Bread Loaf Corporation (BLC) has been awarded the 2017 Association of General Contractors of Vermont (AGC/VT) Honor Award for the University of Vermont Alumni House and Jack and Shirley Silver Pavilion Project. BLC’s team of designers and contractors were honored for the design, interior restoration and expansion of the former Edward Wells house, a grand Queen Anne Style mansion located at the corner of Maple and Summit Streets in Burlington VT. The 15,000 SF structure was restored for use as the new headquarters of the UVM Alumni Association. Renovations included conversion of the first and second floors into public reception and meetings rooms and accommodation of 4,000 SF of modern office space. Adjacent to the Alumni house, the new 6,000 SF Jack and Shirley Silver Pavilion was designed and constructed by BLC to provide a state of the art conference and reception facilities. In addition the entire 2 ½ acre site was redesigned and re-landscaped.

When it was built in 1892, the Wells home was one of the most prestigious and elegant residences in Burlington. From 1925 to 2003 the building was home to the Delta Psi fraternity and in 1979 the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Largely vacant from 2003 until 2007, the former fraternity was in a greatly deteriorated state when it was purchased by the University of Vermont.

After a competitive proposal process, the University of Vermont and the Alumni Association awarded BLC the project to restore the house and grounds to their former elegance, install modern, energy efficient systems, make the facilities completely accessible, create a banquet/conference facility for 200 people and achieve LEED Silver Accreditation. The project required the complete gutting of the building interior, the installation of all new mechanical and electrical systems, and the insertion of a new 4 story elevator/stair core within the building structure. The team seamlessly integrated the modern systems into the historic fabric of the elegant interiors. Carpenters and painters meticulously repaired, refinished and, where necessary, replicated the elaborate wood and plaster moldings, paneling and carved details. Many of the original light fixtures were repaired and restored by a local studio, and original doors, windows and hardware were preserved and reused.

The Wells House has been reborn as the Alumni House, a vibrant center for student and alumni activities and receptions on campus. The new Jack and Shirley Silver Pavilion provides an elegant counterpoint to the grand mansion. Restored gardens and landscaping gracefully link the Alumni House and Silver Pavilion with the adjacent Grasse Mount Mansion creating a beautiful compliment to the University of Vermont Campus and Burlington.

The project team included: the University of Vermont Alumni Association; University of Vermont Facilities and Planning Department; Bread Loaf Corporation provided Architectural, Planning and Construction Management services; Engineering Ventures, Structural Engineer; Otter Creek Engineering, Civil Engineer; Cx Associates, Commissioning agent; Engineering Services of Vermont, Mechanical/Electrical Engineer; Linda Sampter, LEED Administrator.