Choate Rosemary Hall Andrew Mellon Library

Choate Rosemary Hall Andrew Mellon Library

Location Wallingford, CT

Category Education

Focus Area Historic RestorationRoofs

Cupola, Entrance, and Slate Roof Restoration

A gift from United States Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon in honor of his son Paul Mellon, the red brick Georgian-style Andrew Mellon Library was completed in 1926. In 1962, Paul Mellon expanded the library with a new wing. The coeducational private secondary school evolved from the 1974 merger of The Choate School and Rosemary Hall, boys’ and girls’ preparatory schools founded over a century ago. The 450-acre campus includes a number of Georgian buildings, as well as Colonial and Modern structures.

Choate Rosemary Hall retained Hoffmann Architects + Engineers to undertake rehabilitation projects at the library’s slate roof, wood cupola, entrance staircase, and main doors. The challenge was to rehabilitate aging building elements in a manner that repairs or replicates original architectural elements, while incorporating materials that minimize ongoing maintenance demands.

The cupola, part of the original 1926 building, features arched windows with blue glazing and a metal-clad, guilded dome. Hoffmann’s design incorporated liquid membrane waterproofing to improve weather-tightness with a long-lasting, low-maintenance solution. Our design professionals developed a renovation program that included replacement of flashings and ornamental woodwork, as well as lead paint abatement, window replacement, and dome refurbishment.

View Slideshow of the Choate Rosemary Hall Andrew Mellon Library case study

Choate Rosemary Hall Andrew Mellon Library

Andrew Mellon Library entrance, Choate Rosemary Hall

Restored entrance stairs and exterior doors, Andrew Mellon Library at Choate Rosemary Hall

Interior view of restored entrance, Andrew Mellon Library, Choate Rosemary Hall

Exterior stair detail, Andrew Mellon Library, Choate Rosemary Hall

Protecting the architectural character of the building was also a prime consideration at the entrance, where Hoffmann designed and administered rehabilitation of stairs, iron railings, light fixtures, and wood doors while protecting significant historic elements, such as the “Florentine Boar” statue. Custom-crafted railings fulfill code requirements while maintaining the original aesthetic, and massive stone slabs quarried and cut especially for the project replaced cracked and damaged stair treads and landings. Lanterns replaced to match those at adjacent buildings incorporated original, restored ironwork ornamentation. To improve safety, raised wood door panels were replaced with beveled glass units, improving visibility while simulating the design of the original panels.

For a prestigious, selective institution founded in 1890, the history and integrity of its built environment is paramount to its reputation. As the core facility of the school’s academic program, the stately Andrew Mellon Library represents not only the legacy of its namesake, but also the educational promise of the school.

The exterior restoration applies Choate Rosemary Hall’s innovative spirit to the resolution of building enclosure challenges.

Andrew Mellon Library at Choate Rosemary Hall

Andrew Mellon Library at Choate Rosemary Hall overlooks the rolling hills of the storied boarding school