About
A Firm Built on Respect for Original Material
Preservation Solutions exists to keep historic objects and places intact, authentic, and meaningful — for the communities and stewards who care for them.
Our story
For more than three decades, Joseph Sembrat has conserved objects and places of cultural significance — guided by one conviction: a historic object's value lives in its original material, and that material deserves expert, patient care.
He co-founded Conservation Solutions, Inc. (CSI) — recognized for work on national monuments, public sculpture, and the artifacts of the R.M.S. Titanic — which became part of EverGreene Architectural Arts in 2018, where he served as Principal Conservator. Preservation Solutions carries that work forward, partnering with owners, institutions, and public stewards to assess, plan, and treat each piece with care that honors its history and secures it for generations to come.
Leadership
- 30+ years in art, architectural & artifact conservation
- Co-founder, Conservation Solutions, Inc.
- Past Chair, AIC Architectural Specialty Group
- Conserved R.M.S. Titanic & Carpathia artifacts and two Saturn V rockets
Joseph Sembrat
President & Principal Conservator
Joseph Sembrat is the founder and Principal Conservator of Preservation Solutions, with more than three decades conserving some of North America's most significant cultural heritage — from the masonry and sculpture of Parliament Hill's West Block and Canada's National War Memorial to monuments, glass mosaics, bronzes, and historic artifacts. A Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation and holder of a Master of Science in Historic Preservation, he works fluently across stone, metal, mosaic, wood, and mixed-media, leading complex projects from first assessment through final treatment.
His approach is defined by restraint and rigor — careful documentation, analytical testing, and reversible treatments, with deep respect for original fabric at the center of every decision. Over his career he has earned the trust of federal agencies, museums, and municipalities, making the fewest, most considered interventions a piece needs to survive for the next generation.
Qualifications & recognition
MSHP
Master of Science in Historic Preservation
Formal graduate training in the conservation of historic materials, structures, and sites.
Fellow, AIC
American Institute for Conservation
Elected 2007 — the highest grade of AIC membership, for distinguished, sustained contributions to the field.
Education
Our philosophy
“Preserve original material wherever possible. Replace in-kind only what is beyond repair. Document every decision.”
— Joseph Sembrat, President & Principal Conservator
