Arlen Specter Center For Public Service | Thomas Jefferson University East Falls

The historic 1802 house has a long history of prominent tenants. Through a series of poorly executed renovations and modifications, the house became distressed. By 1998, when the University purchased the property, the Federal-style home had fallen into severe disrepair partially due to moisture infiltration.

Keast & Hood was engaged to provide a structural evaluation of the historic house in 2006 which resulted in urgent stabilization. Non-destructive thermal analysis was employed to understand the conditions and issues of the building envelope. Following the study, the university invested in  preserving and adaptively reusing this important structure as a library and center for public service. Structural scope consisted of  the removal of rear additions, reconstruction of the original rear porch, and construction of a new elevator tower with a cantilevered steel wrap-around egress stair. Additional work included careful repairs to timber framing and masonry foundations while retaining much of the historic fabric. Meticulous team coordination allowed seamless integration of structural components with the historic aesthetic of the building.