Fort Christiansvaern in Christiansted, St. Croix. Photo Credit: ERNICE GILBERT, V.I. CONSORTIUM
The National Park Service's Christiansted National Historic Site, in collaboration with the Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC), has announced the commencement of Phase II of the historic Stable Building roof repair project at Fort Christiansvaern. This stage of the restoration involves a comprehensive reconstruction of the roof to ensure the longevity of the building while preserving its historical aesthetics.
The Stable Building's roof, which was last replaced between 1972-1976, had reached its life expectancy in 2015. HPTC had previously performed emergency repairs in 2017, removing the failing timbers and roof and installing a temporary roof to safeguard the structure and its contents.
This phase of the restoration involves several crucial steps. Workers will remove the top layer of the temporary roof and the temporary framing beneath the exterior roof layer. Following that, hollow core concrete plank panels will be installed for the structural base layer. The building's interior timber framing will be preserved to maintain the key historical features of the structure's interior.
In a nod to authenticity and respect for the site's history, a layer of Danish kiln-fired brick will be added to the concrete panel roofing, NPS said. The bricks, sourced from Danish brickmakers, have been chosen to match the historical color schemes and appearance of the original structure. The project will be finalized with the application of a brick sealant to the final roof layer.
The NPS and HPTC emphasized the importance of the restoration project, explaining that it allows the building – and thereby the complex history of Fort Christiansvaern – to be preserved for future generations. The roof's structural and aesthetic restoration is a significant part of maintaining the historical integrity of the Stable Building.
Work on the project is scheduled to run from June 2023 through August 2023.
