Abstract’s Founder and President, John Lambert, is actively involved in training the nation’s architects, building owners, engineers and other masonry contractors the skills needed to properly restore historic masonry.  He conducts hands-on intensive workshops for the Traditional Building Skills Institute at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah and Bacup, England.  He also provides hands-on historic masonry restoration instruction at The Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies in Mount Carroll, Illinois. 

John travels extensively throughout Europe, helping restore prominent historic masonry buildings and learning from European masonry craftsmen along the way.  He has trained in Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland and France.  Learning European methodology and techniques enhances John’s expertise, and the expertise of his craftsmen in the United States. This ultimately benefits our nation's treasured historic masonry buildings.

John is a passionate collector of rare and historic books, art, and documents written on masonry during the early 1700's through the early 1900's.  He currently owns and maintains what is thought to be the most comprehensive collection available.  Studying from these resources contributes toward learning and understanding about how historic masonry buildings were originally constructed, and how and why the masonry craftsmen chose the materials they did.  John believes that these insights are invaluable.  It is only when one sees through the eyes of the masonry craftsmen of the time that one can develop the reverence for an accurate and respectful preservation or restoration project.