Long Walk Re-Opened
The unsightly fences have been removed, the
construction equipment is nowhere to be found, and the parking lots
on Summit Street are filled with cars. As the spring semester
begins, the Long Walk is once again operational and the Quad appears
to be back to normal. “We have stabilized the situation so that
there is no longer an imminent safety issue,” explains Director of
Facilities Sally Katz. “We have taken the fences down and the
sidewalk and arches are open. We still have a lot of work to do but,
as far as the day-to-day life of the College goes, the Long Walk is
back in business.”
Through the combined efforts of a collection of
engineers, architects, and stone masons, as well as B&G staff
members, the historic buildings that make up the Long Walk—the
original campus structures dating back to 1877—have been repaired to
the point that they are safe to use. Now that the buildings are
secure, the next phase of the project can begin.
That next phase will be to determine how best
to proceed with the major repairs. Katz points out that shoring up
the structures will allow the College to take the time necessary to
make sound decisions regarding future plans for the restoration
project. “The decisions we’re going to make will have long-term
implications for Trinity College. We’re going to take our time and
do what’s best for the institution. There is no quick fix. We want
to make sure we do this right.” She credits President Jones and
Early Reese, vice president for finance and treasurer, for having
the presence of mind to not overreact when the extensive problems
were first discovered. “Their level-headed and realistic approach to
our situation made it possible for the various skilled trades people
involved to do their jobs,” she says. “I appreciate their support
and confidence. Initially, we had to act on a ‘worst-case’ scenario
because of safety concerns—so we put up the fences and put in the
temporary walk—but now that we’ve done the appropriate precautionary
work we can move ahead with a sensible course of action.”
Cracks were originally discovered in stones and
fixtures at various places along the Long Walk during a restoration
project at the Jarvis and Seabury towers last summer. Shifting
stones had created gaps between several of the dormers and the
buildings, and leaks were found in the tile roofs. The temporary
stabilization effort that Katz oversaw this winter included running
steel cables from dormers on both sides of the buildings to the
heavy wood beams that support the structures. Some of that work was
made possible because College Archivist Peter Knapp was able to
locate original building plans, designed by famed English architect
William Burges. Those plans gave Katz and her team access to the
relevant specifications they needed to make suitable corrections.
“The Long Walk is a recognizable symbol of
Trinity College,” says Katz. “These are important, historic
buildings and we should restore them in a way that befits their
stature. In a sense, we are the curators of a living museum and I
feel strongly that we have a responsibility to preserve the
College’s history for future generations.”
back
to top
Return to eQuad table of
contents
|
