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Eastern Illinois University Blair Hall
Project of the Year: Renovation/Restoration
A fire at Eastern Illinois University's Blair Hall in April
2004 scalped the 93-year-old building's roof and entire top
story. Subsequent water damage destroyed the remainder of
the building's interior finishes.
After the fire, the interiors were demolished. Because the
roof had already burned, the only major element that remained
was the shell.
Instead of tearing down the building, the university chose to
renovate the structure to better accommodate the university's
growing space needs.
EIU contracted the a design team to create a building that represents
the best of energy-efficient, technologically enhanced teaching
and working facilities within the EIU quadrangle while preserving
and restoring the original 1913 aesthetics.
The goals included the following:
The demolition, design and renovation of the historic facility
in two years.
Getting departmental support for new space configuration.
Keeping the period look of the building and satisfying the
Illinois Historical Preservation Association guidelines while
integrating modern technology.
Fitting new mechanical and communications systems within teaching
and office space where it had not bee previously accommodated.
Adding underground space beneath the west addition for the
mechanical room.
Working within the confines of an old building shell while
meeting the demands of current building codes and laws.
Remodeling a Gem
The $6 million project included renovation, exterior restoration
and a new addition, providing 34,000 sq. ft. of space.
These would house classrooms, the Graduate School, the international
program, grants and research departments, continuing education,
general counsel's office, minority affairs and the Gateway
Offices on the building's first and second floor. The Sociology/Anthropology
and African-American Studies departments occupy the third
floor.
The Gothic Revival building's exterior was made of Indiana
limestone and the interior was wood. Samples of every interior
wood trim were removed to be duplicated during renovation.
Textured door glass was installed in all corridor doors where
appropriate.
No archived photos of the interiors existed to authenticate
past paint colors, so the team developed a palette that conformed
to the period look of the early 1900s and coordinated with
the oak trim throughout the building.
All existing wood windows were refurbished and fire-damaged
windows were replaced with new wood to replicate the original
windows.
Mechanical and electrical systems were installed so that they
did not detract from or infringe on the historic structure.
Conduit and cable trays to meet existing and future electrical
and communications needs were installed. Other new systems
were automated sprinkler systems, display cases, controlled
lighting, Americans with Disability Act accessibility and
energy management control system.
The roof was replaced with a slate look-a-like material from
recycled materials that also were acceptable to the historical
committees.
While the patina on the limestone walls conveys age, inside
form and function are modern. Wireless and energy efficient,
the systems will serve future generations.
Working on a 93-Year-Old Building
There were multiple design and construction coordination
issues on the
project.
For instance, modern air handling, plumbing, fire protection,
electrical and technology infrastructure systems were installed
to meet modern codes along and the expectations of occupants.
Detailed space coordination was necessary to preserve the
building's historical
status and to keep as much of the existing building as possible.
The budget did not allow for an extension of the campus
chilled-water distribution loop to the building, but provisions
were made to accept the future extension of the loop.
Detailed analysis and modeling were conducted to optimize
energy consumption while providing adequate lighting levels
on working surfaces under 10-ft. ceilings. Multi-level switching
with daylighting controls and task-specific lighting levels
were used to meet the use needs as well as the energy efficiency
requirement.
The old, shallow crawl space could not be disturbed during
excavation and placement of the addition's foundation. Placement
of the additional supports and tying the new structure to
the existing one was time-consuming work.
New mechanical shafts were configured and constructed to
connect with new and existing floor-level conditions. Placement
of large ductwork and other systems was placed through existing
masonry-bearing walls-all featuring tight floor-to-floor
dimensions.
Jury Comments: "They saved a beautiful building even
if though it was almost totally gutted by fire. That they
did it in two years is a feat in itself. The decision to
save the building after the fire, rather than demolish it,
showed forward thinking. The redone building is beautiful."
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