About nine months after a hole formed in the facade of the Gatehouse, Stevens has begun making repairs to the oldest structure on campus. Crucial steps are being taken in order to preserve the home of the Stevens Police Department and the only remaining building from a time when the Stevens campus was a private estate known as Castle Point.
During a rain storm last April, several stones fell out of a wall on the right tower of the Gatehouse. Scaffolding was quickly put up around the perimeter of the building in order to avoid further damage. The hole in the facade is likely the result of several years of water damage to the mortar holding together the stones of the Gatehouse, a building that was originally constructed in 1835.
The Gatehouse will undergo careful refurbishing so that the building may remain intact and structurally sound when the scaffolding is removed. Although the mortar used on some parts of the building will be replaced and the cracks between some of stones will be filled, those in charge of the repairs are making the effort to minimize the amount of modifications to the Gatehouse. Not only was the situation assessed by engineers, but also by professionals familiar with the refurbishment of historical monuments. “They’re doing [repairs] in such a way that they preserve the historic value of the building,” said Chief of Campus Police Tim Griffin.
Given that the Gatehouse serves as a symbol for the institution, it makes sense that Stevens would try to preserve its historical value. For the entirety of its existence, the Gatehouse has served as a grand entrance to the campus that lies ahead, as well as an emblem of Stevens. Official yearbook photos of the graduating class were once taken in front of the Gatehouse, and guests to campus used to climb atop the building to view New York City.
“They’ll be finished [making repairs] by the end of the spring semester,” says Chief Griffin. Once the refurbishing process is complete, the scaffolding will be removed and the main gateway will be reopened to pedestrian traffic.
