Jordan Hall Unveiled

NEC to "Unveil" Jordan Hall After Year Long, $20 Million Restoration Work, November 18 at Noon

President Tony Woodcock will Offer First Glimpse of  Refurbished Exterior as Scaffolding and Netting are Removed

National Historic Landmark has New Green Roof, Recast Terra Cotta Cornices, New Marble Decoration, Energy Efficient Windows All Adhering to Strict Preservation Guidelines

President Tony Woodcock will offer the first glimpse of a refurbished Jordan Hall as construction scaffolding and netting are removed at a ceremonial "unveiling", Wednesday Nov. 18 at noon.  NEC's four buildings have been undergoing $20 million in deferred maintenance work for the last year, and Jordan Hall—a National Historic Landmark—is the last to be completed. Accompanied by festive music and refreshments, the unveiling will celebrate not only removal of the scaffolding but also completion of the project ahead of schedule and under budget.  The festivities will take place at the Conservatory's main entrance at 30 Gainsborough St.
   
Funded by tax-exempt bond financing completed in July 2008 through MassDevelopment, the construction project was designed to secure, protect, and stabilize NEC's campus buildings for the next 50 years. Tishman Construction, which specializes in new and restorative work, was the project manager.
   
In Phase 1 completed in fall 2008, the Conservatory replaced roofs on the residence hall/library and made initial repairs to the Jordan Hall façade before suspending work for the winter. In May, the project resumed with scaffolding erected on all four buildings. Over the summer and fall, workers—who numbered more than 100 a day—replaced roofs on the 295 Huntington and Jordan Hall, restored or replaced windows on three buildings, and repointed the facades on all buildings.
   
Emphasis throughout the project was on sustainability, energy efficiency, historic preservation, comfort, and safety. In the case of Jordan Hall, existing windows were restored wherever possible or replaced by new wood windows that meet preservation guidelines.  New marble was quarried in Italy to replace damaged marble pilasters and decorative medallions.  Decayed terra cotta cornices were removed and replaced with new sections cast from the originals. Similarly, the slate shingles on the roof of 295 Huntington were preserved and reused if in good condition or replaced with new slate.
   
To maximize energy efficiency overall and to weather-proof Jordan Hall rooms where temperature- and humidity-sensitive musical instruments are kept, workers installed High R-value roof insulation and reflective PVC roofing material, energy efficient windows and weather sealing, and new efficient boilers. All usable building materials removed during construction were recycled.
   
During the construction, sidewalk access on Gainsborough St. was restricted, drop-off parking prohibited, and the south bound lane of traffic closed to cars.  It is expected that those restrictions will be lifted as soon as all work is completed and equipment removed.
   
For further information, check the New England Conservatory Construction Page on Facebook.
NEC’s Jordan Hall, Brown Hall, Williams Hall and the Keller Room are located at 30 Gainsborough St., corner of Huntington Ave. St. Botolph Hall is located at 241 St. Botolph St. between Gainsborough and Mass Ave.

ABOUT NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY

Recognized nationally and internationally as a leader among music schools, New England Conservatory offers rigorous training in an intimate, nurturing community to 720 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral music students from around the world.  Its faculty of 225 boasts internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars.  Its alumni go on to fill orchestra chairs, concert hall stages, jazz clubs, recording studios, and arts management positions worldwide.  Nearly half of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is composed of NEC trained musicians and faculty.

The oldest independent school of music in the United States, NEC was founded in 1867 by Eben Tourjee. Its curriculum is remarkable for its wide range of styles and traditions.  On the college level, it features training in classical, jazz, Contemporary Improvisation, world and early music. Through its Preparatory School, School of Continuing Education, and Community Collaboration Programs, it provides training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, adults, and seniors.  Through its outreach projects, it allows young musicians to engage with non-traditional audiences in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes—thereby bringing pleasure to new listeners and enlarging the universe for classical music and jazz.

NEC presents more than 600 free concerts each year, many of them in Jordan Hall, its world- renowned, 106-year old, beautifully restored concert hall.  These programs range from solo recitals to chamber music to orchestral programs to jazz and opera scenes.  Every year, NEC’s opera studies department also presents two fully staged opera productions at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston.

NEC is co-founder and educational partner of From the Top, a weekly radio program that celebrates outstanding young classical musicians from the entire country. With its broadcast home in Jordan Hall, the show is now carried by National Public Radio and is heard on 250 stations throughout the United States.

Contact: Ellen Pfeifer
Public Relations Manager
New England Conservatory
617-585-1143
ellen.pfeifer@necmusic.edu