Replacement Windows in Historic Houses: A Study of the College Hill Historic District in Greensboro, North Carolina

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Jennie G. Alkire (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Jo Ramsay Leimenstoll

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to contribute to the current body of information about the use of replacement windows in historic buildings by providing data on the frequency of window replacement and lifespan within a residential historic district. College Hill Historic District, the first designated district, and the oldest of the three such districts in Greensboro, North Carolina, provided the data set for this research. This Historic District has 28 years of records since its inception, in 1980, and therefore a significant depth of information was gleaned from the minutes and files that are maintained by the City of Greensboro Historic District Commission. Furthermore, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993, which provided background information about the architectural characteristics of the neighborhood. The researcher developed an Excel spreadsheet to collect, sort, and analyze the data; delineating between contributing dwellings and non-contributing single-family residence dwellings, and the Housing and Community Development purchased houses, as the control group. Primary information noted if, when, and where approval for Certificate of Appropriateness' for window replacements were granted, including any additional replacements. The data revealed that the majority of the windows, nearly 85%, were retained over the 28-year time-frame. The research also revealed patterns indicating learned cluster behavior in replacing windows; and that suggests that age and architectural style may be influencing factors.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2008
Keywords
Embodied energy, Historic district, Historic preservation, Replacement windows, Sustainability
Subjects
Historic districts $x Conservation and restoration.
Historic buildings $x Conservation and restoration.
Windows $x Conservation and restoration.
Historic preservation $z North Carolina $z Greensboro

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