Preserving History and Delivering Sustainability

In some cases, historical value overrides today's requirements for thermal efficiency. An example is the Old Mackinac Point Light Station in Mackinaw City, Michigan. Having earned historic preservation status by guiding ships sailing though the Great Lakes via the busy Straits of Mackinac from 1892 until 1958, when it was replaced by beacons atop the Mackinac Bridge, the Tudor-Revival building required restoration as a historic exhibit. The SmithGroup produced an historic structure report and managed the restoration. The upper and lower sashes of the single-pane windows were removed and fitted with modern brass-spring weather stripping, reports Gregory A. Jones, AIA, the SmithGroup's project manager. Nylon pile weather-stripping was added to the window, meeting rails and sash tops and bottoms. Paint was stripped and deteriorated portions of the wood exterior consolidated with epoxy, sanded, and repainted. In some cases, upper and lower sashes were replicated. Future plans include fabricating wood storm windows to replace the originals.

Window before and after restoration by SmithGroup at Old Mackinac Point Light Station Photographer: Gregory A. Jones, AIA

For other restoration projects, sustainability is one of the primary goals, along with maintaining historical integrity. When the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, an order of Sisters dedicated to eco-justice, hired Susan Maxman & Partners to prepare a master plan on how to best utilize their buildings and land in the future, they requested that all renovations and land uses adhere to the principles of sustainable design. The Sisters also wanted the renovation of their Motherhouse, a significant structure in southeast Michigan, to be a model of sustainable design by including improvement to the energy efficiency of the windows. After an extensive analysis, the choice was made to replace the majority of the sashes. (see Box: The Motherhouse: Examining Sustainable Options for Restoration or Replacement).

The Motherhouse in Monroe, MI before restoration by Susan Maxman & Partners Photo courtesy of Susan Maxman & Partners