Historic School Building in Denver to be Rehabilitated to Serve As National Model for Greening Older Buildings
History Colorado's State Historical Fund grant to assist with the project
Posted August 19, 2010 | Contact pr@nthp.org or 202-588-6141
Denver, Colo. (August 19, 2010)—The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced today that it plans to acquire the historic Emerson School in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood and revealed its intention to transform the school into a national model for how older buildings can meet the highest standards for energy efficiency and sustainable development. The State Historical Fund, a program of History Colorado, the Colorado Historical Society, announced that it has awarded a $500,000 grant to the National Trust to help fund the $2.3 million project.
Known as the Frank B. McGlone Center, the Emerson School will be donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation later this month by Capitol Hill Senior Resources, Inc., along with a $1.5 million endowment established for the long-term maintenance of the property. In addition to serving as the new home for the National Trust’s Mountains/Plains Regional Office, plans are for the Emerson School to house two of Colorado’s leading nonprofit preservation organizations, Colorado Preservation, Inc. and Historic Denver, Inc.
“This is a great day for historic preservation in Colorado,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Through our intended work on the Emerson School, we will demonstrate how older and historic buildings can be rehabilitated to help conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions. Working with experts in green building, we’ll make use of the very latest energy-efficient systems to demonstrate that historic buildings can meet— even exceed—the highest national standards for efficiency and environmental design.”
The State Historical Fund grant is part of History Colorado’s 2010 Special Initiatives grant program, which awarded $1.5 million in Special Initiative grants across the state. To receive a Special Initiatives grant, applicants must demonstrate how their historic preservation project either improves economic development in a rural community or enhances and promotes environmental sustainability.
“These Special Initiative grant projects boost the local economy and enhance a community’s identity, pride and connection to local heritage,” said Ed Nichols, State Historic Preservation Officer and President of History Colorado, the Colorado Historical Society. “This project not only strengthens historic preservation partnerships, but bridges energy efficiency efforts already underway in Colorado with historic preservation efforts, and we are pleased to support the National Trust on such a worthy project.”
“Denver is proud to support the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s vision for creating a ‘Colorado Preservation Center’ at the Emerson School,” said Mayor John Hickenlooper. “This project will be a model of how to rehabilitate and adapt a historic building in a way that reduces energy consumption and aids in the revitalization of the neighborhood. We look forward to the success of this exciting project.”
The rehabilitation of the Emerson School is part of an ongoing effort to improve the performance of properties owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Key aspects of the “greening” of the Emerson School will include:
- Reducing heating and cooling needs by restoring the passive energy conservation features of the original design and installing a highly efficient new HVAC system.
- Reducing electrical consumption through the use of high-efficiency light fixtures, addition of sophisticated controls and monitors, and installation of solar PV panels.
- Reducing energy waste by super-insulating the roof and repairing and tightening original doors and windows.
Completed in 1885, the Emerson School is the oldest remaining school in the state designed by Robert Roeschlaub, who is widely considered Colorado’s first master architect. Surviving Roeschlaub buildings include the Chamberlain Observatory at the University of Denver, Trinity United Methodist Church in Denver, Dora Moore School in Denver and the Central City Opera House. After serving for nearly a century as an elementary school, the Emerson School closed in 1979, reopening later to serve a variety of uses, including a senior center, geriatric clinic, dental clinic and church.
About History Colorado, the Colorado Historical Society
Established in 1879, this educational institution engages people in our State’s heritage through collecting, preserving and discovering the past while providing perspectives for the future. It contains statewide historical museums and sites, educational programs, volunteer and membership opportunities, a research library, the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and administers the State Historical Fund grants program. The State Historical Fund awards grants to public and non-profit organizations to preserve Colorado’s architectural and archaeological treasures for public benefit. The State Historical Fund receives funds for grants through a portion of tax revenues from limited-stakes gaming in the towns of Cripple Creek, Central City, and Black Hawk. State Historical Fund grants have helped preserve hundreds of historic schools, town halls, agricultural sites and other important resources in all 64 Colorado counties since 1993. Find History Colorado, the Colorado Historical Society at facebook.com/history.colorado, www.coloradohistory.org or call (303) 866-3682.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately-funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. www.PreservationNation.org
