The Maryland School for the Blind | Newcomer, Case and Campbell Halls Restoration

Newcomer Hall: Following Department of the Interior Guidelines, as approved by the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), the exterior facade of the historic c: 1910 campus signature Newcomer Hall underwent a complete façade restoration. An extensive amount of glazed Terra Cotta cornice, fascia, finials, and other ornate detailing—most notably the 10’ high representation of the Maryland State seal—was carefully restored. All exterior brickwork was hand washed and repointed mimicking original designs. The slate roof was repaired and sections replaced as necessary. Lewis worked with MHT to provide an alternate solution to the replacement of the large historic windows, resulting in significant savings to the school. The building’s interior was gutted to the corridor and stairway walls, Hazmats removed and the building was completely renovated to include all new major systems, finishes, doors/hardware and a new sensory wayfinding system for the visually impaired students—all while maintaining protected operation of the basement computer room which operated the entire school’s data, fire alarm and other critical systems and providing protected access for Case Hall’s cafeteria.

Case and Campbell Halls Renovations/Case Hall Addition: Similar to the interior work for Newcomer Hall, Case and Campbell Halls, interconnected to one another and to Newcomer Hall, were gutted and completely renovated including new HVAC and electrical systems, a new food preparation area, mailroom, shipping and receiving area, classrooms, and laboratories. Case Hall’s addition includes a commercial kitchen providing meals for day students, staff and weekday residents in adjacent buildings, a new dining hall, library, media center, and an outdoor terrace learning space. In order not to shut down the food service when the kitchen was taken off line, Lewis Contractors provided an innovative solution and contracted with a mobile commercial kitchen vendor to continue uninterrupted service. The final portion of the multi-phase project included demolition of the existing Wolfe Center building, complex site and underground utility work and construction of the new storm water management facility. Following completion of this facility, final grading and paving, Phase 3 of the loop road provides complete contiguous access throughout this portion of the campus.