Vassar College

Campus-wide Planning

Vassar College engaged CVM to develop a comprehensive database of envelope conditions and needs on 50+ buildings as part of a long range plan to rationally address deferred maintenance and inform their Capital Renewal Programming. Short-term maintenance strategies are a vital part of this recently initiated program, extending the service life critical envelope systems and components and preserving campus beauty and heritage. A more refined evaluation of database information is enabling the Vassar Buildings & Grounds group to reassess and integrate their science, classroom, and residential master plans.

Building Envelope Restoration
Blodgett Hall

A complete exterior envelope restoration program was performed under a compressed schedule, beginning the summer of 2006 and finishing in the fall. Phasing dictated double shifts and weekend work to minimize impact on classroom activity, especially during the fall semester. Extensive, localized masonry reconstruction included the installation of through-wall flashings in previously unflashed construction. Roofing replacement was accomplished with Vermont unfading green in graduated sizes replicating the original slates; flat roof regions received modified bitumen or EPDM systems.  Steel-framed, leaded glass windows were completely refurbished in place.

The J. Paul Getty Trust
Campus Heritage Grant Recipient 2005

Campus Preservation

Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, Poughkeepsie brewer and businessman, Vassar College was the first endowed college to provide a full and rigorous liberal arts curriculum for women.  Vassar chose the prominent New York architect James Renwick Jr. to design the first campus building, a huge Second Empire-style building patterned after the Tuilleries Palace. Over the next 150 years, the College continued to commission important examples of Medieval Revival, Second Empire, Colonial Revival, Beaux Arts, Modern, and Postmodern architecture, all set in a spacious and verdant campus landscape. With grant funds of $175,000, CVM teamed with Platt Byard Dovell White Architects to survey and document 52 buildings on the campus, with special attention to the preservation issues presented by buildings constructed since 1950.  These efforts culminated in campus lectures, a featured presentation about Schweikher & Elking-designed Chicago Hall, and produced a historic preservation Design Manual.

Building Envelope Restoration
Chapel

In late 2001, when pieces of sandstone were found in the balcony seating area of the Chapel, CVM was retained to perform immediate evaluation and stabilization measures.During stabilization efforts, the Chapel was determined to be in need of long over-due restoration work. Apart from the sandstone repairs, a major concern was the potential risk to the impressive Tiffany stained glass rose window that was surrounded by and anchored into deteriorating sandstone. Moisture and aging had damaged the primary systems of the exterior envelope - the façade masonry, roofing and stained/leaded glass windows.

CVM developed a comprehensive envelope restoration program, phased to begin with solving the most critical life-safety, structural and waterproofing related aspects. The overall program includes complete masonry restoration, restoration of all stained glass/leaded windows, new copper standing seam roofing over the cloisters, and tile roofing removal and reinstallation. Phases of this work were successfully completed in 2002, 2003, and 2008. CVM and Vassar continue to work together to accomplish the complete restoration program over the next several years.