Restoring Yaddo: An Interview with Stephen Reilly
Stephen Reilly on the grounds at Yaddo with the mansion behind him.
The Yaddo Mansion has been welcoming artists from all over the world for nearly 100 years. The 55-room Queen Anne Revival mansion sits on a sprawling 400-acre estate just south of the famous Saratoga Race Course. Years of deferred maintenance had taken their toll when the Yaddo Corporation contracted with Lacey Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture & Preservation, LLP.
We reached out to Stephen F. Reilly, AIA, LEED AP, the architect in charge of the project to get a bit more insight into this impressive restoration.
What were some of the highlights of working on the Yaddo mansion?
During the design phase, the team surveyed the building utilizing multiple techniques, cross-checking traditional means with ladders, lifts, tape measures, and photos against laser scanning from the ground and through the use of drones. Precise, accurate mapping and translation to drawings of more than 100 separate roof planes, hundreds of windows and doors, and many areas of stone repairs would not have gone as successfully without the use of multiple technologies. In addition, the use of detailed photo-documentation as preparation for careful disassembly/reassembly of the porte-cochere was a critical part of placing every stone back in its original position.
Did you discover anything surprising during your work?
A collage of photos showing evident deterioration before restoration began. Credit: Stephen Reilly, LTRW
The existing mansion was constructed immediately after its predecessor burned to the ground. Perhaps more of a confirmation rather than a surprise, the extent to which original foundations in the reconstruction were used in the current was unclear, but probes and geotechnical survey showed that original foundations were definitely reused in the existing construction; reuse of footings that may not have been adequate for the new loads (such as that from the new porte-cochere) may explain why some parts of the building had not moved at all since original construction, while others progressively settled several inches.
How is the mansion better serving its residents thanks to this restoration?
Between the months of October and May a significant portion of the building is closed, but the kitchen and dining areas remain open year-round. Part of the project was to fully renovate the heating and cooling system in the latter portions of the building to provide more comfortable spaces and dramatically reduce energy costs.
A collage of photos showing the in-progress restoration work, including images of people working along the building’s exterior. Credit: Stephen Reilly, LTRW
Why do you think it’s so important to protect historic sites like this one for future generations?
The architecture of the building is extraordinary on its own and conveys an interesting history of the Trask family and their role in the arts; but more than that, the Yaddo Mansion is a unique monument to the arts. Yaddo is an embodiment of stories and experiences following hundreds of extraordinarily talented artists who find this place to be the inspirational spark for their craft.
This interview is part of our series celebrating the 2020 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award winners. You can find all the posts in this series by clicking here.