HARTFORD, Conn. — The Long Walk, the colloquial name for the Trinity College building complex consisting of Seabury Hall, Northam Towers and Jarvis Hall, will welcome its first occupants Thursday, August 28, following a yearlong, $32.9 million restoration and renovation.
The three brownstone buildings, which were designed by famed English architect William Burges and adapted by Francis Kimball, are prime examples of High Victorian Collegiate Gothic architecture and have long been the signature buildings on Trinity's 100-acre campus.
"We are the curators of a living museum and we have a responsibility to preserve the College's history for future generations," said Sally Katz, Trinity's director of facilities and a key leader in the restoration project.
Although Trinity went to great lengths to preserve the historic and architectural integrity of the three buildings, the classrooms, faculty offices and student suite-style rooms have all been outfitted with modern-day, state-of-the-art amenities.
"The completion of the Long Walk and its dedication to every minute detail is truly a remarkable engineering and construction feat, one that we can all be proud of," said Trinity President James F. Jones, Jr. "And to think that the project was finished on schedule and on budget makes it that much more remarkable."
Trinity College was originally founded in 1823 on the site on what is now the State Capitol. The campus was moved to its present location in the mid-1800s, with Seabury and Jarvis Halls completed in 1878 and Northam Towers in 1883. Their design was the only commission Burges accepted outside the United Kingdom.
In 2005, during routine repairs, workers uncovered significant signs of aging, particularly around the 88 dormers that line the roofs. It became apparent that it was necessary to undertake a massive restoration of the 925-foot-long complex.
On May 21, 2007, the day after commencement, work began. The architects for the 81,389-square-foot project are SmithEdwards of Hartford; the renovations were undertaken by Consigli Construction Co. The carefully planned and executed project was made possible thanks to the original building plans that were located several years ago by College Archivist Peter Knapp '65.
"Quite literally, Trinity went to the ends of the earth to ensure that the historic and architectural integrity of the buildings were preserved," said Trinity spokeswoman Michele Jacklin. The replacement stone and ceramic materials were gathered from a variety of sources: the brownstone came from quarries in Portland, CT; the sandstone from the Cleveland Quarries in Amherst, OH; the roofing slates from a mine in Monson, ME; and the terracotta pieces from the West Meon Pottery in Petersfield, England.
During the summer of 2007, while renovating the basement of Seabury, workers unearthed a stone, tucked under a stairwell, with the engraving "1825." The stone was discovered to be the cornerstone of Brownell Hall, a residence hall and the last of the three buildings constructed on the first campus in downtown Hartford. The cornerstone has been integrated into the restoration project.
In addition, the walkway has two markers commemorating presidential visits. In front of Northam Towers is a marker noting the 1918 visit of Theodore Roosevelt, and in front of Downes Memorial Clock is a marker pointing out the 1954 visit by Dwight Eisenhower.
The exterior work included:
- Dismantling and rebuilding 88 stone dormers.
- Cleaning of the entire structure and repointing of the brownstone/sandstone façade.
- Installing a new slate roof with 123,000 tiles.
- Removing 900 historic cast iron windows, as well as 300 leaded and stained glass windows, sending them to Alabama for repairs, re-glazing them, and re-installing them.
- Laying concrete pavers and new drainage systems.
The interior work included:
- Returning the residence halls to their original suite layout.
- Removing and upgrading the mechanical, wiring, lighting, engineering and plumbing systems.
- Refinishing and replacing the ash millwork and casework.
- Creating new faculty offices and installing state-of-the-art technology in the classrooms.
- Adding an elevator in Seabury Hall.
Interviews and tours of the facility can be arranged for anyone interested in writing or reporting on the newly renovated Long Walk complex. |
