Historic Preservation Officer at Latinos in Heritage Conservation
Hillary Morales Robles is a Historic Preservation Officer with Latinos in Heritage Conservation, where she focuses on safeguarding and elevating the cultural heritage of Latino communities across the United States. A passionate preservation architect, Hillary holds a Master in Architecture and Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Environmental Design with a Minor Concentration in Art History from the University of Puerto Rico.
Hillary’s career spans a range of impactful projects. She worked as architectural staff and preservation specialist at Beyer Blinder Belle in New York City, contributing to renowned efforts such as the restoration of Grand Central Terminal and the Equitable Life Building. Her experience includes serving with the National Park Service’s Heritage Documentation Programs, where her documentation of the Simon Bolivar Memorial is preserved in the Library of Congress. Internationally, Hillary collaborated on documentation projects at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aphrodisias, Turkey, partnering with the University of Oxford and the Turkish Government to document monuments spanning the Byzantine and Ottoman eras.
Her award-winning academic work underscores her commitment to community-centered preservation. At UPenn, Hillary’s thesis, "Tactical Preservation for Climate Emergency: Adaptive Reuse of 20th Century Public Schools in Puerto Rico," received The Anthony Nicholas Brady Garvan Award and The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation grant. She was also honored with The Elizabeth Greene Wiley Award for Outstanding Promise and multiple design accolades throughout her graduate studies.
Hillary is driven by a deep commitment to public service, channeling her expertise to protect and celebrate the cultural landmarks that shape communities. She is especially passionate about creating equitable preservation solutions that uplift historically underrepresented voices while fostering resilience in the face of environmental and societal challenges.
Latino communities have long contributed to the cultural and architectural landscape of towns and cities across Ohio, from historic industrial cities like Lorain and Cleveland to smaller, often overlooked neighborhoods. Yet many of the historic places tied to Latino life, labor, and legacy remain under-documented and at risk of loss. In this session, Hillary Morales Robles, Historic Preservation Officer at Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC), will present the groundbreaking Endangered Latino Landmarks Program, a national initiative to identify and elevate vulnerable Latino historic sites. As part of this program, Hillary will also showcase the Latino Roots Tracker, a GIS-based mapping tool designed to document Latino places and stories in real time. Through these tools, Hillary will share lessons from LHC’s nationwide projects and highlight Ohio-based stories that connect preservation with Latino identity, memory, and resilience. Participants will learn about new tools and perspectives that support the inclusion of Latino heritage in preservation efforts. Approved for 1.00 AIA LU, sponsored by Schooley Caldwell.