Wayne CountyCourthouse

Wayne CountyCourthouse

Wayne CountyCourthouse

Scope of Work

Full architectural services

Restoring the masonry and oriel windows at the historic courthouse.

Location

Wayne, NE

History

Wayne County Courthouse, circa 1899

Designed by Orff & Guilbert

Completion

The project is currently underway.

The Challenge

The Wayne County Courthouse, built in 1899, had several issues. The original slate roof had been replaced with asphalt shingles; the grade had risen around the courthouse causing the sandstone to deteriorate; and the east and west oriel windows were constructed of wood and were in desperate need of restoration. Available funds, as often is the case, were limited.

The Strategy

The client set a firm budget not to exceed $2 million for the project. Berggren Architects, working with the client, prioritized the work as follows: (1) Replace the roof; (2) Create a perimeter gutter system around the courthouse to drain water away and expose the first course of the rustic sandstone base water table; and (3) Restore the stone, repoint the brick, and restore the oriel windows within the budget limits.

Skilled craftsmen were pre-selected to assure quality workmanship. Application was made to secure a Historic Tax Credit representing 20 percent of the total expenditure.

The Results

The asphalt shingle roof was replaced with synthetic slate shingles which reduced the cost and closely matched the original slate. The perimeter gutter system exposed the first course of the rustic sandstone base water table without the expense of regrading the site.

The east and west oriel windows were restored to the original ornate trim profiles using white oak clad with 16-ounce copper.

The sale of the Historic Tax Credits will yield nearly $640,000 which can then be applied to the balance of the cost of additional repointing and the copper work.

Wayne County will continue to use and enjoy their magnificent County Courthouse for many years to come.

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Our Process

We listen to you

We are preservation architects, let’s get together and talk about your project. Once we know your ideas, we can start your project in the right directions.

We involve you in the planning

Planning projects is what we do. We’ll work with you to develop the best way to implement your ideas. Our written documents are the road map which is essential to ensuring your expectations.

We make it happen

When you’re ready to implement your ideas, we’ll gather together the craftsmen and women necessary and bring your ideas to life. Architecture is in the details. We will follow your project through completion ensuring all the details meet your expectations.
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