PROJECT
‍Wellesley College Severance Hall | Renovation
Client: Wellesley College
Wellesley, Massachusetts

CHALLENGE
Wellesley College has set a target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. Concurrent with this energy planning, the College is embarking on a multi-year effort to retire deferred maintenance on their historic residence halls, while optimizing the halls for the changeover from district steam for heating to district low temperature hot water. The challenge was preparing the residence halls for this conversion within tight budgets, while additionally addressing deferred maintenance, accessibility issues and preserving their historic character.

‍SOLUTION
As part of Finegold Alexander’s earlier energy study, it was determined that the best envelope approaches for balancing historic preservation questions, reducing EUI and fitting work in tight budgets were to install interior insulated furring walls and interior storm windows.

Insulation at the Interior: WUFI analysis was performed to determine the amount and type of insulation that could be installed without compromising the building’s existing mass masonry walls and interior plaster. These new interior furring walls were then detailed to preserve existing precast window surrounds, and to conceal new heating piping and electrical infrastructure.

Air Sealing + Interior Storm Windows: Replacing the existing 1920’s steel casement windows with new steel windows was not possible for budgetary reasons. The exterior perimeters of the windows were raked out and resealed to reduce air infiltration. Select repairs were also made to improve window operation. Interior storm windows were carefully detailed to fit within the existing individual window openings, greatly tightening the envelope while preserving the historic character of the spaces – from sleeping rooms to the historic common spaces.

SIZE
55,975 SF

SCOPE
Renovation

‍PROGRAM
Upgrades to Exterior Envelope as part of larger renovation
Integration of energy upgrades with historic building fabric

TEAM QUOTES

“We did a lot of energy model­ing and energy studies to learn what different tools we could consider in order to increase the efficiency of the building, but yet retain its historical character.”

- Michelle Maheu
Director for Planning, Design and Construction | Wellesley College

“Upgrading this historic envelope required both technical analyses and a mindful approach to the historic windows and their detailing. Energy modeling enabled the team to demonstrate substantial EUI reduction while preserving the historic character of the living room and major gathering spaces”

- Rebecca Berry
Principal, Director of Sustainability | Finegold Alexander

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