Additions

Parsons Memorial Library, Alfred Maine

AdditionsContextual DesignHistoric Preservation

November 28, 2022 by

The addition nearly doubles the size of the Library adding approximately 3,000 square feet for adult and young adult reading rooms, a children’s room, circulation desk and workroom, and a public meeting room. The addition solves the need for handicapped accessibility with new on-grade entrances, an elevator, and a relocated circulation desk with an added ADA compliant section. The public meeting room is on the lower level allowing separate, secure, after-hour use.

Leon L. Bean Home & Archive Center Phase 1

Adaptive ReuseAdditionsContextual DesignHistoric Preservation

November 23, 2022 by

Leon L. Bean and his wife, Bertha, purchased the house in 1912 and it remained his home until his death in 1967. L. L. Bean, Inc., purchased the building in 1987, with the intention to create a museum and archives honoring L. L. and the company he founded.

Barba + Wheelock with Malcolm L. Collins AIA, Preservation Architect and Planner, were retained by L. L. Bean, Inc., to prepare design and construction documents for the house and attached carriage barn’s restoration. The project resulted in faithful restoration of the building’s exterior to its 1912 to 1917 appearance. Period features were replicated, including cedar roof shakes and polychromatic exterior color scheme. Other significant features include a new contemporary entrance addition to allow easier accessibility, integrated with a substantial landscape and site changes.

2018 Maine Preservation Honor Award.

First Parish Congregational Church, U.C.C., Saco

AdditionsHistoric Preservation

November 22, 2022 by

A tragic fire in August 2000 completely destroyed First Parish’s historic 1860’s church. The congregation voted to rebuild on their prominent in-town site at the corner of Main and Beach Streets.

Barba+Wheelock and Donham & Sweeney Architects teamed up in a joint venture to design the new 32,000 s.f. building. The new facility includes a 550-seat sanctuary, a lobby/atrium that connects both sides of the church, commercial kitchen, classrooms, fellowship hall, administrative offices, youth activity area and a chapel.

The new church is distinctly modern, yet the design respects the character of the surrounding main street scale. The atrium and steeple mark the center of the complex with the sanctuary and fellowship hall on either side. Modern materials, such as painted metal siding and pvc battens are used on the building’s exterior to create a Gothic Revival wood board and batten appearance. Certain elements, such as the stone foundation, the steeple design, and the use of brackets, evoke the memory of the historic church. The historic clock, which had fortunately been removed from the former church for restoration prior to the fire, was reinstalled in the new tower. The architectural firms, as design collaborators, shared the production of the construction documents.

The First Parish Church is featured in the Images Publishing book, “Houses of God: Religious Architecture for a new Millennium,” by Michael J. Crosbie, 2006.

First Parish Church, U.C.C., Gorham, Maine

AdditionsHistoric Preservation

November 23, 2022 by

This vibrant congregation wished to create an expanded and flexible group of spaces to better serve the worship experience. The goals were to better integrate the choir without creating a distraction from the minister or diminishing the historic integrity and simplicity of the sanctuary, as well as create a flexible chancel area that can also serve as a framework for other activities, such as plays and musical/choral performances.

A small addition (650 s.f.) was added to the sanctuary level to accommodate the expanded chancel, new organ chamber and exit stair. This expansion and reconfiguration of the dais and proscenium arch provided ample space for a 30-40 member choir, elevated choir director’s platform, organ console and all the chancel furniture. The solution maintains a focus on the spoken word, so central to the congregational church tradition.

The elaborate chancel rail disassembles into five pieces, thus allowing the chancel to serve as a stage for performance. A storage space located directly off the choir area provides ample room for storing the choir pews and the chancel rail when an open space is needed.

Memorial windows, previously backlit electrically, were relocated to new outside wall space to achieve natural daylight illumination.

New lighting, interior finishes, and design integration with the organ builder combined with a minimal architectural intervention, respect the history integrity of the space and cast a revitalized spirit of worship and celebration

Gerry Residence

AdditionsContextual Design

November 23, 2022 by

Originally constructed in 1949, Mrs. Gerry’s parents built this house for their young family as a modest, one-story, hipped roof structure with walk-out basement. The property has been a beloved place for family gatherings for over 50 years. The Gerrys wanted to adapt the house to meet the needs of a growing, multi-generational family, creating spaces that allow one to savor the dramatic water views. The challenge was to carefully apply additions that allowed the residence to fit more appropriately with varied vernacular context.

The land drops dramatically from the road to the water’s edge creating two distinctly different sides to the house. By establishing a low eave height and adding a front porch, the public roadside view retains the welcoming and quaint small-scale form of the original house. The waterside reveals all three floors and creates a memorable landmark when viewed from the Harraseeket River.

There are four additions to the first and lower levels and a full second floor was added. These additions expand the living room, reorganize and add bedrooms, move the kitchen and dining room locations, add porches and decks, and retain the hearth at the heart of the house.

Hallowell City Hall

AdditionsHistoric PreservationMaster Planning

November 23, 2022 by

Constructed in 1898, Hallowell City Hall consists of offices on the first floor and basement level with an auditorium on the second level. Working with a local non-profit organization, Rowhouse, Inc., B+W prepared a phased Master Plan for the restoration of this significant landmark. Phase one included interior improvements such as sprinkler modifications, electrical upgrade, new energy efficient (yet historically appropriate) lighting, as well as new exit signs and emergency lighting. Alterations to bring City Hall into full compliance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) included the seamless introduction of an interior elevator and a new entranceway. The original Council Chambers were completely restored as part of this phase.

Barba + Wheelock worked with the City of Hallowell to implement the Phase Two of the Master Plan, which involved the restoration of the auditorium, a complete window rehabilitation campaign and design of a new entrance canopy. Extensive interior plaster restoration was needed in the auditorium. Paint analysis was conducted to determine historic paint colors. Additionally, the sprinkler and electrical systems were upgraded, as well as theatrical lighting for the resident theater group, Gaslight Theater.

During Phase One of the restoration process, the City assumed responsibility for managing the project and Rowhouse, Inc. undertook a separate contract for the Council Chamber restoration. B + W was instrumental in balancing the needs of both clients and maintaining their focus on project success.

The City of Hallowell and Rowhouse Inc. received a Statewide Preservation Award from Maine Preservation, the non-profit preservation organization, for their outstanding collaboration on the restoration and successful public-private partnership.

Additions

2018 Maine Preservation Honor Award.

The City of Hallowell and Rowhouse Inc. received a Statewide Preservation Award from Maine Preservation, the non-profit preservation organization, for their outstanding collaboration on the restoration and successful public-private partnership.

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