SCW3000 Windows Transform Historic Armory into Student Center

01/15/2019

In 2013, Springfield Community and Technical College in Springfield, Mass., determined that facilities for student life and services were lacking. The college turned to Building 19, a historic former armory in the heart of campus.

About the Armory

Building 19 is part of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, one of 13 National Historic Registered buildings on the college campus. It housed gunstocks from 1846 until it was closed and given to the college in 1968. However, because of the old infrastructure and the many considerations that go into renovating and remodeling historic sites, it sat largely unused for nearly 50 years.

The Challenge

One of the largest challenges in updating Building 19 was its windows. Built as a storehouse for gunstocks more than 170 years earlier, it was never fully enclosed. Major updates would be required to make it an accessible, usable space. And the building is large – 767 feet long and three stories high. The fenestration made up nearly 50 percent of the building’s façade, which meant a lot of windows – 552, to be exact! And due to the historic construction, no two windows were alike, with openings ranging from 10 by 7 feet to 10 by 13 feet.

The Solution

The architect turned to St. Cloud Window and the SCW3000 series to update the windows while maintaining the historical look and feel. St. Cloud Window worked with the National Park Service and the Massachusetts Historical Commission to develop the fenestration, fully enclosing the building while maintaining natural light. In addition, historical louvers originally designed for ventilation were retooled as exterior sun shades to manage and minimize heat.

Today, Building 19 is an accessible, sustainable, and vibrant part of campus life, housing administrative offices, a student commons, student services, a health center, a café, study spaces, a library, and a campus bookstore.