Two Preservation Organizations Honor Trinity with Awards

HARTFORD, Conn. – Trinity College’s historic Long Walk, the three-building complex whose $33 million restoration was completed in late August 2008, has been honored by two organizations: The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation and the Hartford Preservation Alliance.

The Long Walk consists of three brownstone buildings – Seabury Hall, Northam Towers and Jarvis Hall – that were designed in the mid-1870s by famed English architect William Burges. The complex is a prime example of High Victorian Collegiate Gothic architecture, and has long been considered the signature buildings on the College’s 100-acre campus. The 81,389-square foot Long Walk, which consists of classrooms, faculty offices and student suite-style rooms, overlooks the quadrangle.

The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation has bestowed on the project its Merit Award in the “Built Environment” category for 2009. The award will be presented at the Trust’s annual meeting on Monday, April 27 at 6 p.m. at the Comstock Ferre barns, 263 Main Street, Wethersfield.

Notification of the award was sent to Tyler Smith and Jared Edwards of SmithEdwards Architects of Hartford, which was instrumental in designing the project and maintaining the historic and architectural integrity of the iconic buildings.

“Particular care was taken to preserve original features of the interiors of the buildings, monumental stonework chimney pieces, wood casework and decorative elements, hardware and fixtures, such as the original cast iron steam manifolds and fresh-air vents and exhaust grilles in each room,” said Smith.

In addition, a dramatic new landscape feature was introduced with the replacement of the 900-foot walkway that runs the length of the quadrangle. The pavement was widened and arced to provide more space for walking and gathering.

“Essential to the success of this project,” said Smith, “was the use of the original design documents and pencil notations recording the field changes completed in 1878.”
In addition, the Hartford Preservation Alliance has announced that Trinity is the recipient of a 2009 Preservation Award. The letter was sent to Sally Katz, director of facilities, who was a key player in overseeing the project and ensuring that it was completed under budget and by the start of the 2008-09 academic year.

The award will be presented to Trinity on May 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the historic Hartford Rubber Works Company, 1429 Park Street, Hartford.

“The purpose behind presenting HPA’s Preservation Awards is manifold,” said Executive Director Laura Knott-Twine. “We seek to raise the awareness of the community to the worthiness of restoring and maintaining their buildings and homes. We work to dispel the notion that only grand and grandiose buildings are of any interest to preserve...We seek to initiate preservation and pride of place, thus encouraging residents to take the initiative to care for their own communities.”

Although Trinity took great pains to preserve the buildings as they were originally designed, the interior is outfitted with contemporary, state-of-the-art amenities.

"This is an honor for Trinity College and the Connecticut preservation community," said Anthony Consigli, president of Consigli Construction Co., Inc. in Enfield, which oversaw the project.  "We are pleased to share this recognition with them, which was made possible thanks to Trinity's vision for carrying out a very complicated restoration of the Long Walk."

Trinity College was originally founded in 1823 on the site of what is now the State Capitol. The campus was moved to its current location in the mid-1800s, with Seabury and Jarvis Halls completed in 1878 and Northam Towers in 1883. Their design was the only commission that Burges accepted outside the United Kingdom.