Elicia Garske
South Bend TradeWorks
Elicia Garske is a Program Coordinator at Indiana Landmarks, where her expertise in heritage trades training, project management, and preservation programming aligns with her passion for both preservation and sustainability. Previously, Elicia managed preservation projects for H.G. Christman Construction in South Bend. In a former role as Historic Preservation Administrator for the City of South Bend, she witnessed firsthand the challenges of finding skilled craftspeople specializing in the repair of vintage windows and historic preservation.
Elicia is also the founding proprietor and general manager of Sustainable Retrofitting LLC, a construction company specializing in the repair and restoration of existing buildings. Her work focuses on preserving and rehabilitating the original architectural integrity of structures while conserving naturally sustainable features while integrating additional sustainable solutions during the retrofitting process.
At her home in La Porte, Elicia serves as the Grounds Superintendent for Pine Lake Landowners’ Association, a historic lake retreat founded by settlers in the 1890s. She has also refined her skills as an interior designer and sustainable building advisor through the renovation of three personal residences. Committed to promoting the value of historic preservation, Elicia is a founding board member of South Bend TradeWorks, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing historic buildings and materials. The organization also focuses on reclaiming and selling architectural salvage and offering training in best practices for historic building renovation.
For Elicia’s Fellowship project, South Bend TradeWorks assisted Elicia to develop a summer apprenticeship-style program to connect skilled preservation contractors with local high school, technical school, and college trades programs. The program trained participants in historic window repair, siding repair, floor repair, masonry, and deconstruction. The curriculum paired beginner students with skilled craftspeople to observe and participate in actual repair projects.
This project was selected because preservation contractors are an endangered resource and it is important to cultivate more professionals to better compete with the well-funded replacement industry. South Bend TradeWorks’ innovative project brings together a variety of professionals to fulfill a community-based need to keep the preservation trades alive and most importantly empower people to preserve historic buildings and materials.
In discussing Elicia’s project, Fellowship founder Harrison Goodall emphasized how the Fellowship can help build recognition on important topics in preservation and Elicia’s project is integral to the profession. “The preservation field needs more young and innovative energetic leaders who will make a difference.”
- SouthBendTradeWorks on Instagram
- Sustainable Retrofitting LLC
- TradeWorks Field School Guide Flip Book