Mary Jablonski

Mary Jablonski is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Historic Preservation program at Columbia University’s GSAPP. She is also an Architectural Conservator and President of the firm of Jablonski Building Conservation, Inc. (JBC) with more than 25 years’ experience in architectural conservation. She holds an MS in Historic Preservation from Columbia GSAPP and an MA in History from the University of Sussex. Mary Jablonski is a Fellow of AIC and has lectured widely on conservation topics. She recently presented a talk on Architectural Paint Research in Tel Aviv and will be presenting a paper at AIC in May on “Digging Deep: The Importance of Collaboration between Architectural Conservators and Archeologists.”

Jablonski’s firm works on buildings and works of art with a focus on masonry conservation; architectural paint research, field and laboratory testing; construction supervision, as well as building investigations and analysis. The firm projects are award-winning and international. Jablonski has recently completed a finishes investigation at Massey Hall in Toronto, a canopy restoration at the Cooper Hewitt, and a pilot cemetery conservation project in Kingston, Jamaica. Researching materials and understanding how they were used and their deterioration mechanisms remains is a major part of Jablonski’s current projects include the modern 1938 Walter Gropius House with its use of industrial glass and acoustical plaster and a massive timbered 1790 Connecticut Barn on Long Island.

Jablonski has a significant interest in finish studies and is involved in finishes research internationally and the attempt to produce standards for architectural paint research. She co-chaired the 2017 Architectural Paint Research Conference held at Columbia University. She is co-editing the book from the conference that will be published this year.