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Institutional - 34 Beacon StreetHistoric
Historic
outside.
Rebuilt
underneath.
Crown restored the copper roof on Northeastern University's Beacon Street building, replacing worn sections and upgrading the insulation and waterproofing beneath for its academic use.
- Location
- 34 Beacon Street, Boston
- Building
- University-owned, beside the Parkman House
- Scope
- Copper restoration, insulation, waterproofing
- Standard
- Current codes, original design intent
The ChallengeEfficiency
Efficiency
on a historic
roofline.
A Beacon Street building with a historic exterior and a working academic interior. The copper had to come back to its original look while everything under it was brought up to current standards.
Starting conditions
The building sits directly beside the Parkman House and carries the same Beacon Street expectations - the roof has to read as part of the block, not as a repair.
Its use is academic rather than residential, so the assembly also had to meet the insulation and waterproofing demands of a modern institutional facility.
The ApproachHow Crown
How Crown
built it.
Documented, sequenced, and largely self-performed. Here is how the work came together on site.
- 01
Assess the copper
Aged and worn sections were identified and replaced. Sound copper was kept and treated rather than torn off for the sake of a uniform tear-off.
- 02
Treat for weather
The restored roof was treated across the full copper field to slow weather-related degradation.
- 03
Upgrade underneath
Insulation and waterproofing were improved for the building's current academic use - all of it invisible from the street.
- 04
Meet both standards
Every modification was held to current building standards while respecting the original design intent.
The ResultOriginal look,
Original look,
current
standards.
34 Beacon Street keeps its historic copper roofline and now performs as the academic building it has become.
CopperRestored, not wholesale replaced
Beacon StHistoric district standards
AcademicUpgraded for current use
- Aged and worn copper replaced; sound material retained and treated.
- Full copper field treated against weather-related degradation.
- Insulation and waterproofing upgraded for academic use.
- Modifications held to current building standards without altering the original design intent.
Slate and copper, done right.
Restoration is Crown's craft. If your building carries a historic slate or copper roof, see how we keep it watertight for another century.
Free EstimateHave a roof
Have a roof
like this?
Tell us about your building and what it needs. We will schedule a no-obligation assessment and walk you through what restoration or replacement actually involves - with no pressure to over-build.