Dartmouth College Baker Berry Library 1
Dartmouth College Baker Berry Library 2
Dartmouth College Baker Berry Library 3

Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College, Baker-Berry Library

  • Building Enclosure Design & Consulting
  • Historic Preservation
  • Building Enclosure Design & Consulting
  • Historic Preservation

Below Grade Waterproofing

Within the basement of the Baker-Berry Library, a large multi-wall plaster mural created by Jose Clemente Orozco titled “Epic of American Civilization” (designated as a national historic landmark in 2013) was created on the interior partition walls adjacent to and abutting the building’s exterior foundation wall. Dartmouth personnel reported areas of moisture damage within the plaster mural at locations where the partition walls abut the basement foundation, and within interior finishes below window well openings. Gale performed design development and construction phase services associated with the replacement of the basement foundation wall’s exterior waterproofing and improved drainage in the window well. Due to the sensitivity and the fragile condition of the plaster mural, special design considerations were required and developed to mitigate vibrations during construction.