Period
1891
Cornell University: Uris Library Preliminary Building Envelope Conditions Assessment
Location
Ithaca, NY
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Cornell University hired MCWB Architects to complete a Preliminary Building Envelope Conditions Assessment of Uris Library that would include extensive information on the building elements, recommendations for repair and cost estimates, including a Historic American Building Survey (HABS) Report that was accepted into the Library of Congress HABS collection.
RESEARCH & DOCUMENTATION
The project began with a three-day site visit where the entire building was surveyed, photographed and scanned to create ortho photographs of each part of the library, allowing the team to survey areas that were inaccessible. Extensive historical research was conducted, and original drawings and specifications were located.
FINAL PLAN
The final 240-page report includes detailed descriptions of building elements, recommendations for repair, countless photographs, conditions drawings diagrams, preliminary cost estimates and a complete Historic American Building Survey (HABS) report as an Appendix. The HABS report included a Written Historical and Descriptive Data section, HABS Measured Drawings and HABS quality black and white photographs. This report laid the foundation for multiple masonry repairs around the Library, and for the repair and restoration of the iconic McGraw Tower.
