Jarosz, Matthew

(414) 229-5686
Arch & Urban Planning 299

Bio

Professor Matthew Thomas Jarosz is best known for his architectural design work related to historic preservation. By combining his teaching and research with his involvement in community preservation projects, he has provided extensive opportunities for students to apply and expand academic learning. His private practice, MTJ Architects, has offered students important hands-on education in the matter of professional preservation activities.

Matt’s students are challenged to understand preservation as a philosophical as well as technical field. His courses and research have included all areas of preservation from public policy, building documentation, heritage identification, preservation guidelines creation, conservation techniques, adaptive reuse, and economic feasibility. Matt has served as the coordinator of the Certificate in Preservation Studies program at SARUP since 2001, a focused area of study for Master of Architecture students. Matt has also chaired Milwaukee’s Historic Preservation commission several times over the past 30 years of service.

As heritage preservation continues to expand throughout the world, Matt has focused his research and teaching interests on the matter of international initiatives and collaborations. While European-based attitudes about preservation are at the core of the program, Asian approaches are becoming an important field-study option for students. Since 1996 Matt has offered summer preservation study trips to Japan and Italy for 3 to 12 credits. These international collaborations have created student and instructor exchange programs with universities in each country and have included building documentation, restoration workshops and design interventions. Currently, Matt is working with Frankfurt University of Applied Science on a preservation/sustainability program with the professors and students of FUAS.

Along with coordinating the Historic Preservation Certificate program at SARUP, Matt also created and directs the Historic Preservation Institute. The HPI exists as an opportunity to extend preservation research and education by providing outreach to community organizations interested in completing preservation work that is traditionally outside the scope of private architectural firms. Private and public organizations throughout Milwaukee have contracted with the HPI to complete a variety of preservation advocacy activities. Through the institute students have been able to earn credits towards their preservation certificate as well as expand their understanding of historic preservation.

Matt’s work with historic preservation organizations outside of UWM continues to expand. He serves on a series of local preservation boards and commissions. He also serves as the Midwest advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which places him at the forefront of the latest developments and challenges in preservation at a national level. Additionally, he serves as parttime Director of the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation, a statewide organization that provides collaboration opportunities for students at UWM SARUP.

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Education

Columbia University, New York – Master of Science in Building Design 1989
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis - Bachelor of Architecture 1984
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis - Bachelor of Environmental Design 1984
Tianjin University, Tianjin China – Certificate of Architectural Design 1982

Research Focus

10 Chimneys National Landmark, Genesee Depot, WI: Measured Drawings and Documentation
Boynton Chapel, Bjorklunden Retreat Center, Baileys Harbor: Measured Drawings and Documentation
Beulah Brinton House, Bay View, WI: Historic Documentation and Restoration Study Report
Adler Mansion, Milwaukee: Historic Restoration and Office Adaptive Reuse
10 Most Endangered Buildings 2010 – Milwaukee: Annual Endangered List and Advocacy
St Mark’s Episcopal Church, Milwaukee: Documentation and Expansion Report
Alano Mansion, Milwaukee: Historic Restoration Report and Expansion Options
Historic Architectural Significance Report and Website, Milwaukee: Internet Website
Frank Lloyd Wright’s American Systems Built Homes House B-1, Milwaukee: Historic Report
Great Lakes Future Center: An Adaptive Reuse of the US Coast Guard Station, Milwaukee
Fifth Ward Study, Milwaukee, WI: A Vision of the Future: A Development Masterplan
Techniques of Building Documentation – Photographs, Autocad Drawings, Laser Scanning

Courses

Arch 391/791 Directed Research: Building Documentation
Arch 497 Japan and the Hidden Order
Arch 534 Japan Foreign Study Trip – Historic Preservation in a High Tech Country Arch
560 Introduction to Historic Preservation
Arch 650/850 Historic Preservation Studio Arch
637/837 Competitions Studio
Arch 760 History of Building Technology