Preserving the Past with Precision: Documenting Historic Detail as the First Step in Rehab
When we step into a historic structure—be it a century-old cathedral or a long-vacant priory—we’re not just entering a building. We’re entering a time capsule. Every pane of stained glass, curve of wrought iron, and hand-chiseled block of stone carries the fingerprints of generations before us. And before a single scaffold goes up or permit is pulled, the first—and arguably most vital—step in any rehabilitation project is documentation.
The Discipline of Documentation
Restoration doesn’t begin with demolition. It begins with listening. At JARIC, we start by documenting every inch of a historic site with obsessive care—like forensic archivists. That means deploying high-definition cameras, aerial drones, 360-degree mapping, and sometimes LiDAR scans to build a full digital replica of the space as we found it.
These aren’t just pretty pictures. They’re architectural records. They serve multiple purposes:
As a baseline for restoration accuracy
As a source of truth in case of structural compromise during construction
As reference documentation for multidisciplinary teams—architects, preservationists, artisans, and code officials alike
The Marriage of Craft and Tech
In a recent project at Sacred Heart in Jersey City, our team used drone footage to catalog the deteriorating lead lines in original stained glass windows designed by master glaziers over a century ago. We combined those visuals with high-res stills and used AI-powered image enhancement tools to detect stress fractures invisible to the naked eye.
For the wrought iron gates—designed by Samuel Yellin—we overlaid current photos with archival ones from published photos in the 1930s. Using AI-assisted object recognition, we were able to see any changes or deterioration.
Bridging Eras with Historical Mapping
To bring these sites back to life with integrity, we also map our findings against contemporaneous documents:
Original drawings
Letters between architects and builders
Parish bulletins, newspaper clippings, and insurance claims
Contracts with stonemasons, glaziers, and blacksmiths from the early 20th century
This archival detective work often reveals original material specs and techniques that are no longer common knowledge. It also helps us justify and guide restoration decisions in front of historic boards and funding partners.
Making the Work Accessible
Documentation isn’t only for us. Once compiled, it becomes a shared resource—uploaded to cloud-based platforms where architects, city officials, craftspeople, and engineers can access it throughout the years-long restoration process.
We build layered maps where someone can zoom into a keystone or stained glass medallion and find:
Photos from multiple angles
A history of its materials and condition
Proposed conservation steps
Context from historical records
This level of transparency and planning avoids costly mistakes and preserves the intent of the original design.
Preservation Begins with Respect
Rehabilitation isn’t about imposing modern taste on historic form. It’s about honoring the intent of those who built before us—craftspeople who worked without CAD software or BIM models, guided only by their hands, training, and devotion.
Our first responsibility is to record their work as faithfully as possible. Documentation isn’t glamorous, but it’s sacred. It’s the difference between renovation and reverence.