The Log at Williams College dates to the mid-1700s. In 1941, the structure was turned into an Alumni House; five years later, the Dodge Room was added. After a fire in 1951, another addition was built.
Two years ago, local firm Cummings General Contractor and design firm C&H Architects led the upgrade of The Log to modern energy, safety, and access standards. The project team conducted surveys of students, faculty, and staff to get their input.
A 1,200-sf, low-energy commercial kitchen and bar, as well as a new entry, coatroom, and service spaces, were added. Murals were preserved. Historic woods were salvaged. Handcrafted historic light fixtures were refurbished with LED lamping. An innovative roof superstructure was developed to transfer roof loads to the foundation, alleviating strain on the existing roof while preserving the interior.
The Log is now a year-round neo-colonial event space and restaurant.
Project Summary
Bronze Award Winner
Building Team: Cummings General Contractor (submitting firm, GC) C&H Architects (architect) Barry Engineers & Constructors (SE) B2Q Associates (MEP) Crabtree McGrath Associates (food services) Energy Balance Inc. (energy and systems).
Details: 11,509 sf Total cost $4.5 million Construction time February 2015 to January 2016 Delivery method Design-bid-build.
See all of the 2017 Reconstruction Award winners here
Related Stories
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 27, 2017
The birthplace of General Motors
The automotive giant salvages the place from which it sprang, 131 years ago.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 21, 2017
Mama mia! What a pizzeria!: It started as a bank nearly a century ago, now it’s a pizza parlor with plenty of pizzazz
The first floor features a zinc bar and an authentic Neapolitan pizza oven.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 21, 2017
Honor Guard: San Francisco’s historic Veterans Building pays homage to those who served in World War I and other foreign wars
The Veterans Building houses the War Memorial staff, the city’s Arts Commission, the Opera’s learning center and practice/performance node, the Green Room reception venue, and the 916-seat Herbst Theatre.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 20, 2017
Eyes wide open: Students can see their new home’s building elements
The two-phase project revamped an opaque, horseshoe-shaped labyrinth of seven buildings from the ’60s and ’70s.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 17, 2017
Gray lady no more: A facelift erases a landmark’s wrinkles, but not her heritage
The Building Team restored the granite and terra cotta façade and reclaimed more than 500 double-hung windows.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 17, 2017
Elegance personified: New life for a neglected but still imposing retail/office space
The building was in such disrepair that much of the reconstruction budget had to go toward structural, mechanical, and electrical infrastructure improvements.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 16, 2017
Back to the '20s: Coney Island gets a new eatery reminiscent of the past
This project included the restoration of the landmark Childs Restaurant.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 15, 2017
Foyer fantastique: Faded images provide the key to a historic theater's lobby restoration
The restoration relied heavily on historic photos and drawings.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 14, 2017
Hallowed ground: A Mormon temple rises from the ashes of a fire-ravaged historic tabernacle
Parts of the tabernacle’s exterior shell were the only things that survived the blaze.
Reconstruction Awards | Nov 13, 2017
Harlem Renaissance: A vacant school provides much-needed housing and a clubhouse for children
Word that PS 186 might be demolished brought out the preservationists, whose letter-writing campaign gained the support of the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
