This is a story about how historic preservation helped save an institution and restore a great sense of community pride. High on a hill in the small Marin County town of San Anselmo, California, stood empty stone buildings that looked like haunted castles. These vacated, eerie “Richardsonian Romanesque” buildings, dating from the 1890s (among the oldest buildings in the area) belong to the San Francisco Theological Seminary. Montgomery Hall had historically been used as the campus dormitory, and Scott Hall housed a library and classrooms. During the 1960s, the Montgomery Hall dormitory was converted to faculty offices and occupied until the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Scott Hall, however, had been vacant for decades.

 

After the earthquake, and until the spring of 1997, the buildings remained abandoned and in disrepair. Leaking roofs and walls had caused major water damage. The exteriors suffered from plant overgrowth and fungus (including mushrooms) on the walls. There were voids and cracks in the masonry, and the mortar was improperly installed over the course of numerous building campaigns. Although in a state of disrepair, the buildings contained historically significant interior spaces and finishes, most notably the two-story, domed library space in Scott Hall.

 

In the mid-90s, the Seminary undertook a comprehensive campus master plan to address current programming needs. The master plan team, including San Francisco-based Architectural Resources Group (ARG) and Degenkolb Engineers, found that the campus lacked conference space and classrooms, and that the administrative offices were scattered. Surveys also revealed that students felt the campus had no core, no central gathering place, and no strong sense of community.

 

Initially, rehabilitating Montgomery and Scott Halls was not considered because it was assumed that the cost would be too high for the small seminary. But the ARG/Degenkolb feasibility study developed a creative and efficient seismic strengthening scheme, along with plans to upgrade the buildings to meet space planning and accessibility requirements. The new plan returned a 60s era office building to its original conference use, centralized the administrative offices in Montgomery Hall, and reused Scott Hall’s dramatic library as a student center with classroom and seminar spaces – a “core” for student life on campus.

 

Seismic Strengthening

 

Both buildings were seismically upgraded at a moderate cost with concrete shear walls, collectors, and floor-to-wall ties. Additionally, the two-story domed space in Scott Hall included steel bracing within the roof that was concealed in the mezzanine ceiling to maintain the original central plaster dome. Where floor-to-wall ties were required to be through-wall anchors, ARG designed a 6-inch-diameter cover plate.

 

Exterior Rehabilitation

 

For the stone walls, an extensive exterior survey determined the source of water infiltration, and test panels were prepared to finalize the rehabilitation method. The solution included complete repointing, cleaning, stone repair, and limited stone replacement. The roofs, which had leaked since shortly after the original construction, were replaced with new slate and copper flashing.

 

Interior Rehabilitation

 

The interior design included programmatic changes to the historic spaces to create modern classrooms, meeting rooms, offices, and the student center. The State Historic Building Code was employed to retain existing finishes and features while providing improved life safety features. ADA accessibility was accomplished by installing elevators in both buildings; in Scott Hall, an existing first floor window was replaced with a door, creating an accessible second entry.

 

The programming issues were solved and costs were far less than expected. Alumni rallied around the restoration, and the necessary funds were raised very quickly. By combining thoughtful planning and ingenious seismic engineering, the historically significant buildings were saved and, today, give the campus a center and identity. Recent promotional literature features the restored buildings. Since reopening the two halls, there is a renewed spirit at the San Francisco Theological Seminary – and increased enrollment. In this era, that translates into survival. Also, many of the townspeople now hike around the grounds; the reclamation of Scott and Montgomery Halls has created a very positive public response and restored a great sense of community pride.

 

The project received a Preservation Design Award from the California Preservation Foundation.

 

Owner: San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, CA

Architect: Architectural Resources Group, San Francisco, CA

Landscaping: Studio Green, Mill Valley, CA

Structural Engineer: Degenkolb, San Francisco, CA

Mechanical Engineer: William Mah Mechanical Engineers, San Francisco, CA

Electrical Engineer: Pete O. Lapid & Associates, San Francisco, CA

Acoustical Engineer: Shen, Milsom Wilke/Paoletti, San Francisco, CA

Contractor: Plant Construction

Project Management: Hixson and Associates, Mill Valley, CA

Cost Estimator: PH Waszink Construction Consultant, Sausalito, CA

Photography: David Wakely Photography

 

Architectural Resources Group, Architects, Planners & Conservators, Inc. is a San Francisco-based architecture and historic preservation firm founded in 1980. The firm had been responsible for the adaptive reuse and seismic strengthening of existing structures, the documentation and restoration of historic properties, and the design of new structures that fit into historic surroundings. Well known projects include the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, the Filoli Estate and Visitor's Center in Woodside, and the Language Center at Stanford University.