Join carpenter Hank Silver for an inside look at the remarkable reconstruction of Notre-Dame’s iconic roof. From hewing oak logs in Normandy to assembling the intricate medieval-style roof trusses in Paris, Silver will guide us through the craftsmanship, engineering, and devotion behind this historic restoration. This talk offers a rare glimpse into the traditional techniques and collaborative efforts across many disciplines that brought the historic cathedral back to life.

About the speaker:

Hank Silver is an American carpenter who spent close to two years working on the restoration of the medieval roof framing of Notre-Dame de Paris. Starting with 600 oak logs, the crew hand-hewed over one thousand beams using medieval-patterned axes, reproduced the 13th-century wooden joinery, and installed the finished frame in Paris. Silver is a member of the volunteer crew, Charpentiers sans frontières (Carpenters Without Borders), whose mission is the restoration of world carpentry heritage and the transmission of the skills and techniques to future generations. 

Silver is a 2025-26 Director’s Grant recipient at the American Library in Paris as he works on a memoir on his experience in the historic restoration of the cathedral.

Photo credit: Rebatir Notre-Dame

Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.

Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.