Moravian Preservation Master Plan.indb - Society for College and ...

Moravian College • Preservation Master Plan
features prior to removal. If possible,
compare existing conditions with historic
photographs of these features to determine
their integrity.
◦ To re-use dry-laid brick and stone that is
in good condition, remove and carefully
stockpile all paving materials from the area
for cleaning.
◦ Carefully regrade the path or patio sub-base
to allow for positive drainage and ensure
that the feature drains away from adjacent
building foundations.
◦ Reset paving units in a manner consistent
with historic construction methods,
patterns, and appearance, taking into
consideration the modifications that may
be required to meet current Americans with
Disabilities Act standards and guidelines.
◦ Reuse pavers that are in good condition
and place in their historic location to the
greatest extent feasible. Avoid setting
historic brick in a mortar base as this will
limit opportunities for re-using these bricks
in the future.
◦ Brick and stone paths and patios with
failing mortar joints may also be re-used
if the pavers are set atop a sand base. The
feasibility of cleaning these pavers should
be evaluated before deciding to replace
them with new materials.
◦ If new pavers are required, they should
match historic pavers in material, size,
texture, color, and pattern of installation to
the greatest extent possible.
◦ Where only a few new replacement pavers
are needed, these should be randomly
distributed to limit their visual impact.
Views and Vistas
Many of the historic buildings and landscape spaces
within campus were designed to take advantage
of prospects afforded by the natural topography
overlooking views of Monocacy Creek, the Lehigh
Canal, the Lehigh River, or the hills beyond. These
views and vistas should be preserved and enhanced.
In locations where the intended views and vistas
have already been compromised, efforts should be
made to restore them to their historic condition.
• Preserve and enhance historic views and
vistas.
• Undertake viewshed analyses when planning
new development. These will help planners and
managers determine how proposed features
will impact historic views.
• Establish new views and vistas in selected areas
to strengthen visual connections between new
and historic landscape spaces within campus.
• Use vegetation or masonry walls to match
historic walls to screen undesirable views in
lieu of modern fencing and walls that may be
incompatible with the historic landscape.
• Undertake periodic maintenance efforts to thin
or remove vegetation that is obscuring important
views. All pruning should be performed under
the direction of Moravian’s horticultural staff
and/or professional foresters.
Vegetation
The primary goals concerning vegetation at
Moravian College are the preservation of historic
trees, the installation of new vegetation that
contributes to the historic character of the campus
landscape, and potential locations for new tree
plantings in non-historic areas.
Many historic trees and patterns of vegetation
have been identified that contribute to the historic
character of the campus. The gradual loss or
inappropriate replacement of trees and other plants
that existed during the historic period, however, has
led to some erosion of this character. The challenge
is to maintain historic character by developing a
program for tree and shrub replacement sensitive
to the history of the site.
Development of campus landscape maintenance
guidelines, with minimum standards for all
landscape work on the campus, would be useful.
These guidelines might include building and site
design considerations, landscape specifications,
scheduled maintenance, tree care, fertilization,
plant health care and integrated pest management,
and road and path specifications. The following
guidelines are offered here as a framework for
issues having to do with historic vegetation, new
vegetation located within historic character areas,
or new plantings within non-historic character
areas.
Preservation of Historic Vegetation
In support of the landscape guidelines, an inventory
of historic trees within the cultivated/developed
John Milner Associates • October 2009 • Chapter 6 • Landscape Guidelines • 147