Austin Parsons

Assistant Professor

parsons

Email: austin.parsons@dal.ca
Phone: 902-233-3431
Fax: 902-423-6672
Mailing Address: 
5410 Spring Garden Road
Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4R2
 
Research Topics:
  • adaptive reuse of buildings
  • innovative building processes

Education

  • BSc, McGill University
  • MES, Dalhousie University
  • SMBT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Current Teaching (2023–24)

  • ARCH 4212: Building Systems Integration
  • ARCH 5220: Adaptive Re-use

Research/Practice Interests

Professor Parsons has a research interest in both heritage studies and heritage practice. He writes about cultural sustainability, the economics and technology of wood windows, and authenticity. His work contributes both to the academic literature and to preserving and rehabilitating the heritage of Nova Scotia’s built environment. In practice, he is also president of Parsons Lumber Company Limited.

Selected Publications

  • Parsons, Austin. 2014. "The Need to Link the Tangible with the Intangible: The Challenges of Infinite Design Life and Perpetual Maintenance." Conference paper, REHAB 2014: International Conference on Preservation, Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings and Structures, Tomar, Portugal.
  • Parsons, Austin. 2013. "Don’t Repair, Replace: Nova Scotia’s True Divided Lights." Conference paper, Sharing Cultures 2013: Third International Conference on Intangible Heritage, Aveiro, Portugal.
  • Parsons, Austin. 2013. "A Convenient Disconnect: When Heritage Matters." The Griffin: A Quarterly Publication of Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia 38, no. 3: 12–13.
  • Parsons, Austin. 2013. "Conserving Nova Scotia’s Heritage Wood Windows." Conference paper, 2013 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Festival of Architecture Conference, Halifax.
  • Parsons, Austin. 2012. "The Inherent Disconnect Between Historic Wood Buildings and Nova Scotia’s Energy Codes." Conference paper, Heritage 2012: Third International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development, Porto, Portugal.

Selected Awards and Honours

  • Scientific Committee member, REHAB 2014: International Conference on Preservation, Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings and Structures, Tomar, Portugal (2014).