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Renovations at Lewis Place, the home for the family of Miami University's president, were completed in time for the building to be used for public events during Reunion Weekend, but not without some major structural work, Richard Norman, senior vice president of finance and business services, told the Miami University board of trustees last Friday.

In fall 2005, when former President James Garland announced his intention to retire, the board of trustees charged Miami's administration with renovating the historic building.

As is typical with many old homes, Miami staff found severe structural problems during the renovations of the home, which has served Miami presidents since 1903. Many overdue and much-needed renovations were designated for Lewis Place last year, but a growing list of hidden defects added significantly to renovation costs.

As work proceeded, crews discovered there were no foundation footers under a section of the kitchen and extensive termite and wood rot damage was found in the floor joists at various locations throughout the home, Norman said. In addition, a cistern found underneath the garage needed to be removed and properly

discarded.

Because the home was built in 1839, Lewis Place needed considerable shoring to maintain the house's integrity — Miami's ultimate goal for the renovation, Norman added. In addition, the university was required to bring the house, which is a state building, in line with Ohio's handicapped-accessible code regulations.

Gift funds were used for the structural repairs and all other costs of the renovation, except for changes requested by the university's catering services.

The necessary repairs increased the cost of infrastructure renovations (a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, electrical and plumbing improvements, life safety systems, improvements to the functionality and accessibility of the public area of the house) to more than $1 million.

The catering/hosting renovations (on-site storage for catering supplies, a working area from which to stage 75-100 annual events) were requested by Carillon Catering and cost about $575,000 from housing, dining and guest services' contingency repair/renovation funds.

In addition, residence renovations (refurbishing two bathrooms, reconfiguring one bedroom and converting one bedroom and a closet into a private family room) cost about $318,000 in gift monies. It is the first time in 43 years that the private area has been renovated.

"Lewis Place is a multifunctional house, serving as both a public university building for meetings and events and a private residence," Norman said.

The building's 1928-vintage, below-ground-level garage that frequently flooded has been replaced and a new energy-efficient HVAC system will replace the five furnaces in the house that had been added over time. Sixteen fireplaces originally heated the home.

The completed renovations include a three-car garage, an outside deck and patio area and improved circulation and foot- traffic patterns throughout the house for large events. The renovations also reflect both the state codes for public buildings and "the home's original Southern Colonial architecture, thus preserving its historic nature,"

Norman said.