Architect: David E. Gall, Architect, PA
Project Location: Pulaski, VA
Project Completion Date: 2010
Short Description: Nearly destroyed by fire in 2008, our project restored and repurposed the historic 1888 Pulaski Virginia train station as a community center. By studying remnants of original materials that survived the fire, new replica features were constructed including doors, windows, dormers, and hand crafted wood and metal work. Exterior stone masonry was reconstructed where fire damaged and cleaned throughout. The floor plan was adapted for meeting and support functions. The completed project now more closely matches its original design and the local landmark remains a source of civic pride and a center for the activities of the community.
Architect’s Statement: The restoration of the 1888 Richardsonian Romanesque Pulaski Train Station embodies the resolve of a community to save an historic landmark. Nearly lost to abandonment in the 1900s, the Town of Pulaski worked to salvage the depot and used it for many years as a local history museum. A devastating fire in 2008 nearly destroyed the structure but did not destroy the commitment of the community who immediately created a team to again restore and repurpose the building. Our efforts as a part of that team included researching old photographs and materials surviving the fire, determining the building’s original plan, and creating technical reconstruction documents. While passenger rail service is no longer active in Pulaski, the original plan was instead adapted to repurpose the building as a community center. All work was designed and undertaken in accordance with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The fire damage posed unique challenges for both exterior and interior work. Exterior walls of local stone were salvaged with some reconstruction at fire scorched areas and all masonry cleaned of soot and smoke odor. Windows and doors that survived the fire were used as models to create new wood panel and molding profiles needed for replacement openings. One dormer remained after the fire and it provided a valuable pattern for reconstructing new historically accurate additions. At the interior, the original passenger waiting rooms were repurposed for a large public meeting room and accessory functions such as restrooms and a serving kitchen. All spaces were made accessible. New utilities were installed throughout the building and concealed in attic and crawl space locations to maintain the appearance of the station’s original interior design. A fire protection sprinkler system was added. The project was underwritten by insurance funds and the Town of Pulaski. The restored Pulaski Train Station is now, more than ever, a vital and active community gathering space. The old passenger waiting room is booked weeks in advance for a wide variety of functions and the station’s old freight room now bustles again as a bicycle rental shop. The 2008 fire has turned out to be no match for a community with the will to retain a landmark that embodies its history.
Type of Construction: The Pulaski Train Station was constructed in 1888 with diabase stone known locally as Peak Creek Granite. Stone walls were originally load bearing, carrying roof loads from stick framed rafters. The heat of the 2008 fire compromised the load carrying capacity of the stone and it was retained as a veneer while introducing new interior load bearing steel wall framing coupled with engineered wood trusses. Truss members were configured in a portion of the attic to create mechanical equipment space. Thus, the new framing systems provided opportunities to fully insulate the exterior walls and attic. Existing tongue and groove wood flooring and wood joists largely survived the fire and were reused. A dry pipe fire protection sprinkler system was added throughout coupled with new plumbing and electrical systems and a new gas fired zoned mechanical system made up of heat pumps.