Historic Building Exterior:
Adjacent New Construction on a Site

Adjacent New Construction on a Site

New construction proposed as part of a rehabilitation project on a site should be compatible with the size, scale, and character of the historic property in order to meet the Standards for Rehabilitation. Most important, the new construction should not significantly alter the historic relationship of the existing building or buildings to their immediate surroundings, destroy historic features, or obscure primary views of the historic property.

Important to consider prior to construction:

• The historic setting of the property.
• The location of the proposed new construction.
• The size, scale, and design of the new construction in relationship
  to the historic building or buildings on the site.

When considering the setting of the historic property, it is necessary to evaluate how important the surroundings are in conveying the character of the property. Is the historic property within an urban, rural, or designed landscape setting? Large-scale construction in close proximity to a historic building may be appropriate in a dense urban context, but may not be appropriate in a rural or designed setting. Important views of the property are also crucial in determining the impact of new construction.

Compatible New Construction

New townhouses (blue) proposed to be built around the perimeter of the playing field of the historic school grounds, do not negatively impact the historic character of the resource. The school building (green) is located in a residential neighborhood that consists of one- and two-story houses. The townhouses front on the surrounding streets and back onto the former playing field. The new construction is located behind the school and it will not impact the historic character of the school or its site. The new townhouses are lower in height than the historic school and the massing has been deliberately broken up so that it is more in keeping with the density of the surrounding neighborhood. (The parking next to the school already existed and is not part of the rehabilitation proposal.)
Drawing: NPS Files