Forming the edge of Yale University’s Old Campus, Farnam Hall (c. 1870 by Russell Sturgis) and Welch Hall (c. 1892 by Bruce Price), and 10 other historic buildings create the courtyard where freshmen live, learn, and gather in community for the first year of their university experience. The Welch and Farnam renovations were carried out in phases, over two summers, so the residence halls were not taken “off line” and remained available to students during the academic year. The project included systems upgrades, accessibility improvements, and refreshed finishes throughout the 19th century buildings with the goal of maintaining and enhancing the historic character of each.
Work began with a detailed assessment and evaluation to provide strategic, unobtrusive improvements, all while increasing access equity for students with diverse physical abilities. From the detailed assessment, the university made priority choices to improve the systems and finishes that would enhance student experience and safety and preserve the architecture. Renovations generally included: electrical and life safety system upgrades; restoration of the masonry and stone envelope; select copper gutter and slate roof repairs; decorative metalwork restoration; interior woodwork refurbishment; plaster and gypsum wall repairs and refinish; bathroom repairs including finishes, fixtures, partitions, and ceilings; and floor refinishing and replacement in high-traffic areas.
The access equity solutions differed for each residential hall, responding to complex internal constraints and the architectural character of each. In Welch Hall, an accessible path at a pitch that did not require handrails was sensitively designed to integrate with the Old Campus landscape and the historic façade. Once at the primary level, students and visitors would enter the building to access an enclosed vertical platform lift. Inside Welch Hall, a suite of rooms was made fully accessible by reorganizing elements within the existing footprint. Farnam Hall engaged a different approach; one of the exterior entry porticos was modified to accommodate an enclosed, vertical platform lift that blends seamlessly into the facade. The adaptation brings students to another accessible suite which was updated by reorganizing entries and creating a new bathroom suite.