Who we are

Since 2005, AMT Labs has been researching and testing architectural materials from all across the United States and Canada. AMT has worked on some of the most prestigious buildings in North America including the West Block Parliament Hill Building in Ontario, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House in California, and the Met Life Building in New York.

What we do

Our scientists at AMT Labs have done extensive research on the chemistry of limestone, sandstone, granite, brick, terra cotta, tile, concrete and concrete block, paints, and coatings. We work with architects, engineers, building owners, contractors, and other construction industry professionals to find ways to make their buildings perform better and last longer.

AMT Labs provides on-site assistance for your construction project including conditions assessments, field testing, specifications, training, maintenance programs, and problem solving.

Here is a list of our services.

The history of AMT

AMT Labs began in 2005 as a collaboration between well-known architectural conservator, Fran Gale, and architectural materials scientist, Courtney Murdock.

Since then AMT has been worked on prominent building preservation projects, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House. AMT has presented its work at prestigious conferences and universities around the county, including Columbia University and MIT.

In May of 2020, Courtney earned the title of “APT Recognized Professional” from the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT). In earning this honor, Murdock joins an elite group of APT Recognized Professionals, including only 18 selected this year. She is also the first person that APT has selected in the category of “Materials Testing.” This title, established in 2018 by APT and the APT College of Fellows, is a formal recognition of achievement by individuals of “expert skill levels… in various fields of preservation technology.”

Courtney has given presentations to masonry professionals around the country on various subjects including the importance of laboratory testing, aspects of building cleaning, and substrate identification. One presentation took place at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Courtney discussed her laboratory testing of Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House textile block. Courtney was also selected to present her paper, "Lithium Polysilicate as a Consolidation Treatment on Limestone," at the 12th International Congress on Deterioration and Conservation of Stone at Columbia University in New York City.

In 2018, Courtney attended the "Conserving Modern Architecture" course at the Getty Conservation Institute. This course provided professionals with an opportunity to gain knowledge about the conservation of modern buildings. Courtney has attended the Southern Regional Cemetery Monument Conservation Seminar and Workshop organized by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training in Natchitoches, Louisiana. During the workshop, Courtney demonstrated cleaning of historic cemetery monuments. She also attended the Traditional Building Skills Institute Traditional Masonry Preservation Workshop in Ephraim, Utah, where she instructed participants in the selection of appropriate cleaners and protective treatments. She regularly attends the annual conference for the Association for Preservation Technology International. In addition, Courtney has completed consulting work on historic projects such as Kendrick Mansion in Sheridan, Wyoming, Old Central on the Oklahoma State University campus, and Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois.

Courtney has a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University at Galveston, where she did extensive fieldwork and laboratory testing.

After graduation, Lucas began an internship as a research and development lab intern for RPM Wood Finishes Group in Hudson, NC. During this time, he helped to develop a test method that utilizes a particle counter to analyze silica particles and determine their correlation with degree of sheen.

In late 2017, Lucas and his wife moved to Lawrence, Kan., and he began working shortly thereafter for AMT Labs while his wife began pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Kansas. As the Project Testing Technician for AMT Labs, Lucas’ work includes evaluating the physical and chemical characteristics of various building materials submitted to the laboratory for the Pallet Tag Program. Additionally, Lucas assesses the performance of chemical cleaners, protective surface treatments, and specialty stain removers as part of this program.