door assessment.pdf
3 Converse Street Suite 201 Palmer, MA 01069 PH 413-283-2553 FX 413-289-8993
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Door and Related Detail Elements
General Assessment:
The current entries for the building are not original to the structure. The last reference to the original doors were
made as part of the architectural description of the property in 1972 and are believed to be wooden doors with
decorative iron hardware. No remnants of these doors are present on the site. Documentation has been discovered
on site for the sponsorship of monies for the doors which are currently on the building. The doors continued to be
paired leaves and are non-thermally broken frames and doors providing no thermal break or airlock compliance with
the building code. The doors and frames are made of aluminum and panel surfaces are textured to mimic weathered
wood. The applicant proposes the replacement of these doors with a thermally broken frame and equivalent door
leaf perimeter with an insulated glazed insert providing a visual glimpse to the building interior and, on two entries,
interior doors original to the building. On the third entry the door opens onto circulation into the sanctuary with an
interior door leading to conference space from the common hall. This third entry is presently functioning as the
ADA compliant entry/egress for the building and is situated remotely to the Elm Street facades.
At the prior session the commission was conceding the circumstances for two of the three doors with the supported
change at the ADA compliant entry and a split of opinion at the North tower entries between the entry facing Elm
Street and the east facing approach view from the downtown of Northampton. Both of these subsequent openings
have interior doors to complete the vestibule airlock configuration. It should also be noted that in the case of these
openings the pointed arch infill or transom portion of the opening has also been filled with uninsulated aluminum
sheet material with applied decorative escutcheons which have no relevance to the original building or architectural
style..
Sincerely,
Lawrence Tuttle, AIA