[MassHistPres] Large school windows

[Leslie Donovan]

Ralph,   Two ideas:

1.  A counter-balanced window.  When you open the bottom, the top also
opens. The top and bottom sashes are the same size & weight, so they provide
exactly the correct weight.   There is an aluminum replacement window
available made by Custom Window  http://www.customwindow.com/ , but perhaps
this could be done with the existing wood windows. 

2.  Fix the upper sashes closed and add weight to the lower sash.  This
should only be needed if you add insulated glass, otherwise the windows
should be weighted properly already.  Done at Pearl Street School in Reading
(assisted living) and the St. Mary's School in Charlestown (senior living). 

Leslie Donovan    

-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
[mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Ralph Slate
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 10:33 PM
To: MassHistPres MA
Subject: [MassHistPres] Large school windows

As part of an energy efficiency program, the city of Springfield is 
contracting for the replacement of windows in several of its older 
(1900-1930) schools. Some of the windows had already been replaced over 
the years, others are original to the building. The city is proposing to 
replace what used to be large (not sure the height, but probably 7' or 
8' opening), double-hung windows with a three-panel approach, the top 
1/3 being fixed, with a smaller double-hung window installed below it. 
It would be a significant visual departure from the original design 
because it would appear as three separate panels rather than two.

Their argument was that 8' double hung replacement windows would be too 
hard for teachers to open. I asked if they had specific complaints in 
the city about this, and the architect admitted that they did not, nor 
did they do any research about it, but they had feedback from other 
communities so this is what they proposed.

Does anyone have any comment on this? Any alternative approaches? Any 
corroboration of the "too hard to open" claim?

Thanks,

Ralph Slate
Springfield, MA
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