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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence from Cromwell Truemper Levy Parker and Woodsmall Inc. Architect Engineer-2-14-1984February 14, 1984 MEMORANDUM FOR REPORT RE: KRAMER SCHOOL A meeting was held February 8, 1984, attended by: Mr. Greenlee, Little Rock Public Works Department, Mr. Wilson Stiles, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Ms. Eve Yancey, Ms. Cheryl Nichols of the Quapaw Quarter Association, Mr. Mike Dooley, City of Little Rock, Mr. Ralph Megna, Renaissance Corporation and Randy Murphy, Cromwell Firm. The meeting comprised a review of the architectural plans for the above referenced project. Items of discussion included a preliminary determination by Mr. Greenlee concerning compliance with the Municipal Building Code regarding the following components of the plan: 1. As shown on the plans presented to Mr. Greenlee, the skylighted portion of the front building of the school, which consists of a roof mounted skylight atop a light cone passing unpenetrated through the attic, an opening through the ceiling onto the second floor, and a light well opening onto the first floor, will be termed as an atrium. This atrium contains the existing historical stairway, which will be retained in the project and will be considered to be monumental stairs. This atrium will be two-hour protected and sprinklered. The corridor connecting the atrium and the proposed elevator lobby will also be so protected. 2. As regards fire exit requirements as shown on the plans, there will be constructed exterior, open-air, metal fire stairs at two locations, one set at the connecting link between the front and middle buildings of the school and one at the east extremity of the rear building. This will provide the required number of exits in the project. Both of these stairs are sized in width for the exit requirements of the occupancy. 3. As regards the Code requirement of one -hour separation between apartments, Mr. Greenlee indicated that sprinklering the building will serve for compliance in lieu of one -hour construction. RECAP: The plan to provide light from the first floor through existing and restored penetrations, and the plan to retain the existing front staircase, these two considered as a single component in the building to be known as an atrium, were given preliminary approval provided the space is sprinklered and provided with two-hour protection. CROMWELL TRUEMPER LEVY PARKER & WOODSMALL INC ARCHITECT ENGINEER Kramer School February 14, 1984 Page 2. 5. The present arrangement of fire exits proposed for the project is in compliance and sprinklering the entire building will make possible the preservation of the existing tin ceiling by acting in lieu of the requirement for one -hour protection vertically as well as horizontally between apartments. Further points of review in the meeting concerning plans for the project include the following: 1. It was discovered from photographs of the original state of the building that the original windows were comprised of single pane sash, as opposed to the existing multi -pane sash. For this reason the plan to refurbish the existing windows will be dropped in favor of the installation of new double -glazed double hung windows of size matching the existing windows. 2. All in attendance were informed of plans for the rehabilitation of the exterior features of the building including: the cleaning of brick and stone; the cleaning and painting of wood and metal trim; the provision for grade level access to ground floor apartments through minor excavation; the restoration of original dormers on the front and sides of the front building and the addition of dormers and scuttle windows on the back of the front building; the construction of a room serving one of the proposed attic apartments, on top of the remaining portion of the bell tower; the construction of windows and roof on top of the remaining portion of the round turret on the north side of the front building; the re -roofing of all existing roofs; and the construction of one additional floor over the rear building. This last item would also be connected to the existing second floor of the middle building by extending the center bay gable from the middle building. Previous plans to include adding a floor to the existing projections at the rear of the middle building were considered inappropriate, and have -been dropped from the plans. Mr. Stiles expressed concern for all the components contemplated which would alter the appearance of the building, and asked for sketches indicating their nature. These sketches will be forthcoming. Concerning the interior of the building the following points of review were discussed: 1. The preservation of the pressed tin ceilings, the original front staircase, the octagonal portion of the first and second floor corridors and major items of woodwork was acknowledged by all in attendance as critical to the success of the project, and shown to be planned as components in the project. 2. Concerning the fate of the existing staircase connecting the first and second floors in the middle building, Mr. Stiles expressed the position that the staircase should be preserved. The need for removing the staircase to provide additional living space in adjoining apartments was expressed by Mr. Murphy. At this time the issue remains unresolved. In general the current planning meets with general approval by parties in attendance and encouragement was the tone throughout the meeting. RMlmh cc: All attendees, Mr. Edwin B. Cromwell CROMWELL TRUEMPER LEVY PARKER & WOO©SMALL INC ARCHITECT ENGINEER