Historic Structure Report, Mission San José Convento
Non-federal partner: University of Texas at San Antonio, Center for Cultural Sustainability
Federal partner: United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS)
Location of project: San Antonio, TX
Principal investigator: Professor William Dupont, FAIA, NCARB
Right: Photogrammetry and mapping of mortars present in the walls of the convento at Mission San José. Image by Sara Rodríguez Jimeno and Alejandra Rodriguez Guajardo
Description of project: The report offers condition assessment and treatment recommendations for the NPS-managed convento structures of Mission San José, one of five 18th-century Spanish colonial missions located in San Antonio, TX. Mission San José has numerous historic designations at the local, state and federal levels. Additionally, it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site—the only one in Texas and one of just 23 in the US.
Employing both state-of-the-art photogrammetry software and color-coded mapping protocols established by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), UTSA researchers are crafting the most detailed survey to date of the structure. The location of every visible crack, every patch of deteriorating brick and biogrowth, etc., is being recorded. Additionally, laboratory analysis of samples taken from the site is under way to determine geological composition of stone and other materials present in the convento. Finally, per NPS standards, UTSA’s report will trace the evolution of the structure’s construction, evaluate its historic significance, and establish preservation objectives to guide future treatment decisions.
Project start/end dates: The project began August 15, 2017, and finished October 8, 2018.
Project cost: $99,932
Project goals: Any changes made to a historic property, such as the convento of Mission San José, are guided by the results of a Historic Structure Report (HSR). An HSR provides information crucial to maintaining historic fabric, authenticity and integrity.
Project success: The project’s primary success has been the level of detail to be found in UTSA’s documentation, a result of photogrammetry software. Researchers 100 years from now will know exactly how the structure appeared in 2018 and won’t encounter as much guesswork as they currently do when examining photos from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Additionally, results of the Historic Structure Report are contributing to the long-term stability of Mission San José: a Park Service engineer has been recruited to assess the structural integrity of the convento, per UTSA’s recommendation.
How project met the needs of the federal partner: The project is helping Park Service staff prioritize treatment projects and determine the most cost-effective allocation of maintenance funds
Student support: Yes
UTSA hired two graduate students and one undergraduate to contribute to the project. Their tasks included archival research, some writing/editing, production of graphics using Auto CAD software, and participating in presentations to the client.