PROJECTS

WASHINGTON D.C. LANDMARKS

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CARNEGIE LIBRARY FOR APPLE, 2018

c. 1903 — Window and door restoration and reproduction, 100 doors and windows

I did a paper on this building in 1980 while in architecture school. Then the building had lost purpose, and Mies Van der Rohe designed a modernist masterpiece to house the library's books blocks away. In the 1990's it served as a construction office while the new convention center was being built and suffered a terrible insulating glass retrofit in the process.

When Apple eyed the building in 2016, it was worn, dirty, and unmodernized. The original Carnegie Libraries were of varying build quality. This one was filled with plaster magic coming off a bit too self-possessed, like it being in the Chicago Exposition. We reproduced the main entrances, façade, and clerestory casements throughout.

We did a mock-up to show Apple these 110-year-old windows could be made to operate from a cell phone, but they were not interested. They chose to install double-pane glass throughout. This will work well in the reproduction sash, but I predict seal failure will develop in the large original sash.

The building suffered riot damage a few years later and so we were restoring our own work. See the photos for a concealed cremone of our design at the South entrance to improve strength and keep a clean Apple look.

GEORGETOWN CANAL GATES, 2018-19

c. 1831 original canal construction

What a great adventure this one was. On one side, Clark Construction and the Federal Government, on the other, a team of the best carpenters ever at The Craftsmen Group and our allies at the Cattail Amish Foundry. At one point, the U.S. Park Service made reference to the original spec written in 1830.

We brought a pair of the existing gates to our facility to really experience what were the successes and what were the failures. The existing gates could have lasted another 40 years if they had followed the original design, but the broad leaf yellow pine was treated before, not after, the making of the parts. We built the entire gates (8 total) with joinery and hardware mortices, then disassembled and shipped them back to Culpeper Wood Preservers. When the material returned after a special, longer, higher-pressure treatment, every bit of end grain and every shoulder and rabbet was treated. After assembly, the gates were ready for heavy service.

Great fun and a great fit, there were more gates to build - all the way out to the Beltway! Sadly, however, the Park Service backed away from this specification regarding post fabrication treatment, so we stood down.

Ours are the Georgetown Gates. Watch with me in about 2045 when the Georgetown Gates remain in service and the others fall to splinters.

RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING DOORS, 2018

c. 1962 — Historic door reproduction, hardware procurement, fabricated 110 reproduction doors

CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, 2016-22

c. 1903 — Window and door restoration, hardware refinishing, refinishing of 1000 doors and 3000 windows

DUMBARTON HOUSE, 2016-20

c. 1800

CORCORAN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS & DESIGN AT GW, 2016

c. 1897 — wood and steel window restoration

Three great banking fortunes were made here in the late 19th Century. Mellon, Renwich and Corcoran. All left a valuable legacy in architecture. We’ve had the privilege to work on many of the buildings founded by these men.

I appreciate the site and massing of the Corcoran School, but it captures spaces that are difficult to use and the windows are curiously complex and difficult to service. We restored wood double hinges, steel casements, steel pivots, leaded glass, and there were odd, center pivot wood sash similar to those at the Carnegie Library.

SULGRAVE CLUB, 2016

c. 1908 — Last of Dupont Mansions, historic sash restoration, bowed sash, hardware restoration

CONGRESSIONAL COUNTRY CLUB, 2019

c. 1924 — Steel window restoration, door and hardware, fabrication, and stained glass

TUDOR PLACE, 2017

c. 1815 — Window restoration

PROSPECT HOUSE, 2016

c. 1788 — Window restoration

OCTAGON MUSEUM, 2015

c. 1803 — Rare and delicate pre-Industrial Revolution sash and glass, historic window restoration, reproduction, and hardware refinishing

ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE MCDOWELL HALL, 2015

c. 1884 — Large-scale refurbishment project

OLD POST OFFICE PAVILION / Trump International Hotel / Waldorf Astoria Hotel, 2014

c. 1890 — Sash and jamb restoration, reproduction, hardware cleaning, repair, and refinishing, 1,100 windows restored — Washington Building Congress Craftsmanship Award

A tremendous granite edifice was built in the city’s center in the 1890s, reflecting the power and value of the postal service to culture and country. Amazingly, it was made obsolete just 25 years later when the Beaux Arts Monument was built next to Union Station (a building that we helped in restoring c. 1991). Court records of the time and our on the ground evidence revealed the granite got the lion’s share of the budget and there were problems with the millwork, particularly the window’s operation. We moderns can forget there were neither air conditioning or electric fans in the 1890s. The government sued and it was resolved the builder had to employ a full time window operator!

Protests for the preservation of the old Post Office started in the early ‘70s, where hippies carried play cards with the slogan “Don’t Tear it Down” up Penn Avenue. Doubly ironic perhaps, the government builds this granite monument and just 80 years later it is out of fashion and belittled by technology. Then subversives protest its demise heralding its romance and beauty, and then again the very core of the rich and powerful return to make it their Hotel complete with presidential suite.

