After meeting with members of the Richardson-Olmsted Corporation, I was invited to walk the grounds of the complex, both indoors and out. The point of the tour was to inspect the fire damage caused during last weekend's arson. I must say that I was a bit skeptical after hearing that the fire had been contained and there no real set back. Upon walking the Administration Building from top to bottom, I was relieved to find that there was one mid-sized room that had been damaged (that was where the fire started), but the bones of the structure kept the flames from spreading anywhere else in the building.
The building smelled of smoke, but not as badly as I would have thought. All of the woodwork, the tile work, the architectural details, etc. had been spared and looked to be in great shape. Of course there was pealing plasterwork on the walls and on the ceilings. Workers were in the building removing old debris and trashed rugs - something that the corporation admitted should have been done previously so as not to supply any trespassers with arson ammo. That will hopefully be a moot point (!) in the future, as the corporation is taking the required steps to prevent any further break-ins by hiring its own security, double-reinforcing windows and doors, etc.
Slideshow music by Buffalo's own Dotsun Moon
Song: Heed The Warning
The group will be playing at Mohawk Place on May 13th
At one time, the top floor of the administration building was converted to asylum quarters in order to accommodate the need for patients. As you can see in the slideshow, the grand staircase leading to the third floor was ripped out in order to secure the floor, though much of the wood detailing remains. It reminded me of MC Escher's House of Stairs. To think that so many people have tried to get in, when getting out was such an impossibility for many of the 'residents'. You can see where people have actually tried to smash through the concrete door barricades to gain access.
As for the future of the building, it is a promising one. It was a relief to see the stabilization efforts underway. Most of the shoring up is taking place in the basement where massive braces have been installed. There are a lot of visible signs too. Many of the drainpipes, originally constructed within the walls of the buildings (ultimately a major cause of water damage) have been replaced to keep the rain from entering through loose brick and stone work. The vaulting attic, Kirkbride's chapel, the detailed master staircase, the claustrophobic narrow hallways, the massive winding brick stairwells... these features appear to be in great shape. I was especially pleased to see the floors (both tile and wood) preserved.
Nobody wanted to see a fire break out at The Richardson. At the same time, I have a feeling that the event was a bit of a wake up call to take the extra measures necessary to ensure that nobody else gets inside. The flames did burn the massive wood ceiling beams and joists in the room where the fire was started. Had the fire department not arrived so quickly, this might have been a tragic loss and a gigantic setback for restoration efforts. As it stands, this incident was minor. When I asked when we could expect a phase to be completed where Joe-public could actually walk inside and experience firsthand an operational aspect of the complex, I was told that it is a three-year plan to get to that point. For now, the corporation is 100% dedicated to what is being referred to as 'triage'. After the stabilization is complete, a Master Developer will be sought as additional funding partner in order to realize the functionality of the buildings.
Of the $76.5 million allocated to the Richardson-Olmsted Corporation, $10 million is being dedicated to shore up the buildings - that work is being conducted now. The corporation is in the midst of building abatement, ventilation measures, sealing buildings and connectors, installing interior electric so as to install smoke detectors and making roof repairs. The concentration is on the buildings in the roughest shape - even an EB Green building (see slideshow) on the campus has been shored up internally and the dormers have been saved from falling down. Additional lighting measures are also be taken. This summer, along with continued stabilization efforts, work will be underway to create a new South Lawn entry, relocate parking and tend to dead and dying trees.
*A couple of the images in the slide show are from a previous visit to The Richardson Complex, as I wanted to include a couple shots of the fringe buildings. The rest of the images were taken on Friday in order to document current conditions.
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The building smelled of smoke, but not as badly as I would have thought. All of the woodwork, the tile work, the architectural details, etc. had been spared and looked to be in great shape. Of course there was pealing plasterwork on the walls and on the ceilings. Workers were in the building removing old debris and trashed rugs - something that the corporation admitted should have been done previously so as not to supply any trespassers with arson ammo. That will hopefully be a moot point (!) in the future, as the corporation is taking the required steps to prevent any further break-ins by hiring its own security, double-reinforcing windows and doors, etc.
Slideshow music by Buffalo's own Dotsun Moon
Song: Heed The Warning
The group will be playing at Mohawk Place on May 13th
At one time, the top floor of the administration building was converted to asylum quarters in order to accommodate the need for patients. As you can see in the slideshow, the grand staircase leading to the third floor was ripped out in order to secure the floor, though much of the wood detailing remains. It reminded me of MC Escher's House of Stairs. To think that so many people have tried to get in, when getting out was such an impossibility for many of the 'residents'. You can see where people have actually tried to smash through the concrete door barricades to gain access.
As for the future of the building, it is a promising one. It was a relief to see the stabilization efforts underway. Most of the shoring up is taking place in the basement where massive braces have been installed. There are a lot of visible signs too. Many of the drainpipes, originally constructed within the walls of the buildings (ultimately a major cause of water damage) have been replaced to keep the rain from entering through loose brick and stone work. The vaulting attic, Kirkbride's chapel, the detailed master staircase, the claustrophobic narrow hallways, the massive winding brick stairwells... these features appear to be in great shape. I was especially pleased to see the floors (both tile and wood) preserved.
Nobody wanted to see a fire break out at The Richardson. At the same time, I have a feeling that the event was a bit of a wake up call to take the extra measures necessary to ensure that nobody else gets inside. The flames did burn the massive wood ceiling beams and joists in the room where the fire was started. Had the fire department not arrived so quickly, this might have been a tragic loss and a gigantic setback for restoration efforts. As it stands, this incident was minor. When I asked when we could expect a phase to be completed where Joe-public could actually walk inside and experience firsthand an operational aspect of the complex, I was told that it is a three-year plan to get to that point. For now, the corporation is 100% dedicated to what is being referred to as 'triage'. After the stabilization is complete, a Master Developer will be sought as additional funding partner in order to realize the functionality of the buildings.
Of the $76.5 million allocated to the Richardson-Olmsted Corporation, $10 million is being dedicated to shore up the buildings - that work is being conducted now. The corporation is in the midst of building abatement, ventilation measures, sealing buildings and connectors, installing interior electric so as to install smoke detectors and making roof repairs. The concentration is on the buildings in the roughest shape - even an EB Green building (see slideshow) on the campus has been shored up internally and the dormers have been saved from falling down. Additional lighting measures are also be taken. This summer, along with continued stabilization efforts, work will be underway to create a new South Lawn entry, relocate parking and tend to dead and dying trees.
*A couple of the images in the slide show are from a previous visit to The Richardson Complex, as I wanted to include a couple shots of the fringe buildings. The rest of the images were taken on Friday in order to document current conditions.
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"As for the future of the building, it is a promising one."
How so? On what basis can you make such a completely foolish remark? ABSURD!! For DECADES we have had plans, promises, budgets and bluster, and ultimately no action whatsoever.
You must have missed the part where it said
"-that work is being conducted now."
No, I did not.