Hundred-year-old Quad fence well into restoration process

The restoration of the fence surrounding the Quadrangle has faced many hurdles as Facilities and Real Estate Services work to maintain historical accuracy.

The fence, which has surrounded the Quad since the first phase of its construction in 1880, is "historically significant," Facilities interim managing director Mariette Buchman said.

Both the fence and the Quad itself are historic landmarks officially recognized by the city of Philadelphia.

The project was started late last summer and is projected to be completed no later than graduation.

"This is a project that Facilities and Business Services have had their eye on for a number of years," said Buchman.

Facilities has been careful to arrange the construction schedule so that students feel minimal disruption. For example, no construction was done during reading days or finals last semester.

Still, many students have complained about construction noises disrupting their early morning sleep.

College freshman and Ware College House resident Tzvetomir Peev said that last semester he was often awoken as early as seven or eight in the morning.

But for the most part, students are tolerant of the construction.

"I wish it wasn't there," said Fisher-Hassenfeld resident and Engineering and Wharton freshman Issei Suzuki, "but it's not that big of a problem."

The fence is composed of brick, topped by limestone caps. Wrought iron emerges from the limestone.

Buchman explained that too much of the fence was deteriorating, so they needed to restore it.

But she added that they are trying to use as much of the original materials as possible to remain historically accurate.

"We counted on being able to reuse some of it," Buchman said.

"We were able to salvage enough brick to do the front face all the way around the Quad," said David Pancoe, Facilities project manager for the fence.

However, he added that on the back of the fence they substituted newer bricks that matched the color of the older ones.

Buchman explained that because of its historical significance, every minute detail of its restoration had to be approved by the city.

"We complete a small section and then cannot proceed until we receive this approval," Business Services spokeswoman Barbara Lea-Kruger wrote in an e-mail.

Since the Quad was constructed in three sections - with three different colors of mortar - Pancoe had to use the same three colors of mortar in different parts of the fence.

"You apply the latest technology," said University Landscape architect Bob Lundgren, "but you really have to match exactly what the building looks like."

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