# Reconstruction vs. Restoration **URL:** \ **Category:** Programming & Analysis\ **Created:** [October 6, 2020, 2:03am UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/reconstruction-vs-restoration/1969 "2020-10-06T02:03:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mgc71689](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/13.png) [@mgc71689](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/mgc71689)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 2:03am UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/reconstruction-vs-restoration/1969/1 "2020-10-06T02:03:37Z")
Hello, On one of the PA practice exams there was a question asking to identify which scenarios are preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction. The answer defines **restoration** as : “process of accurately depicting form, features and character of a property as it appear at a particular period by means of reconstruction of missing features.” and **reconstruction** is defined as “process of depicting, by means of new construction, the form, features, and detailing of a non-surviving site, building… for purpose of replicating its appearance” I’m wondering why “A badly deteriorated native dwelling is carefully studied and missing parts are replaced with great accuracy” would be **reconstruction** , and not **restoration** , as reconstruction identifies as being _non-surviving_, and restoration identifies as _reconstructing missing features_? Also, the answer provided doesn’t identify the correct answer for “an addition housing a planetarium is being planned for a historic museum” (I think its rehabilitation, but starting to second guess myself) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![monicafitzpatrick](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/1.png) [@monicafitzpatrick](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/monicafitzpatrick)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/reconstruction-vs-restoration/1969/2 "2020-10-06T17:45:48Z")
Hi @mgc71689 & welcome to the ARE Community. You make a good point, let’s see if one of our expert architects can help with this question. @coachjakegroth do yo mind jumping in? ---
**Author:** ![coachjakegroth](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/coachjakegroth/32/126_2.png) [@coachjakegroth](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/coachjakegroth)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 2:16pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/reconstruction-vs-restoration/1969/3 "2020-10-07T14:16:45Z")
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**Author:** ![mgc71689](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/13.png) [@mgc71689](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/mgc71689)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/reconstruction-vs-restoration/1969/4 "2020-10-11T21:07:20Z")
Thanks for your response. I’m confused though, as I was under the impression that reconstruction is used when a building is lost - indicating the need for new construction of it? That’s what one of the answers to an exam question indicated (reconstruction = “using photos to rebuilt lost building”) ---
**Author:** ![coachjakegroth](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/coachjakegroth/32/126_2.png) [@coachjakegroth](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/coachjakegroth)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/reconstruction-vs-restoration/1969/5 "2020-10-13T17:00:41Z")
@mgc71689 I have reviewed the question and your skepticism above to my original answer. Thank you very much for being critical and wanting to better understand. I have removed my response as I believe you are indeed correct. The answers appear to be flip-flopped. Most certainly a better answer description is needed. I am using the information from [here](https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/treatment-guidelines-2017.pdf) to come to this conclusion. @monicafitzpatrick can we have an additional coach review this question? ---
**Author:** ![adamb](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/14.png) [@adamb](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/adamb)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/reconstruction-vs-restoration/1969/8 "2025-11-11T15:42:27Z")
Any new updates on this question? ---
**Author:** ![kiaragalicinao](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/kiaragalicinao/32/1607_2.png) [@kiaragalicinao](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/kiaragalicinao)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/reconstruction-vs-restoration/1969/9 "2025-11-25T19:12:46Z")
@adamb Thanks for resurfacing this great topic! The key distinction the exam makes is whether the structure still meaningfully survives. **Restoration** applies when a building is largely intact and you’re returning it to a specific historic period, even if you reconstruct some missing features. **Reconstruction** is used when the building is _so deteriorated_ that major portions must be rebuilt with new construction—functionally treating it as a non-surviving structure. I’m not sure exactly which practice question the original poster is referring to. If you have the item ID (5-7 digit code at the bottom right of the question screen) handy, I’m happy to look into this further with additional context. Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB Product Coordinator **[Black Spectacles](https://www.blackspectacles.com/en-us/)** ---
**Author:** ![adamb](https://blackspectacles.com/uploads/images/14.png) [@adamb](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/adamb)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/reconstruction-vs-restoration/1969/10 "2026-04-07T19:25:12Z")
Kiara, I can start to understand this topic more. Another similar and more familiar example, the Roman Colosseum, which is so ‘badly deteriorated’ and missing that you would need to **Reconstruct** , whereas as the Roman Parthenon would use **Restoration** methods for how well-surviving the building is. Thank you!