Renovation… Preserving Our Heritage

There was a time when fine old buildings were razed in the name of progress with little thought for the quality of their construction or the heritage they represented. Fortunately, over the years, attitudes have changed and now buildings are often renovated when there is a need to reorganize or modernize space for business or academic purposes.

The craftsmanship and attention to detail found in these early buildings give them beauty as well as longevity. This speaks of pride of workmanship, of individuality, of creativity, and reminds us of a time when life moved at a more leisurely pace. Restoring these buildings makes it easier to preserve the memories of earlier generations and to celebrate the contributions they have made to our society.

Bogner Buildings Recognized for Outstanding Design

Gault Alumni Center

Gault Alumni Center, located on The College of Wooster campus just south of the president's home, is one of the most beautiful historic buildings in the City of Wooster. It was constructed in 1903 as a private residence by one of Wooster's most prominent citizens and offered to the college for $30,000 in 1941. At that time, the property included a two-story frame barn, which originally housed horses and carriages.

The College purchased the property and, in 1942, named the building Karl Merz Hall in honor of Wooster's first Director of Music. The residence became the home of the College Music Department and the barn was converted into a practice house for music students. In 1987, the Music Department moved to a new facility, the practice house was demolished and the main building was converted to a student residence hall. As such, it suffered some of the structural indignities that college dormitories must endure. Restoring this magnificent three-story Victorian structure to its former beauty was both a challenge and a pleasure for Bogner.

There was much to be done to bring the building up-to-date and to provide compliance with ADA code. Construction included the installation of an elevator, a fire-proof stairwell and handicapped accessible restrooms. All the woodwork inside, which was quarter sawn English oak that had been painted a variety of colors over the years, had to be totally refinished. Outside, some of the original Victorian cornice support brackets were beyond repair. Bogner commissioned a sculptor to make a rubber mold of these brackets and cast duplicate brackets from an epoxy compound. The new brackets, painted to match, are indistinguishable from the original hand-carved wooden brackets. The total renovation project took about ten months to complete.

Gault Alumni Center now serves as the home of Wooster's Alumni Association with office space for Alumni Relations and Development. It is the focal point of activity for alumni returning to campus. The Center is named in honor of Flo and Stan Gault, both members of the class of 1948 at Wooster. Mr. and Mrs. Gault have maintained close ties to the College over the years with Stan Gault serving as President of the Board of Trustees. The renovation of the building was made possible by their generosity and that of members of the classes of 1936, 1938, 1940 and 1941 on the occasion of their 50th reunions.

Taylor Hall, The College of Wooster

Taylor Hall, built in 1902 to house the College Theater and the Departments of Physics and Mathematics, is an outstanding example of adaptive re-use. Bogner Construction was chosen by the College to renovate this building.

The exterior of the building was largely unchanged but the inside was completely upgraded to accommodate current academic needs. The stage, the sloping floor of the theater and the 1902-style classrooms were replaced with modern physics labs and a new computer center. The entire attic of the building, previously wasted space, was re-claimed. A portion of the attic floor was cut out to allow construction of a two-story atrium. Natural light from the windows in the 35 ft. ceiling filters down on the students in the computer lab, making the facility beautiful as well as functional.

The project took ten months. During that time, a new structural steel framing system was inserted to replace the cast iron and wooden structural support columns of the original building. A new roof was added, as well as, new electrical and mechanical stems. The addition of new stairways, new restrooms, an elevator and a north entrance brought the building up to code.

Bogner Construction also renovated Scovel Hall on The College of Wooster campus, which currently houses the Geology Department and publication offices. Bogner served as consultant and general contractor on both projects. Both Taylor and Scovel Halls have received recognition from the Wooster Community Design Commission for their outstanding design and adaptive re-use.

Walnut Street School

As a part of its commitment to the renovation of downtown Wooster, Rubbermaid Incorporated purchased the historic Walnut Street School building as a home for the Wayne Center for the Arts. The school had been closed by the Wooster Board of Education and the building was being used as a maintenance facility and warehouse.

Bogner Construction Company was chosen to renovate the building. The challenge was great. Most of the windows had been broken and boarded up and the building had been unheated for eleven years. Many of the interior masonry walls had been damaged and dampness had taken a considerable toll on the once-beautiful interior woodwork and hardwood floors.

In four months, Bogner returned this historic landmark to its former beauty. All new mechanical and electrical systems were required. All exterior wood trim was restored and a new roof installed. Stairways were upgraded and an elevator added to allow the handicapped full access to the facility. Three large Palladian windows, each having several hundred individual pieces of glass, were completely restored. They add charm as well as light to both the first and second floor lobbies.

The building, which also houses a Head Start Child Development Center, is a source of pride to all involved. It enhances its neighborhood and contributes to the revitalization of Wooster's downtown. Rubbermaid received a Certificate of Commendation for this project from the Wooster Community Design Commission.

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 Other Noteworthy Bogner Renovation Projects

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