The Ohio Historical Society’s Ohio Preservation Office presented Rogers Krajnak Architects, Inc. with a Preservation Merit Award for the Broad Street United Methodist Church Broad Street United Methodist Church stone replacement and restoration project.
Mark Mead’s work on the Broad Street United Methodist Church stone replacement and restoration project was honored with a BX Craftsmanship Award.
The AIA Guide to Columbus, by by Jeffrey T. Darbee and Nancy A. Recchie, highlights significant architecture projects in the Columbus area. The book features two projects completed by Rogers Krajnak Architects, Inc.; Trinity Episcopal Church and Broad Street Presbyterian Church.
Broad Street United Methodist Church was honored with the Outstanding Aesthetic Contribution Award at the Discovery Special Improvement District 2008 Annual Meeting. The Discovery SID recognized the church for their notable contribution within the Discovery District related to the stone replacement and restoration project.
Broad Street United Methodist Church celebrated the completion of the stone replacement project with the Consecration of Renovations on Sunday September 28, 2008. The project was necessary since the original exterior stone on the building’s facades was failing. The stone was quarried in West Chester Pennsylvania in 1885. Serpentine stone is a beautiful looking material with rich veining and flecks of mica that glisten in the sunlight. Unfortunately, the stone is also a very porous material. Soon after the stone was originally installed, the church began experiencing problems with water infiltration and spalling. Attempts over the years were made to patch the stone and mortar. Many of these patching attempts actually did more harm then good.
In 2006 the church decided that all of the serpentine stone on the church needed to be removed and replaced. Working with Rogers Krajnak Architects, Inc., a new synthetic cast stone was selected to replace the serpentine stone. The new cast stone was designed to replicate the color, size and texture of the serpentine stone. The original exterior walls were constructed of several layers of brick interconnected in a dovetail manner with the serpentine stone. The painstaking process to remove the serpentine stone on the exterior while minimizing cracks on the interior plaster included the installation of steel braces and needle beams. The original serpentine stone was methodically removed in small sections exposing the brick within the wall. New cast stone was installed in small sections anchored with stainless steel connectors and mortared in place.
The project also included cleaning and repairing other sandstone and limestone elements including the existing sills, lintels, columns and watertable. The wood windows and pressed metal trim were painted. Various Victorian elements that were lost over the years due to weather and neglect were repaired or replicated to complete the project.
The James B. Recchie Design and Preservation Award is given annually by the Columbus Landmarks Foundation to honor a development project for its “ responsiveness to human needs; creativity of design; sensitivity to surrounding area; quality of materials, craftsmanship, use of space, sense of scale; and emotional impact.” This year, RKA’s exterior renovation of Broad Street United Methodist Church has been selected as a finalist among five local projects exhibiting “an exceptional level of quality and workmanship.” The winner will be identified at a reception to be held Thursday November 6 at Broad Street Presbyterian Church, where RKA recently completed another renovation and addition project.
Broad Street United Methodist Church, designed by renowned Columbus architect Joseph Warren Yost, was built in 1885. Rogers Krajnak Architects’ 2008 renovation included the painstaking removal and replacement of the building’s deteriorating stone veneer; the cleaning and repairing of its sandstone and limestone sills, lintels, columns, and watertable; the painting of wood windows and pressed metal trim; and repair and replacement of detail elements lost over the years due to weather and neglect.