Our Story

Who We Are

The APT South Asia Chapter is a community of architects, engineers, conservators, and advocates united by a shared commitment to preserving the built heritage of South Asia.

2019
Year Established
South Asia
Region of Focus
APT Intl.
Parent Organisation
Our Mission

Preservation Technology for South Asia

The APT South Asia Chapter (APT-SAC) was established in 2019 as a regional chapter of the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) — the leading organisation dedicated to the science and technology of heritage preservation.

Our mission is to serve the South Asia region through educational and training activities at the local and national level in India, with outreach extending across the broader South Asia region — including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and beyond.

We bring together professionals from architecture, engineering, conservation science, and the humanities, creating a cross-disciplinary community focused on the challenges and opportunities unique to South Asian built heritage.

Education & Training
Workshops, seminars, and training programs that build hands-on capacity in preservation technology and heritage documentation.
Technical Research
Advancing knowledge in preservation engineering, traditional building materials, and conservation science suited to South Asia.
Regional Outreach
Connecting professionals across South Asia through publications, podcasts, and events — building a network beyond borders.
Advocacy
Promoting policies and practices that support the long-term stewardship of South Asia's rich and diverse built environment.
Leadership

Meet the Board

Our board brings together expertise spanning conservation engineering, historic preservation architecture, preservation planning, and heritage advocacy — united by deep roots in South Asian heritage.

Khushi Shah Board Member

Khushi Shah

Conservation Engineer · Director, Khushtar Heritage Collective

Khushi is a conservation engineer, heritage enthusiast, and a keen researcher. She is the director of Khushtar Heritage Collective, an organisation that works to engage youth in the field of heritage conservation, and the founder of Indian Heritage, a social media platform promoting the rich and diverse heritage of India.

She was selected as the APT Student Scholar for the conference Preservation Beyond Politics, and was the recipient of the Martin Weaver Research Scholarship for her research on the conservation of Pol houses of Ahmedabad. She has also served as the Wiki World Heritage Coordinator at Wiki World Heritage.

She is associated with several heritage organisations including ICOMOS, ISCARSAH, APT, ESACH, EUROPA NOSTRA, and ASCE.

Conservation Engineering ICOMOS Heritage Research APT Scholar
Michael A. Tomlan Board Member

Michael A. Tomlan

Historic Preservation Planning · Cornell University

Michael directs the graduate program in Historic Preservation Planning at Cornell University and serves as a member of the Baker Program in Real Estate. He chairs the board of Yosothor, Cambodia, and serves as project director for the National Council for Preservation Education, and president of Historic Urban Plans, Inc., Ithaca.

He served for a decade as chair of the Senior Board of Advisers to the Global Heritage Fund, reviewing conservation projects across Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. His book Historic Preservation: Caring for Our Expanding Legacy (Springer, 2015) is widely referenced in the field.

Cornell University Preservation Planning Global Heritage Fund
Urmila Srinivasan Board Member

Urmila Srinivasan

AIA, LEED AP BD+C · Architect, Historic Preservation · Dallas, TX

Born and raised in India, Urmila is a licensed architect in Texas specialising in historic condition assessments, exterior envelope restorations, and rehabilitation projects. She holds an MS in Architecture (History and Theory) from Texas A&M University and a Master of Architecture–Historic Preservation from the University of Texas at Austin.

An active APT member, she currently chairs the AIA Houston Historic Resources Committee and previously served as Commissioner for the Houston Archeological and Historical Commission for five years. Her journey into architecture was inspired by a deep love of travel, hands-on work, and history.

Historic Preservation Treanor Architects AIA Houston
Expert Guidance

Our Advisor

DG Advisor

Divay Gupta

Heritage Conservation & Management Expert · Fulbright Scholar

Divay is a Heritage Conservation & Management expert with more than 25 years of experience. He headed the Architectural Heritage Division of INTACH, New Delhi until March 2023. An alumni of ICCROM, the University of Birmingham, and the School of Planning & Architecture, he has contributed to prestigious projects across the UK, USA, India, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Cambodia.

His restoration projects in Ladakh have won the SA UNESCO Awards of Merit & Excellence. He serves as a member of the ICC PV Government of Cambodia, the National Culture Fund, and the Advisory Committee on World Heritage Matters to ASI, Government of India. He was a visiting faculty member at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania 2023–2025.

INTACH ICCROM Fulbright Scholar UNESCO Awards Univ. of Pennsylvania ASI Advisor