USC Heritage Conservation Network

MHC/MLA student Sai Gowri Ravikumar spent the summer producing an article on the remarkable work of architect Lutah Maria Riggs, which was recently published by Docomomo US as part of their Places of Worship series. Sai shared the following reflections on the experience:

“Writing about Lutah Maria Riggs was not just research for me—it was a journey of discovery. She was a brilliant architect from Santa Barbara, but her name is often hidden in the shadows of architectural history. In a time when women architects were rarely recognized, she created spaces filled with harmony, proportion, and a deep sense of place. Sadly, her contributions are often overlooked in the history of American architecture, which is why being able to share her ‘hidden masterpiece’ meant so much to me.

Being part of this newsletter was more than an academic achievement—it was a personal moment of pride. It reminded me why I chose heritage conservation: to conserve not only buildings, but also the stories, lives, and legacies behind them. Sharing Lutah’s story made me feel that I am part of something bigger, a movement to honor those who built with vision but were left unrecognized.

For me, it was truly an honor to help bring Riggs’ voice into the light.”

We are incredibly proud of Sai’s thoughtful work and look forward to seeing all that she accomplishes this semester!

Official Docomomo US article by Sai Gowri Ravikumar, “Heaven in Proportion: Lutah Maria Riggs’ Hidden Masterpiece”

https://www.docomomo-us.org/news/heaven-in-proportion-lutah-maria-riggs-hidden-masterpiece

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Join us tomorrow for the Graduate School Open House! 🎓 We’ll be sharing everything about the Master of Heritage Conservation (MHC) program, from our incredible student projects to the ways we’re shaping the future of preservation.

✨ We pave the path to the future by preserving our past! ✨

Interested in learning more? Stop by the USC School of Architecture at 4 PM, our team will be there to answer all your questions!

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This past week, MHC’s Readings in Heritage Conservation Theory course wrapped up How the Word Is Passed by renowned author Clint Smith ( ). 📚

In his nonfiction book, Smith examines the many layers embedded within historic monuments and landmarks, exploring how they tell, or sometimes fail to tell, the story of our nation’s collective history. From Monticello Plantation in Virginia to Blandford Cemetery, Smith analyzes the power of interpretation and public memory, and how these patterns echo in today’s social and political climate. Earlier this year, one of our students, Mel James, had the incredible opportunity to meet Clint Smith at the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference, a reminder that his work continues to inspire and inform the preservation field today.

The class engaged in powerful discussions about how history is shared, remembered, and sometimes silenced, conversations that will continue to shape their research and future site visits.

✨ Question for you: Do you prefer to read physical books, digital books, or listen on Audible?

This past weekend, MHC’s ARCH 556: Cross-Cultural Topics in Landscape Architecture History took using the city as our studio to a whole new level! 🌿 Students in Vinayak Bharne’s course explored Pasadena City Hall and Downtown Pasadena, analyzing how preservation, landscape architecture, and modern design come together to create phenomenal public spaces.

👷🏽‍♀️ Site visits like this give our students the opportunity to step into the field, apply their knowledge hands-on, and experience the living fabric of our built environment.

Interested in learning more about our program?
📅 Join us for this month’s Graduate Open House (October 24) and Master of Heritage Conservation Information Session (October 29)!

📸 Did you know? As part of the USC Master of Heritage Conservation (MHC) curriculum, you can take ARCH 421: Digital Architectural Photography (2 units, offered Fall & Spring)! This hands-on course explores how to see and document the built environment through the lens of a digital camera. Students master the fundamentals of framing, lighting, exposure, color correction, and printing, gaining the tools to capture architecture with both precision and artistry. 🎞️

It’s an incredible opportunity to learn how to read buildings, identify defining features, and document them for future preservation and record use. Check out one of our MHC student’s final projects, which highlights sacred spaces across Los Angeles and the Inland Empire, a stunning exploration of culture, design, and memory. 🌆✨

What’s your favorite historic place in LA? Drop it below! 👇

💻 Interested in learning more about our program?
Join us for our virtual info session on October 29!

✨ This past weekend, USC Heritage Conservation students and faculty took part in the Urban History Conference at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles! Our very own Leslie Madrigal joined an inspiring roundtable, “Telling Herstory: New Approaches to Women’s Public History in Los Angeles,” alongside Christina Morris (NTHP), Victoria Bernal (Public Historian), Andrea Thabet (Colburn School), Meredith Drake Reitan (USC), and Arabella Delgado (USC, LA Conservancy).

Together, these phenomenal activists, historians, and preservationists shared how their work is redefining women’s place in LA’s history, bringing forward the stories too often left untold. 💪📜 The panel sparked powerful conversations on how historians, planners, and communities can collaborate to re-center women in the historical narrative.

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Photo Credit: Mel James

Conference Alert🚨: Kick off this October with excitement by joining our students and faculty at this year’s Urban History Association Conference, titled “Metropolitan Majorities”! Attend the roundtables and panels that will explore urban histories, and don’t forget to say hi to our very own Leslie Madrigal, who will be presenting alongside our esteemed faculty in Friday’s roundtable discussion, “Telling Herstory.”

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This semester, ARCH 556 Readings in Heritage Conservation Theory is off to a great start! 📚✨
Check out our amazing book lineup, highly recommended for all preservation enthusiasts.

Stay tuned for upcoming book reviews 👀…

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Photos:
Book Stack: Trudi Sandmeier
Readings Class: Leslie Madrigal