Attachment (9) with photos-2Application for Variance - Attachment
Dewey House – Smith College
4 Neilson Drive
Northampton, MA 01063
9. For each variance requested, state in detail the reasons why compliance with the Board’s regulations is
impracticable. State the necessary cost of the work required to achieve compliance with the regulations. PLEASE
NOTE THAT YOU SHOULD SUBMIT WRITTEN COST ESTIMATES AS WELL AS PLANS JUSTIFYING
THE COST OF COMPLIANCE. Use additional sheets if necessary.
General:
In all variances listed below the reason for request-
ing the variance is that there is either a conflict with
the integrity of the “historic building” and/or “ex-
cessive cost without substantial benefit”.
A Letter of Determination from the Mass. His-
torical Commission is included, as is a letter from
Smith College’s Disability Services Director, Laura
Rauscher.
The estimates for the work listed below are pro-
vided by Marr Engineering Service of Enfield, CT
(860-749-5867).
Historical Background:
Original Construction: 1827
Style: Greek Revival; Architect Ithiel Town
Early History: Named for Judge Charles Dewey,
one of Northampton’s distinguished citizens whose
heirs sold it and much of the original Smith College
campus to the newly established college in 1871. In
1875 it housed the entire college of “fourteen young
ladies” who were Smith’s first students.
History of Changes: The building was moved
twice. It was moved in 1898 to its present site when
the back wing was added to make room for more
students.
Modifications for Architectural Access (new ramp
and accessible toilet room) and modernization of
the first floor back wing were made in 1994.
Top photo: The southeast and original front facade of Dewey
House, circa 1827, Architect: Ithiel Town
Bottom photo: The back wing of the building was added circa
1898. The porch in foreground shelters the accessible ramp that was added in 1994.
26.0 Doors:
26.5 Width - second and third floor doors
266.3 pull side clearance - second and third floor doors
26.6.4 push side clearance - second and third floor doors
26.10 Thresholds - some (approx. 5) first floor doors in older section.
1. Hardware (on all office entry doors) will be changed to accessible hardware throughout the building - no
variance requested for this at this time.
2. The first floor doors are of sufficient width (both newer doors and older historic ones). There is sufficient
clearance at all of these doors as well. However, some of the doors off the front hall (approximately 6)
have thresholds that are thicker than allowed. This thickness takes into consideration significant floor level
changes in the adjacent rooms due to uneven settling, therefore a variance is requested for this aspect.
Photos:
1) First floor historic doors (right) - sufficient width -
hardware to be replaced and raised in height.2) Thick threshold makes adjustment between uneven
floor levels on first floor (oldest section only)
Floor plan shows “Flex Room” just
opposite new lift.
26.0 Doors (continued):
3. Most upper level doors (second and third floor) do not comply with width requirements. Many of them also
have clearance problems. There are no programmatic changes planned for the halls and doors on the sec-
ond and third levels other than a new lobby for the lift. However, because the doors are not thick enough to
receive standard commercial locksets, the College is considering replacing the doors with thicker ones. If
during such door replacements, it is determined that a doorway can be widened without substantial re-fram-
ing of walls, this will be done. For all other second and third floor doors we request a variance for width
and clearances.
Alternative Compliance: A new “meet-
ing Room / Flex Space” is proposed on the
second floor as an alternative compliance. It
is located just off the lobby area for the
new proposed lift. This space will allow
professors to meet with students even if
their own offices are not fully accessible.
The cost estimate to widen the 2nd floor
doors (without addressing the clearances
issues) is $44,800, excessive cost for
something that can be met with the pro-
posed flex space.
Second floor corridor with narrow
doors and tight clearances.
Trim at historic second floor doors
- lead paint raises cost of widening
doors even in places of sufficient clearance.
Third floor corridor with narrow
doors and tight clearances. See
Elevator variances for access to third floor.
27.0 Stairs:
27.1 Treads and Risers
27.4 Handrails (location, height and extensions)
There is an existing code-compliant stairwell (plan right) that con-
nects all levels of the building (including the basement). This was
built at the time of the new accessible ramp and bathroom.
1. Curved Historic Stair (photo bottom right): This stair complies
for nosings. Adding a second handrail for full compliance and
raising the height of the existing one would significantly detract
from the grace and beauty of this original architectural element.
The estimate for this work is $4,500, but the historic cost is far
greater.
2. Stair from 2nd to 3rd floor (photo bottom left): This stair is
scheduled to remain. It is not possible to fit a fully code compli-
ant stair in the current location. However, the following will be
addressed with the new construction:
• Compliant nosings,
• New (second) handrail at outside walls
• Handrails extensions (one side at the bottom and top, if pos-
sible).
Compliance Alternative: Existing fire stair (as noted above, and per
plan above)
28.0 Elevators:
28.1 General requirement for all floors to be served by elevator
28.12.1c Circumstances for lift alternative
Access to the third floor level can not be accomplished without breaking through the historic eave and roof lines
of the original back wing of the Dewey House. There are a very limited number of offices (only 6) on that level.
An elevator extending to the second floor would be very costly unless it was located exterior of the building.
Otherwise it would require significant re-framing of floor structures and remodeling of interior spaces. The
only logical place for a new elevator (or lift) addition is in the northwest corner (adjacent to the new 1994 stair
tower). This makes sense from the existing floor layout. It also reduces the impact on the historic building, as it
would be near the back stair addition and well screened from the Elm Street Historic District.
The width requirement for an elevator would extend
beyond the original northwest corner of the back
wing and the height would extend above the eave
line. Neither of these is desirable nor appropriate to
the historic massing and details of this building.
A lift is allowed for a two story building, and be-
cause it fits appropriately in both width and height
in this logical and cost effective location, this is
what we propose.
Additionally, the cost of an elevator would be
$88,000 above the cost of a lift, money that is criti-
cally needed for maintenance and repair.
Photos and Plans:
Above: A new stair tower was built (at same time as
accessible ramp) in 1994. A new lift would fit very
nicely just to the west of it.
Bottom Left: The roof of the stair tower would continue down
at the same plane and stop short of the historic corner board
and remain lower than the historic eave line. In contract the
dashed lines show the impact of
an elevator tower (beyond and
above historic corner and eave
lines).
Below: Plan of lift adjacent to
stair tower.
30.0 Public Toilet Rooms:
30.1 General
A variance is sought for the existing third floor toilet room as there will be several other accessible toilet
rooms in more accessible locations in the building.
1. The existing first floor toilet room already complies with the access code.
2. The second floor toilet room will be gutted and replaced with either two accessible toilet rooms (as shown on
plan below) or a single unisex accessible toilet room with two separate additional rooms per plumbing code.
3. A variance is sought for the existing third floor toilet room:
Since the third floor will not be made accessible by this project (see requests above regarding lift),
there is limited room on the third floor, and a tight budget, we request a variance for the third floor
bathroom. At this point plumbing lines and fixtures may be replaced, but no other significant work
will happen in this toilet room
34.0 Storage
There are many storage closets throughout the building. Generally speaking the closets within the offices
are under used, as they are leftover from dorm use and not designed for office uses). There are not plans
to remove or improve them at this time. Faculty make use of adjustable wall shelving and file cabinets
for storage (see photo of adjustable shelves and cramped access to under-utilized closets). We therefore
request any variances for any requirement regard-
ing existing storage closets.
Alternative Compliance:
• Any new storage closets or cabinets to fully
comply
• New copy room cabinetry to fully comply
• New kitchenette to fully comply with this and
other sections of the code.
• Any new closets in renovated office space (1
contemplated at this time) to fully comply