St. Peter’s Church

Project:
St. Peter’s Church (Completed by S. Harris Ltd.)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Client:
St. Peter’s Church

Dates:
2008 – Tower Conditions Assessment, Design and Documentation, Construction Contract Administration
2010-2012 – Tower Roof, Sanctuary Roof , Structure and Cornice Conditions Assessment
2012 – Design and Documentation

Description:

St. Peter’s Church opened in 1761, and served as a place of worship for many of the United States’ Founding Fathers. The church is mid-Georgian auditory in style and retains its original box pews. The exterior is red brick masonry with decorative white molding surrounding the doors and windows. The sanctuary is crowned by an ornate denticular cornice. In 1842, a crenelated tower and white clapboard steeple were added. The Church is surrounded by an historic graveyard separated from the street by masonry walls.

Challenge:

The Church was showing signs of wear and required remediation efforts that would not alter the historic appearance. The Tower required structural tie rods, as well as masonry, wood shingle, window and roof repairs. The Sanctuary required structural stabilization for the attic trusses, cornice, roof and window repairs.

Services:

Tower Conditions Assessment

Documented, surveyed, and recommended stabilization solutions that would not destroy the integrity of the historic materials.

Provided Construction Documents and Construction Administration for the rehabilitation of the Tower masonry, structure, and windows.

Roof, Structure and Cornice Assessment

Prepared a detailed written narrative detailing deficiencies in the roof, structure and cornice, including photographs, diagrammatic drawings and cost estimates to be used for budgeting and fund-raising for implementation of the recommended repair work.

Comprehensive Roof, Structure and Cornice Rehabilitation

Provided repair details, construction drawings and specifications for the rehabilitation of the Sanctuary roof, trusses, and cornice as well as for the Tower roof and roof structure.

Points of interest:

Recipient of the 2013 Best Historic Preservation Project from the General Building Contractors Association.

St. Peter’s Church is a National Historic Landmark.