Boulderspace

Interested in learning about the history and design from some of Boulder’s oldest buildings, I have been doing a little digging around the Carnegie Library and talking with some of our local architects and planners. One building that stands out in my research for both rich cultural history as well as outstanding renovations is Mount St. Gertrude Academy, located at 970 Aurora. Originally built in 1892, this building once served as a Catholic girls’ boarding school, which catered to youth and nuns suffering from tuberculosis. According to historic accounts and documents, St. Gertrude’s Academy went into debt and shut down in 1969, and the University purchased this property soon after. However, their plans were put on hold after the fires in 1980 and ‘81, where roof of the third floor was destroyed leaving the building vacant for more than a decade.

In 1996 this building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and construction began to renovate this run down building. Designed in the style of H.H. Richardson, the Academy was brought back to life by plans to develop it as a congregate care facility, revitalizing the existing buildings and constructing new ones. In 1988 the building was completed, and transformed into a 52-home independent assisted living community maintaining its original character. While Mount St. Gertrude Academy has changed hands, focus, and design over the years, “I find it extremely interesting that more than 100 years later, we’re doing the same thing but focusing on people who are on the other end of the age spectrum,” says Lynda Chavez the facility’s marketing director.

The photos images and descriptions below, provided by Winter & Company, depict historic architectural and design details, as they delivered the comprehensive historic preservation and design services to the Mount St. Gertrude Academy redevelopment project. Winter & Company played an integral role in the project, working hand-in-hand with the architects, they explain, “Some issues in this redevelopment project included: compatible architectural styles and detailing, appropriate massing, impact on the surrounding neighborhood, maintaining essential landscape features and interpreting the historic context of the site.” In addition to design services, Winter & Company was able to assist in a planning and development strategy that employed historic preservation tax credits, worked to complete a National Register Nomination, and wrote a successful grant application of the Colorado Historical Fund for $100,000 for the project.

Throughout Boulder I have found a sprinkle of projects like Mount St. Gertrude, however, not all of them have the same success story as this facility. I am interested to find other historic buildings and houses in the Boulder area that have been designed to fit the story of it’s past. I would also be interested to hear about Boulder’s historic buildings that are yet to be redeveloped, and are still standing, boarded up and ready for a new chapter. Please comment below, I’d like to hear about the historic architecture in your neighborhood.

The Fire (before & after):

These images show the third floor of the building that was destroyed by the fire and the restored rooftop of the building today.

The Chapel (before & after):

The historic stained glass windows were examined and the lead cames were found to be structurally unsound and much of the glass was missing. A new design for the windows was negotiated by Winter & Company with the National Park Service and the Colorado State Historical Society. Winter & Company provided a design that was an adaptation of the historic design. The virtue of this design was that most of the features of the window were reconstructed — the fleur-de-lis was preserved as was the perimeter pattern. The remaining pattern remained intact but it framed clear glass which provided a view of Boulder’s Flatirons mountains and let sunlight into the space.

Photos from The Academy by :

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[Photo Credits: Jerry Butts, Vic Moss and Shears Adkins Architects]

Tags: Carnegie Library, H.H. Richardson, Mount St. Gertrude Academy, National Register of Historic Places, Shears Adkins Architects, Winter & Company