FAIRBANKS MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM – 1891

Built in 1890-91 by prominent St. Johnsbury resident, Franklin Fairbanks, and designed by noted St. Johnsbury architect, Lambert Packard, the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium features many characteristics of late 19^th century Richardsonian Romanesque structures of its type: massive stonework; Gothic coronettes; engaged stair towers; elegantly crafted details such as ornately carved sandstone, sculptural frieze work, eyebrow windows, and leaded colored glass windows; a grand barrel-vaulted main gallery; burnished oak and cherry interior finishes; and spiral staircases (description by Suzanne Jamele, Historic Preservation consultant). With much of its historic integrity intact, our challenge in designing an addition to this building was to highlight its interior and exterior historic features while keeping the building relevant and useful for the future.

Nestled along the back of the museum where exterior historic features are least prominent, the addition features a new glass curtain wall showcasing the east facade of the building, much like the historic display cases within the museum itself. This location better integrates the museum itself with other parts of the campus. Much care went into the design of the addition and the choice of building and finish materials to ensure deference to the existing building while allowing for modern, durable technologies.  Most notable among those is mass timber – an emerging technology poised to benefit the Vermont forestry industry.

As part of this project, VIA also undertook preservation and restoration work for the original 1890 building and its 1895 addition which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This included structural upgrades for the historic spires, sandstone repointing and restoration, slate roof and eyebrow window repairs, copper flashing and coping, interior restoration of finishes and historic millwork elements, full perimeter excavation for foundation repairs and waterproofing, and sitework for improved drainage.  (See more of Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium)