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The Camp Evans WW2 Administration Annex Preservation Progress at InfoAge |
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Summary:
The restoration of the Camp Evans WW2 Administration Annex Section A ( aka 9032A) is nearly complete. We have repaired all problems created by the leaks in the roof. We have reroofed the entire building. We repainted the exterior and replaced all the missing leaders and gutters. In the interior of section A we removed all post WW2 alterations. This included 10 offices with all the interior partitions, the post WW2 drop ceilings, the florescent fixtures in the drop ceiling, an air-conditioning system, its duct work and all additional electrical panels, wiring and outlets. We saved anything we could reuse in the restoration of the section. We repaired damage to the original walls and ceilings created when the space was subdivided into offices. We removed all 1970s flooring and painted the concrete floor. We repainted the entire interior. We added a new high efficiency gas heating and air-conditioning unit in one of the two remaining offices. We reused the original summer ventalation louvers in the ceiling as the distribution system for the forced air system to keep the WW2 look of the building as intact as possibly. We added a centrally monitored fire detection system with horns and strobe lights for the safety of volunteers and visitors.
We separated and recycled all metals and electrical wire. We reused lumber and insulation removed from the partition walls. We properly disposed of florescent tubes and ballasts, and properly disposed of all other debris.
The remaining work to be done is to replace the flooring with a tiles of the same size and color as saved originals and replace window treatments. Some minor wall and ceiling sheet rock repair remains. IF we can locate florescent fixtures similiar to the originals we will replace those currently in use.
Description of the original structure and the condition when placed under InfoAge stewardship:
The Administration Annex (9032A-D) is a wooden structure built in 1942 to last the expected five year duration of the war. As a temporary building it does not have structural wood sheathing. It is sheathed with gypsem panels, covered by tar-paper, protected by wooden siding of pattern 105 with a 6" face. The wall studs are 2" x 4" unsanded lumber. The sill plate is bolted to an 8" thick concrete slab. The roof trusses are made of 4" by 12" approximately 15' apart. Between the trusses are 2" by 12" on 2' centers to support the interior ceiling sheetrock. The 1/2" interior sheetrock seams are covered by 3/8" thick by 2" wide wood strips. The door, window and floor woodwork is plain 3/4" thick boards with no design or shaping. The overall building layout is four 30' by 93' standard quartermaster designs abuted into an "L" shape. The sections are labeled A, B, C and D. There are brick firewall protected corridors between sections A to B and between sections C to D. The intersecton of section B and C for the right angle of the "L". The ceiling height is 10' throughout. Each section has a wooden ladder mounted on the corridor wall near the inter-section corridors to access the attic. There are ladders to access the attic space above the firewall protected corridors. The Section B has a womans room with 4 stalls and section C a mens room with six stalls. Thanks to Larry Wilkins we now have a copy of original 1942 drawing of the 9032 electrical layout.
The heat was supplied by radiators below each set of three windows. A separate brick building housed the twin vacuum-steam boiliers. The original boilers were coal fired, which were replaced by natural gas boilers and finally fuel oil. During the time the BRAC staff had care of the facility the electric was turned off without draining the boilers. The cold weather caused the boiler sections to crack and the system is beyond repair. Originally, there was no air-conditioning. Summer ventalation was accomplished by a large attic fan placed in a roof copula. In the ceiling design 18 louvers were built to be opened to allow the attic fan to pull the summer heat out of the building.
Section A was built as one large room with a single small office. There are 14 sets of three windows. Six on each long side and two on the end of th building. Sometime in the 1950s, Section A was divided into 6 labs and offices off a central hall ending at a 36' by 30' meeting room. A central air-conditioning system, made by Chrysler, was added with the airhandler placed in one of the rooms. Exposed ductwork was hung from the ceiling. Finally the 1980s, the hall was extended and the meeting room was divided into 6 more offices.
Drop ceilings were added to the center hall and nearly all the
rooms. For some reason insulation was placed in the new interior
walls. This was the floorplan at transfer. Section A was in good condition until 2000 when the BRAC office turned off the heat and electric for nearly 18 months. This section became infested with mold, especially the central corridor. Once the building was transfered to Wall Township in 2006, we disinfected the walls and placed dehumidifiers in the building to remove the excess mositure. We then had the roof completely removed, all water damaged wood was repaired and a complete new roof was installed.
Larry Wilkins found a copy of the original electical plan for 9032. Using this as a resource in the development of our NPS approved Preservation and Utilization Plan we proposed returning Section A to the original WW2 floorplan. This required removing all post WW2 interior modifications, including drop ceilings, walls, insulation, ductwork, the chrysler air handler, additional electrical panels and outlets.
When we began the work we were pleased to find the original WW2 ceiling intact, hidden above the drop ceilings. The original WW2 electrical boxes for lights were inplace. We had lots of minor sheetrock and batton repair, but this was easily accomplished using materials salvaged from the 1950s walls. The wall removal work took several months, but is now complete. We also added central heat and air-conditioning for Section A without adding any modern ceiling or wall vents. We made use of the origianal WW2 summer ventalation louvers. Our contractor placed plenums over selected louvers for air supply as well as air returns. This maintained the WW2 appearance while modern comforts were added.
Page updated February 11, 2009 page created July 28, 2008