With the support of the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation presents this free educational webinar about the seismic lessons that Washington State can learn from one of the modern era’s biggest earthquakes.

2026 marks the 15-year anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake, a 6.3-magnitude seismic event that caused widespread damage across the city and stands as New Zealand’s fifth-deadliest disaster. John Hare, CEO of Holmes Group—which is headquartered in New Zealand and has offices in Seattle—will share the effects of the Christchurch quake upon the city’s landmarks and historic fabric, then and now, and discuss the changes in planning and policy brought about by the quake.

Washington Trust executive director Chris Moore will discuss the existing URM (unreinforced masonry) landscape in Washington State, including the number of buildings and communities likely to be affected by a major seismic event and the legislative efforts currently underway to enable more seismic retrofits of buildings statewide.

Join us for this important conversation about one of the greatest environmental threats facing the preservation of our communities.

Register Today