AnnBehaArchitects Wellesley College Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall
AnnBehaArchitects Ann Beha Architects comprehensive renovation and restoration of the Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall at Wellesley College has rejuvenated and restored a special College resource. Alumnae Hall did not meet the needs of contemporary performance or College gatherings, compromised by poor sightlines, acoustics, accessibility, and no lobby or rehearsal spaces. Alumnae Hall now serves new audiences and programs, reflects the College s commitment to its historic resources, and integrates contemporary design and new academic and community programming within the historic setting. What appeared initially to be a program of deferred maintenance and code compliance was expanded as new discoveries and opportunities in the building were revealed, and enthusiasm for their revitalization grew. The accomplishment of the project is the subtlety in which many technical and programmatic initiatives were deftly inserted into the renewed historic building. North Entry, Archive Image To provide access and a sorely needed lobby gathering space, the Design Team reconsidered the arcaded portico at the Hall s north entry. The original bluestone floor was salvaged and raised to the level of the main auditorium corridor. New glass panels and doors were carefully inserted into the original limestone portals, providing a well lit and welcoming lobby for arriving audiences. In the auditorium, the floor was re-poured and re-raked, and new staggered seating installed, configured to improve circulation, sightlines, and accessibility. Original wall and ceiling murals were discovered in the attic, and under layers of dirt, their original design and details were revealed. Badly deteriorated, they were documented and recreated, and their original pastel colors reinstated. Long concealed round clerestory windows were re-opened, and bathe the interior with filtered daylight necessary to maintain theater lighting conditions, but still revealing the beautiful landscape beyond. Original glass and brass chandeliers were refurbished, supplemented with energy efficient accent lighting. Onstage, new rigging, theatre lighting, and audio-visual systems support lectures and theatrical productions, and new backstage facilities were devised by redeploying found spaces as a green room, a costume shop, small dressing rooms, and a new scene shop. Above all, the acoustic performance of the auditorium, the rehearsal spaces, and other performers spaces were dramatically improved through the hidden installation of acoustic barriers and double walls, and many careful design decisions about new routing for systems and plenums. Original Rendering On the lower level, the formal ballroom was redesigned as a flexible, multi-functional rehearsal and events space, acoustically treating areas for concurrent use. A simple divider wall was custom finished, and integrated into the coffered ceiling to subdivide the space as needed. The original marbleized columns, hardwood floor, paneled walls and coffered ceilings, original light fixtures and multi-paned French doors were also restored. To better serve the College s Theatre Studies program, the Black Box Theatre now includes a welcoming entry, box office and lobby, displaying information about the College s theatre programs. Extensive mechanical and life safety systems were integrated into the once un-airconditioned space with no controls on its original steam heating. The mechanical systems are housed in a new below-grade addition, featuring a green roof and a paved terrace for informal gathering, off the Black Box Theatre. Fore more information contact: Katelyn Cotter Ann Beha Architects Director of Marketing kcotter@annbeha.com SUSTAINABILITY This project is on track to receive LEED Certification, the first such building on the Wellesley College campus As an extension of an existing brownfield redevelopment site, this project includes optimized energy performance through enhanced commissioning and zoning of building systems; automated controls for exterior and interior lighting; re-use of 95% of existing building materials, and stringent construction waste management. The project s sustainable features include new finishes with high recycled content; historic lighting retrofitted with high energy efficiency lamping and controls; incorporation of salvaged materials into new building features; and facilities designed to support the campus-wide transportation network. 33 Kingston Street Boston, MA 02111 T 617.338.3000 annbeha.com
EXISTING CONDITIONS Designed by Cram and Ferguson in 1923, Alumnae Hall once hosted reunions, College convocations, performances, and social events, but it was eclipsed by a new student center, and left underutilized. Its finishes, systems, and resources were sorely outdated. The original Jacobean style building features a brick and limestone exterior and vaulted interior, with recently rediscovered hand painted decorative wall and ceiling murals in the 1,000 seat auditorium.
Restored Auditorium Expanded Scene Shop Flexible Rehearsal / Events Space Restored Lobby New Mechanical Room / Green Roof Building Section Proposed Accessible Route w/adjusted Doors (all existing to remain doors to be upgraded with code-compliant hardware) Lobby / Vestibule Black Box Lobby Corridor / Gallery Green Room Corridor / Gallery Office Auditorium New Mech. Room Black Box Theatre Scene Shop Flexible Rehearsal / Events Space Lobby Conference Room Dressing Rooms Office First Floor Diana Chapman Walsh 66 Alumnae Hall Second Floor (Third Floor includes Balcony, Costume Shop and Offices) AnnBehaArchitects 1
Restored Auditorium: The new color scheme combines the original cream palette with a gold and red scheme.
The Upper Lunettes were Reopened and Restored: With theatrical scrim, they allow filtered light into the auditorium. Restored Auditorium Details Original Ceiling and Wall Murals were Repainted and Reinstalled
New Lobby and Vestibule: The vestibule provides a new lobby and gathering space for performance audiences. Alumnae Achievement Awards Gallery Below-Grade Addition: Adjacent to the Black Box Theatre, a new terrace, with its green roof, tops off a below-grade mechanical room.
Restored Lobby New Flexible Rehearsal / Events Space: An acoustic partition system was carefully integrated into the historic space, creating two rehearsal rooms.
Restored Details in Flexible Rehearsal / Events Space
PROJECT TEAM Ann Beha Architects (www.annbeha.com) is based in Boston and engaged in contemporary design and in the preservation and adaptive use of landmark buildings across the United States. Established in 1980, the firm s projects explore the discourse between heritage and the future, and emphasize the power of architecture as a transforming force for communities and campuses. Design honors include awards from the American Institute of Architects, The Boston Society of Architects, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Boston Preservation Alliance, the Victorian Society in America, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, and the Chicago Atheneum. ABA has also worked on academic projects at the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, University of Vermont, Lafayette College, Franklin and Marshall College, University of North Carolina, University of Maine, The Pennsylvania State University, and Bowdoin College. Wellesley College Facilities Management & Planning Peter Zuraw, Assistant Vice President Patricia Byrne, Former Vice President for Administration Kathleen Jones, Project Manager Ann Beha Architects Ann M. Beha FAIA, Principal-in-Charge Scott Aquilina AIA, Project Manager Robert Genova AIA, Project Architect Janelle Kelpe, LEED AP, Project Designer Construction Manager Lee Kennedy Co., Inc. Structural Engineer Gibble Norden Champion Brown Consulting Engineers, Inc. Mechanical Engineer Exergen Corporation Electrical Engineer, Plumbing & Fire Protection R.W. Sullivan Engineering Acoustician & Audio / Visual Consultant Kirkegaard Associates Theatre Consultant Fisher Dachs Associates Landscape Architect Richard Burck Associates, Inc. Civil Engineer Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. Lighting Designer Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting Code Consultant The Sullivan Code Group Graphic Designer Wojciechowski Design Decorative Painter Evergreene Architectural Arts LEED Consultant Environmental Health & Engineering Commissioning Agent Strategic Building Solutions Exterior Preservation Consultant Preservation Technology Associates, Inc Specifications Consultant Kalin Associates Inc Cost Consultant Daedalus Projects, Inc.