University of Notre Dame’s Main Building Historic Renovation Photos, South Bend Indiana Architecture, US Architect
University of Notre Dame Main Building Historic Renovation
Aug 23, 2021
Location: South Bend, Indiana, United States of America
Golden Dome – University of Notre Dame’s Main Building Historic Renovation
Photos by Don Foster
University of Notre Dame’s Main Building Historic Renovation, Indiana
The “Golden Dome”, also known as the Main Building, is the University of Notre Dame’s most famous landmark. It was built originally in 1865 but due to an extensive fire, was rebuilt entirely of brick, limestone and mortar in 1879.
So, by the spring of 2015, the building was ready for repairs and renovations. Officials at the university were committed to keeping the Main Building looking as beautiful as the rest of the newer buildings on campus but also keeping its historical accuracy.
The Golden Dome is a historically perfect example why buildings should be clad with brick. Brick is a maintenance-free product but overtime brick buildings need to be maintained and this historic building is no different.
Typical masonry repairs were completed on the project by replacing damaged brick along with tuck-pointing mortar and restoration work was also needed on the limestone bands. Also, over one hundred years of atmospheric dirt had accumulated on the walls which had turned some of the brick almost black.
There was so much dirt embedded into the surface in some of those areas that proper cleaning could not remove it without damaging the brick. Also, the limestone had been poorly patched over the years and had created significant color variations in the accent band.
Staining with a Proven Masonry Stain was able to restore much of the original color to the brick, mortar and limestone bands and was the best fix for this project. Aesthetically, the goal was to restore the famous landmark to its original state.
This is a true example of why brick is the best, longlasting building material to use. It endures time and can be refreshed.
141 years later the “Golden Dome” still looks like it did all those years ago and will continue to look as good for years and years to come. As for the importance of using brick, it comes down to the same reasons why we build with brick. Its character, beauty and strength are just a few things but also it is the most durable building material ever.
Brick Manufacturer: Belden Brick
Brick Distributor: Rose Brick
Mason Contractor: Ziolkowski Construction, email:574-287-1811
Photographer: Don Foster, email: [email protected]
University of Notre Dame Main Building Renovation images / information received 220821
Location: South Bend, Indiana, USA
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