First and Summerfield Methodist Church  |  New Haven, CT

Restoration Renovation

This historic structure, originally built in 1849, incurred extensive damage due to a fire. Major damage was done to the sanctuary, steeple, roof and the fellowship hall on the lower level. The church was the subject of a prior renovation at the turn of the century which adversely altered the original colonial style. The fire thud presented an opportunity to restore the church interior to a state closer to its original design.

The project followed historic preservation guidelines and won recognition from the Connecticut Preservation Trust Foundation. A fast tracked design and construction schedule were immediately implemented. The 25,000 square foot interior was completely gutted and renovated, the steeple and pipe organ were repaired, the roof was replaced and code violations were corrected. A new coffered ceiling with indirect lighting was installed. The fire revealed the original window frames. The new window casings were accordingly designed to enhance the grandeur the building's original fenestration.