The parish engaged CPG to assist with a historic rehabilitation tax credit application as a means of offsetting the costs of the much needed repairs.
Commonwealth
Trinity Episcopal Church
Building Documentation & Scanning
Historic Building Renovation
Historic Research
Historic Tax Credit Consulting
Local Design Review Consulting
Trinity Episcopal Church
Partners
Trinity Episcopal Church
Epiphany Studios
McPherson Design Group, Inc.
Vansant & Gusler, Inc.
E. T. Gresham Company, Inc.
Virginia Department of Historic Resources
Project Goals
Trinity Episcopal Church is a c1828 Greek Revival style building located in downtown Portsmouth. Structural concerns of the Bell Tower and the need for systems and finishes upgrades to the c1966 Parish House shaped the project.
Project Design
Priority was placed on addressing critical repairs to the Bell Tower and roof of the main church as well as system upgrades and providing ADA access within the Parish House. The historic sanctuary was preserved in its original configuration.
Within the Parish House, outdated systems were removed and new HVAC and mechanical systems were installed. The project also provided the opportunity to provide much needed ADA access within the building for congregants.
Challenges & Accomplishments
At the start of the project, the c1890 historic Bell Tower and roof of the sanctuary were in extremely poor condition. Site investigation of the Bell Tower revealed that structural steel beams were corroded, brick walls had large structural cracks, and the roof had significant termite damage. These issues posed immediate danger to congregants and the public, and the sanctuary was closed until repairs could take place.
Due to the significant damage of the Bell Tower, the only feasible repair option was to dismantle the tower down to the second floor level and reconstruct it. The Bell Tower was then reinstated in-kind; the roof of the bell tower was stored on site until the work was complete then reinstalled.