We had complete access to the exterior and right up the tower, so it got maintenance for the first time in 130 years. The original glass was streaked and stained so we cut all new 1/4” plate glass to replace it all. Rare for our work, the sash were fixed in position.

I even got a call from D.T. to talk about price during the negotiations. We worked it out and delivered quite a value on this one.

JACKSON ARTS CENTER, 2013

c. 1880 — Historic window restoration and reproduction, 70 school windows

Jackson Arts is an early public arts collaborative, originally a public school c 1890. Some brilliant artists work inside.

This building is proof of the amazing power of the original growth northeastern white pine, a soft wood which cuts beautifully both by hand and machine and is nearly totally resistant to bacterial decay. The degradation of the windows at JAC is among the most profound we have restored. In it’s 120 years I don’t think it was ever repainted! The glass was falling to the ground below. Our restoration put another century on these excellent windows. While decay this advanced requires complete sash disassembly, reproduction parts and reglueing, at least there is less paint stripping. We conserved all the lovely old glass and retrofit our zinc weather stripping so the windows became more efficient than ever.

MARET SCHOOL, 2013

c. 1806 — Pre-Industrial Revolution structure, historic sash and jamb restoration and reproduction — Washington Building Congress Craftsmanship Award

An elite private school, and if you can judge the people inside by the art on the walls, quite possibly the best. This was a great project with folks who understand and appreciate the value of preserving their building.

WWII is the most significant pivot in the evolution of material science and technology. The Civil War was the most profound. The industrial revolution did not begin here until that time, and the building that is now the Maret School was built before that. The architecture feels like Tudor Place. They were built when things were much harder to make. Except for a candle (whale oil and gaslight were not yet commodified), a window was one’s source of light.

It was really fun to restore the arched, bowed sash you see pictured. Rare, delicate, and triumphant for its makers. Glad we helped it endure centuries more!

GSA MODERNIZATION, 2011

c. 1910 — Sash reproduction with insulating, blast glass, 3000 sash fabricated — AGC Award of Excellence

U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY / ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 2012

c. 1910 — Sash and jamb restoration and reproduction

ASBURY METHODIST CHURCH, 2010

c. 1890 — Sash and jamb reproductions, leaded and stained glass

EASTERN MARKET, 2008

c. 1890 — Sash and jamb restoration and reproduction, hardware fabrication

Among Washington's most beloved buildings, designed by the great Adolf Clauss. I think he is Washington's most important and prolific 19th century architect. He started as a communist and carpenter and ended as a republican. In addition to Eastern Market, we have worked on two of his other buildings at the Franklin School and Calvary Baptist.

For me, his great work expresses the civic ambitions of our capital reaching to define itself after the war between the states. The massing, corbeling, arched motifs, and his favored brick create scale and texture that make for beautiful, humane, and enduring architecture.

We worked closely with the city and Quinn Evans Architects in a fast-paced project in the wake of a fire. About 30% of the windows had been made again c 1977. They were good reproductions, exceptional for the time, and we restored them too.

We were still in the original 1200 sq foot alley building near Howard University during the project, and so set up on site for much of the glazing, putty, and paint. The round sash hinge was our own design and making, allowing easy sash removal for maintenance. The muntin profile was a handsome ovolo. We had custom knives made and still use them today.

DUMBARTON COURT, 2008

c. 1910 — Window restoration

EMBASSIES

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Russian Embassy, 2019-20

c. 1910 — Sash reproduction, insulating glass, sound attenuating gaskets and weatherstrips

A fascinating and challenging project from design to complete installation in four months. We developed an insulating glass design to enhance sound attenuation while fitting in traditionally styled in-swing casement windows. We built Sepele Mahogany reproduction sash 2 1/4” thick and installed within them double-laminated 3/4” thick insulating glass with low-e film. All existing hardware was refurbished here in-house as well as the glass and sash manufacture. We look forward to working with the Russians again on this fine piece architecture bought originally by the Czar circa 1913.

Egyptian Embassy, 2002

c. 1907 — Window restoration

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, 1999

c. 1914 — Window restoration with insulating glass retrofit

Our first major insulating glass retrofit into original historic sash. We removed and restored the sash machining them to accommodate 1/2” insulating glass panels. Bonded to their exterior are mahogany components profiled as though they were glazing putty. The sash were returned to their original openings and suspended on counterweights which had to double in size. Twenty years later we have not had a seal or muntin failure.

French Embassy, 1996 & 2002

c. 1910 — Window restoration, reproduction, leaded glass

Since the early 90’s we have done a number of projects at this Kalorama residence, including door and window restoration and hardware reproduction.

RESIDENTIAL

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3126 N ST NW, 2014

c. 1830 — Window restoration, door reproduction, aesthetic studies, siding restoration, and shutter fabrication