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

Moravian College • Preservation Master Plan
not compatible with the historic character of
adjacent areas.
• Consider replacing all wooden benches with
black metal benches that match existing trash
containers and are more compatible with the
historic character of the surrounding buildings
(see figure 7-6).
• Maintain pedestrian-scale lighting and assure
that it is adequate for safety and security.
• Consider replacing bicycle racks with a
selection that is more compatible with the
historic character of the adjacent buildings,
such as black painted metal railing types (see
figure 7-8).
Colonial Hall Character Area
General
This character area retains a small number of
features that can be dated to the historic period.
Recommendations for rehabilitation are as follows:
Spatial Organization
• Enhance the historic open spatial character of
the area contained by the L-shape of Colonial
Hall by relocating small trees to the north and
east sides of the building. These small trees are
low branching and tend to obscure views to the
details of these historic buildings.
• Maintain the urban scale of the close spacing
of the two American Foursquare houses in this
block of Main Street.
Buildings
• Retain and maintain the buildings in this
character area, as they are over fifty years of
age and retain integrity, including Colonial
Hall and the two large residences now housing
sororities. Refer to Chapters 8 and 9 for more
detailed treatment recommendations.
• If a small new facility is needed on campus,
consider using the site of the third building
that was originally planned for this character
area. The third building would complete the
originally planned enclosure on the south side.
Circulation Features
• Maintain the straight walkway that connects
Colonial Hall with Comenius Hall across Main
Street and its orientation to the central door of
what was the Moravian Archives building.
• If a third building is added to the Colonial
Hall grouping, mirror the new entrance
plaza configuration in order to maintain the
symmetrical design intent for this area.
Views and Vistas
• Maintain the strong axial view and spatial
relationship between Colonial Hall and
Comenius Hall. Avoid placing vertical
structures, objects, or vegetation within this
viewshed.
• Maintain the open, tree-lined quality of the
streetscape view along Main Street.
Vegetation
• Protect the historic oak at the northwest
corner of Elizabeth Avenue and Main Street
by following a maintenance plan provided by
a consulting arborist specializing in historic
trees.
• Remove the small tree planted in front of the
entrance to what was the Moravian Archives.
Its low branching obscures the historic axial
relationship between Colonial and Comenius
halls.
• Avoid obscuring historic building details,
maintain other plant materials to stay below
the lower sills of the first floor windows and
away from central doorways.
Landscape Structures
• Replace the cracked and damaged stone base
of the entrance fencing at this location.
• If this gateway and its twin across Main Street
are renovated, consider removing the stone
base and resetting the piers to match those at
Comenius, as shown in historic photographs.
• If the new diagonally-oriented entrance plaza
is renovated, consider a design that does not
obscure the historic character of the two older
buildings.
Site Furnishings and Objects
• Consider replacing wooden benches with
black metal benches that are more compatible
with the historic character of the surrounding
buildings (see figure 7-6).
John Milner Associates • October 2009 • Chapter 7 • Treatment Recommendations • 169