Langdell Hall, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Mass.
Retrofit Team
ARCHITECT: Baker | Wohl Architects, Boston
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Consigli Construction Co. Inc., Milford, Mass.
ROOFING CONTRACTOR: Titan Roofing, Springfield, Mass.
ENVELOPE CONSULTANT: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Boston
Materials
The building required extensive repairs to the roof and limestone parapets to address water damage and leakage that had occurred over the years because of cracked mortar and inadequate drainage. The roof restoration included replacement of multiple types of roofing systems, including built-up, metal standing seam and PVC membrane, as well as significant parapet flashing. A total of 24,750 pounds of copper and 0.8 acres of PVC rubber were installed over the expansive roof. Copper, which was selected for its aesthetics, durability, ease of maintenance and longevity, also helps preserve Langdell Hall’s original appearance and retain the integrity of the building’s historical character.
Prior to installation of the finished roof, a mock-up installation of the copper roof was executed and reviewed by the design team. The mock-up included all details that would occur in the project. All sheet-metal workers were required to complete an installation test. Simpson Gumpertz & Heger approved each worker prior to starting on the project.
Standing-seam and flat-seam copper panels were installed to replace existing copper panels and maintain historical integrity of the original design. New copper panels were 22-gauge thickness in lengths varying from 19 feet 5 inches to 9 feet 10 inches, 20 ounces per square foot. Standing-seam height was 1 1/2 inch with 20 3/4-inch panel width (standing seam to standing seam) with exposed mill finish. Approximately 1,400 linear feet of zinc-coated copper, also known as “Freedom Gray” parapet coping cap, was installed at the perimeter.
Before the copper panels could be installed, extensive masonry repairs were completed on the head houses.
COPPER MANUFACTURER: Hussey Copper
The Retrofit
Named for Harvard’s first Dean of the Law School, Christopher Columbus Langdell, the facility was initially built in 1907. Northern and western wings were completed in 1929. Langdell Hall is home to the largest academic law library in the world, containing more than 2.3 million volumes and 300,000 rare books.
Located in the heart of Harvard Law School’s campus and adjacent to Cambridge’s historic district, the roofing project was completed in four phases, complying with the city of Cambridge’s historic codes. Harvard Law’s library remained open during the roofing project.
The roof replacement, which revitalized this iconic neoclassical building, received a 2016 North American Copper in Architecture Award bestowed by the New York-based Copper Development Association Inc.
PHOTO: MATHEW KUZMIK