Springwood Seasonal Closure for 2020
For calendar year 2020 the Home of FDR National Historic Site will be actively engaged in numerous contracts affecting both the interior and exterior of the Springwood mansion. These activities will be highly disruptive to the park’s ability to provide adequate visitor services to Springwood. Further, should the park attempt to require contractors to work in such a fashion that some limited touring of the home is still viable, the efficiency of contract execution will be severely hampered, raising costs and substantially increasing the duration of the interruption.
The park has instead decided to close Springwood to all tours from April 1 – October 31 of 2020 to ensure visitor safety and effective management of the construction activities. These dates were chosen because the majority of the work that needs to be completed needs to be during the warmer months. Should work be substantially complete earlier than October 31, the Home will reopen as soon as practical.
The Projects Include:
Full HVAC Replacement: affecting primarily the second and third floor interiors, the laundry building (where new equipment will be housed), and the west hillside (where the structure housing the old equipment will be removed). The period of performance is March – October. This work was unsuitable to being performed outside of the summer season due to the extensive amount of work that is being performed outside and underground.
Full Fire Alarm and Intrusion System Update: affecting primarily the first and second floors. The period of performance is March – October. It was determined to bundle this project with the HVAC under one prime contractor due to the need to closely coordinate the work of each activity.
Exterior Painting: affecting all elevations and each point of egress. The period of performance is May – September. Due to required temperatures for exterior painting, this project must be performed during the summer season.
Repair/Rehab of Balustrades: affecting north, south and east exterior elevations. The period of performance is May – September. Due to required temperatures for exterior painting, this project must be performed during the summer season.
Interior Plaster Repairs: affecting first, second and third floors. The period of performance is August – October. This work needs to be performed in conjunction with the other contract work as some of the other activities will necessitate such repairs.
This Additional Potential Work Includes:
Interior Painting of Visitor Spaces: affecting first floor entryway, hall, stair and 2nd floor hall. The period of performance would be set to align with other contracting actions, likely July - October.
Conservation of Pictures Frames: requires removal of 70 framed prints and paintings from exhibit on the first and second floor. To be completed in conjunction with their removal to accommodate interior painting.
Conservation Treatment of Family Books: affecting the library exhibit. The period of performance will be April – October. Work will be done in conjunction with other project activities to capitalize on the efficiencies that can be gained from being able to work in a high visitor area during a temporary closure.
Deep Clean of Interior Spaces: affecting all floors. The period of performance would be August - October. Work will be done in conjunction with other project activities to capitalize on the efficiencies that can be gained from being able to work in a high visitor area during a temporary closure. As a bonus, the park will start up the new HVAC system with a much cleaner environment for improved air quality.
Photo Documentation and Re-cataloging: affecting approximately 6,000 exhibited objects (67% of the entire museum collection) as they are returned to the Home. Overdue work that is fundamental to collection accountability and security, often too disruptive to perform during the course of regular business.
