Historic Preservation

Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library

AdditionsContextual DesignHistoric PreservationMaster Planning

The 1937 massing of the Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library is a Georgian Revival one and one-half story, tripartite building. The structure’s brick facade, topped with a slate roof topped with domed cupola, was designed by Sanford native, William O. Armitage. A substantial two-story addition was constructed in 1976, connected to the rear elevation of the original massing with a one-story hyphen.

B+W’s project includes removal of the existing circa 1990 entry vestibule and adding a new small entry vestibule with an upward curving cantilevered roof ushering patrons into the 1976 Addition.

The team at Barba & Wheelock has been nothing short of incredible to work with on our library renovation project. Through every step of the process they have been kind, professional, and attentive to even the smallest details we bring to the table. We cannot thank them enough for helping to turn our dream into reality to create a space that will have a lasting impact for our community.

– Nicole Bowley, Interim Director, Goodall Memorial Library

A larger, 636 SF addition will also be added to the rear of the 1979 addition, allowing additional meeting rooms, storage, and staff work rooms. The masonry veneer two-story addition will be on a similar scale as the 1976 addition and incorporates a modern stone veneer, echoing the language of both earlier building sections. The vestibule and new addition’s design are both a product of their own time and will be both distinctive from the 1976 addition as well as the 1937 original construction. The selection of modern, locally produced, masonry materials in compatible colors will complement, but be distinguished from the 1976 and 1937 brick masonry facades.

Minimal work is planned for the historic 1937 building. Exterior work is limited to repointing, minor masonry repairs, and installing new exterior storm windows. On the interior of the library, the 1976 addition’s first and second floors are going to be reconfigured to provide space for a new meeting room that will have its own separate after-hours entrance. A new circulation desk will be installed allowing staff to better meet the needs of patrons. Other added spaces include additional staff workspace, two new bathrooms, and small meeting rooms.

The 1976 addition will also receive a skylight to bring additional light into the second floor. A water feature and interior planting bed will also liven up the second floor space. Throughout the 1976 addition, we will be replacing the existing double hung windows with new awning and fixed picture windows to bring more light into the reading spaces.

The project is designed to be in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Preservation of the historic library building, and Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Structures through modification and construction of additions. B+W has taken careful consideration to design new additions that respect and pay homage to the historic building and to distinguish the new design from earlier construction phases.

Bay Chamber Concerts & Music School, Camden

Adaptive ReuseAdditionsCondition AssessmentContextual DesignHistoric Preservation

B+W worked with the Owner to assemble a mostly local team of landscape designer, civil engineer and construction manager, and augmented the team with expertise in acoustical engineering, structural, mechanical, electrical, lighting design, and interior design.

The site design considered safety for the student drop off zone, but also, changes to make the experience more welcoming overall. Native plants, natural and locally sourced materials contribute to the beauty of the design.

The building addition is contextual yet designed as a modern counterpoint to the historic former church, offering a balance of old and new and signaling the new life that Bay Chamber’s use breathes into this property. The forms tuck neatly under the eaves of the old and set back to allow the historic building to rightfully retain its prominence. The project team worked diligently to find the most cost effective, best looking, sustainable and low maintenance materials to select for the exterior.

When Bay Chamber bought a historic landmark in Camden to house its concert series and music school, the magnitude of the project was not immediately apparent. Through a serendipitous introduction from another arts leader, we hired Barba + Wheelock and the work began to undertake a highly technical and also important architectural statement for our organization as well as the town. Melding a new addition with a 175+ year old former church was in B + W’s wheelhouse. Our new building reflects the mission of Bay Chamber to present traditional classical music while educating the next generation of musicians. Critical to the management and success of this project was team member Tim Morrison. His attention to detail, conscientiousness and patience were invaluable to a project that required tremendous forethought and flexibility. We offer our highest recommendation to the team at Barba + Wheelock.

– Monica Kelly, Executive Director, Bay Chamber Concerts & Music School

Geothermal heating was explored and eventually dismissed when the costs were found to be too high for the payback. A variable refrigerant flow Heat Pump system was selected as the project’s heat/cooling source and the system was designed to allow for solar photovoltaic arrays to be added to the roof later, if desired.

Acoustics play a critical component of the design with wall types and ceiling types designed with isolation clips and added sheetrock and doors with higher STC ratings and gaskets.

The Red House, Sweden, Maine

AdditionsCondition AssessmentContextual DesignHistoric Preservation

A beloved family summer home is being transformed to year-round use.

This project is a Comprehensive Master Plan for The Red House, owned by Nils Johnson and Becky Buyers. The original 5-bay house was reportedly built for Col. Samuel Nevers and his wife, Esther Trull Nevers, in 1805; a 2-bay Ell was added to the house in 1840.

In 1960, Nils’ parents purchased the historic farm and lovingly returning to it with their family each summer. Locally known in Sweden as “The Red House,” in December 2021, Becky and Nils acquired the house.

View progress on this project on the owner’s blog.

Lemont Block, Brunswick

Adaptive ReuseAdditionsContextual DesignHistoric PreservationTax Credits

The Lemont Block was originally constructed in 1870 with retail spaces on the first floor and two meeting halls on the upper floors for fraternal/sororal organizations. Lemont Hall served as the venue for many compelling speeches and events in the 19th and early-20th centuries, including by Frederick Douglass and Joshua Chamberlain.

