditional Building Conference in Cape May, NJ.
For Immediate Release: July 7, 2026
Contact: Peter H. Miller pmiller@traditionalbuilding.com
The Traditional Building Conference is typically located in historic settings; Cape May New Jersey, a city on the National Register of Historic Places, was no exception. But rarely does our event venue overlook the beach. That’s what attendees saw, the Atlantic Ocean beach, when the curtain behind the conference podium was drawn between seminars.
The two-day education and networking event kicked off with a lecture by Mark Hewitt, author, historian and architect, who gave an overview of how Cape May established itself as a leader in economic development through historic preservation. His talk cited the work of Cape May Museums, Arts and Culture (MAC) who have helped preserve this 19th century seaside resort. MAC led Traditional Building Conference architecture tours including the Emlen Physick House, “mansions by the sea,” the historic district and the painted ladies and porches, of historic Cape May.
Carl Elefante, FAIA, reprised his lecture, Decarbonizing the Built Environment on the Path to Our Urban Future, based on his book which outlines how historic preservation contributes to carbon reduction.
Dan Harris, Ludowici; Russ Oliveri, Oliveri Millwork; Mike Liebowitz, Timberlane; Colin Coryell and John Petrine, of Kolbe Windows each presented “materials and methods” seminars which earned attendees AIA HSW credits.
Duncan Stroik, AIA, discussed the use of traditional masonry including how-to construction details and busted the myth that “you can’t build ’em like you used to!”
Mac White, AIA, partner in Michael Imber Architects, illustrated ways for improving storm resilience when designing and building new traditional houses on the waterfront.
Breakfast, lunch, and breaks gave participants time to network with traditional building material supplier sponsors and each other.
During the Traditional Building Conference this year’s Palladio Awards gala was held at the storied, historic Congress Hall Hotel. Winners and guests savored hors d’oeuvres and a special Palladio cocktail, Cherry Bourbon Sours on the lawn overlooking the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. Warm weather and a cool breeze reinforced Cape May’s supremacy as a historic summer get-away.
2026 Traditional Building Conference Series Platinum sponsors include:
Aeratis, Allied Window, Cambek, John Canning Studios; Corston Architectural Detail, European Company, Hartstone, Historical Arts and Casting, James Hardie Building Products,, Kolbe Windows and Doors, Ludowici, Marvin, Oliveri, Pilkington, Wilmette Hardware, and Timberlane.
Bronze Sponsors include:
Belt Arts and Design Studio, Historic Doors, Kepco Architectural Cladding Systems, Kuiken Brothers, Sundial Wire, The Iron Shop, Vintage Millwork and Restoration, and Wiemann Metalcraft.
The next Traditional Building Conference in the 2026 Series takes place in Charleston, S.C at 81 Mary Street, November 3 and 4.
