The West Portico of Coe Hall is one of the most striking architectural features at Planting Fields, admired and beloved by many who visit us, in every season of the year. We are excited to be moving forward with a major restoration project to ensure its preservation, in collaboration with our partners at New York State Parks.
Designed by architects Walker & Gillette and built by Cauldwell Wingate Company of New York between 1918-1921, the West Portico is faced in Indiana limestone with a second-floor terrace. The portico is decorated with two distinctive reliefs. On the south side is an expressive sundial and on the west side is a maritime scene. In 2019, we were forced to close the West Portico and the surrounding area to our patrons due to large pieces of limestone breaking away from the building and posing safety concerns. Excessive moisture accumulation due to a failing gutter system and intensified by seasonal fluctuations (freeze and thaw cycles), and delaminated tiles and mortar joints allowed storm water to penetrate deep within the structure. There are several areas where the limestone blocks have been forced out of place creating more space for water to penetrate and damage the structure. The parapet walls stone veneer has become separated from the back-up masonry and deterioration is severe on all three facades and the reason it is currently blocked off by fencing. The stone veneer on all three sides of the structure will be taken down entirely to allow for the wall to be reinforced and stabilized. Once that has been completed, like a jigsaw puzzle, the numerous pieces of veneer will be reassembled. The general scope of work includes the restoration of the stone masonry, terra cotta tile, and re-pitching the terrace roof slab.
Given the historic significance of the West Portico, expert planning and execution is needed when performing the work to protect and maintain the historic materials. The Foundation is working with Jan Hird Pokorny Associates (JHPA), a full-service architecture firm specializing in the preservation of historic buildings to assist with the critical work. Be sure to sign up for our upcoming Panorama program, “Restoring an English Country House of the Gold Coast” to hear about all the ways Planting Fields creators, W.R. and Mai Coe, and their neighbors built English country homes using innovative materials and salvaged artifacts to give their spaces an air of old world authenticity. Join Kurt Hirschberg from JHPA in a discussion about the allure of English country homes across the Gold Coast in the early twentieth century and the restoration of the West Portico..
We are thrilled to have been awarded funding to preserve the West Portico through a grant from the Environmental Protection Fund Program for Parks, Preservation and Heritage (EPF). We know our patrons have missed access to this special place. We anticipate reopening the portico to the public in early 2021. Until then, make sure you take a look at the work underway during your next visit.