Prior to this project’s 2019 start, only the three storefronts on the first floor were occupied, the second and third floors had been vacant for over 20 years, and the fourth floor had been vacant for over 50 years.

The roof of the building was also not originally built to withstand the current codes for snow loads. On the fourth floor of the building, plaster removal revealed multiple prior structural repairs to the original structure. The roof ultimately required additional extensive structural repairs.

The current owners bought the building in 2019 and construction began in 2021. Now that the project is complete, the basement and first floors are occupied by three businesses and the upper floors have been converted into four residential units, which were immediately rented. The second floor Lemont Hall was retained/restored for public gatherings.

One of the major design challenges for the project was reconfiguring the interior space in a manner that qualified for Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits, a major funding source for the project. The large meeting spaces in Lemont Block’s upper floors had been inaccessible to the public for several decades, due to code compliance issues such as a steep existing stair disallowing a safe second means of egress, and a lack of elevator. B+W worked with Maine Historic Preservation Commission and the National Park Service to determine the best ways to repurpose the building without destroying its character-defining features.

Other work included installing steel beams to support the roof, adding a sprinkler system, designing a modern stair tower addition, decorative plaster, window, and other architectural element restoration, and residential unit design. One of the residential units includes an intact corner of original decorative plaster wall and ceiling painting surrounded by the restored painted plaster throughout the rest of the space.

This project received a Maine Preservation Honor Award in 2023.

Conway Public Library

Condition AssessmentHistoric Preservation

The Conway Public Library is a circa 1900, one-story, Neo-Classical-style masonry building designed by Boston architect Thomas W. Silloway. The original Library massing has mass brick masonry walls on a raised foundation of gray granite and the window openings have brownstone lintels and sills. The original primary facade was designed with a brownstone portico supported by Ionic columns. The roof is slate, with a clock tower, cornices, cresting and other trim of pressed sheet copper.

It was a moment of tragedy for our institution and remains so today. A truck crashed into our historic building, killing one person and destroying multiple brownstone columns that had adorned our building since its opening, 122 years prior. As the Director of the Conway Public Library, I knew we needed to find a firm to run the repair process who possessed an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the unique characteristics of working on a historic structure such as ours, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Barba + Wheelock is that firm and I can not recommend them highly enough. They have been a “rock steady” partner and have displayed a high level of professionalism and expertise to their craft. Liz Reynolds has been a great partner for our project. Her background fit our needs perfectly and she has displayed great work habits. I recommend Liz and B+W in general without reservation.

– David Smolen, Director, Conway Public Library

B+W’s design phase of the project included research of cleaning and repair products and vetting options for placing the brownstone columns and pilaster that each broke into several pieces. It is preferable to reuse original material wherever possible, but after careful review and discussion about the broken brownstone elements, we determined that attempting to rebuild the columns from the broken pieces would be extremely challenging, have long-term performance issues, and would be aesthetically displeasing. B+W understands that brownstone is not quarried in the United States anymore, therefore they looked into other alternatives including shipping sandstone in from abroad, coating another natural material, limestone, to replicate the appearance of brownstone, and replacing with cast stone columns.

B+W determined the best solution was to have replica columns cast in colored cast stone to replicate the brownstone. It was very important to the client that the columns be replicated in one monolithic unit, as the original, nearly 14 foot tall, columns consisted of one continuous piece of brownstone each.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

AdditionsContextual DesignHistoric PreservationMaster Planning

The buildings at St. Alban’s evolved as three separate buildings serving diverse needs, but without a master plan in mind. Facilities included a turn-of-the century residence that serves as the rectory (the original estate that donated the land), a 1954 church building and a 1970s parish hall. The new plan combines the parish hall and the church in a long-term vision set by the parish to respond to the changing needs of their community.

The solution creates a unified building that is fully integrated and accessible by removing the 1970s parish hall from the site and creating an addition to the mid-century era church for new community uses. This allows parishioners to remain in one building to encourage interaction and provides a primary arrival and entrance to St. Alban’s. A secondary entrance also allows for after-hours use of lower level classrooms. The siting creates space for outdoor play areas for children and contemplative gardens.

I wanted to express our appreciation for the outstanding job that your firm did in the design and implementation of the new building. I was particularly pleased and impressed with the way that you made a significant reduction in the space while retaining the character of the original design.

The impact of the new structure on the parish is truly exciting. Our membership and attendance have risen significantly over the past year due in large part to the attractiveness and enhanced functionality of the new parish hall. Our neighbors are delighted.

–Donald Bonoff, Chairman, Building Committee, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

The new parish hall had to be consistent with the existing structure and sympathetic to the surrounding architecture. The addition also contains a fully-equipped kitchen, administrative offices, larger classrooms and more meeting space. Parking, traffic flow, outdoor spaces, site lighting, storm water runoff, and amenities were much improved. The property was developed in such a manner as to allow for future subdivision should the Owner wish to divest of the residence.

Barba + Wheelock returned about six years after the completion of the parish hall to design and implement a youth room on the previously unfinished third floor, completing the master plan for the church.

Historic Preservation

This project received a Maine Preservation Honor Award in 2023.

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