Museum

The comprehensive Phase I renovations of the Baltimore Museum of Art were completed and involved the renovation of the West Wing – home to the museum’s contemporary galleries. Renovations in this phase were performed under a CM contract with work including a
roof replacement, lighting systems replacement and related controls, floor refinishing, painting, structural upgrades, and finishes.

All work was completed without disruption to ongoing programming—the Museum remained open to the public throughout construction. The Lewis team worked under high-security escort for the duration on the project. The team successfully coordinated with the multiple stakeholders that make up the Baltimore Museum of Art—from facilites to curating to museum programming—to create a finished, funtional yet inspiration space that the entire team could be proud of.

Restoration of the South Portico of the Homewood Museum included the removal, cleaning, repair and reinstallation of the existing brick veneer, brick pavers, marble stair treads and risers, marble cheek walls, and the checkerboard stone tiles on the portico landing. All marble from treads and risers was numbered and cataloged as sections were removed for ease and accuracy of reinstallation and was repaired onsite with historically accurate Dutchman pinning, patching and cleaning methods. The existing handrails were carefully removed, stripped, sanded and wire-wheeled, and repainted before being re-installed using the original mortise and tenon method. The paint treatments on the project were again held to the same standards of historical accuracy. Perhaps the greatest challenge on this project was the uncovering of a hidden brick arch under the portico steps. According to the original drawings, it was believed that the steps rested on loose rubble, but when the marble steps were removed an extravagant
archway was found below. Work was completed in the midst of an actively occupied University campus—the only access to the site was via brick paved walkways, making delivery coordination extremely important as acceptable routes had to be coordinated with Johns Hopkins Facilities Management, and materials had to be transported in a way that did not damage the walkways.

Lewis also compeleted renovations to Homewood Museum in 1965, 1975, 1977 and 1986.

Lewis Contractors completed this historical restoration of the landmark Mt. Vernon Washington Monument located in downtown Baltimore. Work on this 18-story monument included both comprehensive interior and exterior repairs and renovations. Restoration efforts included stone restoration and conservation, replication and the restoration of the original cast iron fence. Renovations included new roof terrace above the first floor (what has now become the new exhibition space), modifications to doors, frames and hardware, new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems throughout and security system wiring.

The base of the monument—lit in part by four restored skylights—is now a funtional exhibition space where visitors can use touch screens to learn facts about the monument, the nation’s first president and Mount Vernon Place Conservancy.

Original construction of the Mt. Vernon Washington Monument was completed in 1815—the monument is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lewis’ work was completed on schedule by July 4, 2015—the monument’s bicentennial anniversary celebration.

Preconstruction development and construction of a 12,000 SF two story visitors center—a steel bearing structure with a masonry envelope. The project was completed in less than a year, without restricting the museum’s regular operations and school tours. The centerpiece of the structure is a unique, two story glass curtain wall replicating the original, national anthem inspiring, Fort McHenry flag. The new Visitors Center was completed immediately adjacent to the historic flaghouse, which is on the National Register of Historic places. All adjacent work had to be staged carefully around the historic site.

Lewis also performed work on the 1793 Flag House—the house of Mary Pickersgill who made the flag that flew at Fort McHenry in the 1814 battle.

Monticello is the only house in America on the World Heritage List. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia this landmark home is considered to have the most complex roofscape of any house in early 19th-century America. Lewis Contractors facilitated the restoration of this roof in one of our most memorable projects to date. Says the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation of our work, “The Lewis personnel were knowledgeable, experienced, and articulate, and, as such, worked easily with the architects and contributed to the resolution of many complicated and unconventional details of restoration.”

Originally constructed in 1850 as the first home at Mount Vernon Place, 1 West Mt. Vernon Place remained continuously occupied until it was gifted to the Walters Art Museum in 1984. Lewis Contractors was hired to complete only the second major systems renovation—some of which helped to bring the mansion back to its former glory while working to protect the priceless art which will be housed within. By example, installation of the new water mist fire suppression system—one of the first of its kind completed in Maryland—and the Vespa early fire detection system are intentionally so unobtrusive that few will notice them. Because of the strict Maryland Historic Trust (MHT) oversight of this restoration, every sprinkler head or monitor had to be located on site with approved shop drawings providing only general locations for the materials. As 19th century structures were painted in lead based paint on all walls, ceilings and trim, every hole which was drilled into the building had to be completed using proper lead paint standards—i.e. under containment, by trained workmen in respirators and disposable clothing. Another major part of the renovation includes the rebuilt conservatory. Here all but the marble floor and roof structure had deteriorated to a point that it needed to be completely rebuilt, using as much salvaged material as possible and matching the historic construction with new materials. Thermal efficiencies have been magnified exponentially by this new installation. Other parts of the renovation include removal and repair, or replication of the historic cast iron antefix ornaments at both roofs; in situ renovation of the cast iron window pediments; removal and replacement of the storm windows; demo and installation of new roofs at the main house, bay window and conservatory; removal, refurbishment and reinstallation of the historic cast iron security grates and spandrel grilles; repairs to the chimneys; and removal, replacement, or renovation of the floor finishes.