Historic Window Renovation at the University of Kentucky
Renovating historic college campus buildings is always a challenge, but when the building houses the campus architects and facilities personnel, it’s time to bring out the A-game! Long-time partners Winco Window Company, the Hunt Dickson Group and glazing contractor Chasteen Enterprises joined forces to bring the Peterson Services Building at the University of Kentucky into the 21st century with a window package that has its discriminating tenants smiling.
The Peterson Services Building serves as the “epicenter“ of the historic University, situated in the heart of Lexington, Kentucky. The building was built in 1949 and houses various University departments, including University Architect & Facilities Planning, Treasurer, Campus Services, and the Physical Plant Division.
Peterson’s façade, especially the windows, needed serious repair and replacement. All the windows were original from the 1940s and were single-paned aluminum milled finish windows. Drafty and decidedly not energy efficient, occupants endured hot summers and cold winters with little protection from the decades-old windows.
Finding the money to replace the 137 windows in the building was a significant financial undertaking. The University of Kentucky takes pride in maintaining the many historic buildings on campus and worked for nearly a decade with the state to obtain matching grants for historic redevelopment. In the meantime, the Winco team took some bold action.
Exploring the Existing Windows Before Replacement
At their own expense, the team carefully removed one of the windows in the building to examine what type of challenges they might encounter. “We were there, hand-in-hand, on day one,” recalls Darrin Chasteen, president of Chasteen Enterprises. “Removing one window and exploring the opening gave us the basis to bid the job correctly, and Winco time to determine which window products would work best. You never know what you’ll find in an older building that may have undergone many renovations. We had no confirmation that the funds would be available, or if our team would be awarded the job. However, by researching the project first-hand, we felt our investment gave us and the University an important step forward.”
Selecting a Historic Window Design and Finish
Many of the University’s academic buildings were built in the 1920s and featured wood windows. Historic window updates on campus are always aluminum windows with a 70 percent Bone White Kynar paint finish. The Peterson building, being built in 1949, had a more modern look and Hunt Dickson proposed an out-of-the-box idea. “The Peterson Building is unique in that it does not hold students or classes and is a mixture of offices and maintenance facilities,” says Dickson. “I wanted a bright wow factor but still needed a classic earth-tone finish with an industrial look appropriate to the building’s purpose. We recommended a black anodized finish and the finished product made a huge impact. The location of Peterson Building makes it a major focal point of the University and the new windows provide a fresh modern look.”
Energy-Efficient Replacement Windows for Occupant Comfort
Hunt Dickson led the window selection process. “The original operable windows were double-hung -and were unique for the era. Winco’s operable 4500S insulated double-hung windows fit the historic look the University required, “ says Dickson. “To meet modern-day energy requirements, we recommended an ultra-neutral Opti-gray glass with Vitro Supercool on the exterior and Solarban 60 on the number 3 surface.
Due to the team’s decades-long relationship with the University, the custom panning system had already been developed by Winco designers. Over the years, Winco has developed “matching” aluminum panning for the different time periods of construction. This made ordering the windows more cost-effective and helped accelerate the timelines.
Improved Noise Control After Window Replacement
With the new windows installed, the occupants of the Peterson Building are enjoying their new temperature-friendly space, thanks to the energy-efficient windows. But the biggest surprise came in the form of noise control. The building sits near a busy downtown hospital, where ambulances rush by constantly. Ringing sirens and busy city traffic made the Peterson building a source of loud interruptions throughout the workday. However, the new windows are so carefully constructed, that they significantly reduce noise coming into the building. “The day after the new windows were installed in my office I came to work and immediately noticed the absence of noise from sirens, traffic, and students,” said one Department Head. “I realized it was completely silent. After opening the window it was evident the sound was still there but not getting through the closed window. We did not anticipate how quiet the workspace is now. It’s a gift!”