Bermuda is approaching the home stretch in its preparations to host the 35th America’s Cup. We at BS&R Group were fortunate to have been involved in many of the required building renovations in Dockyard. Our General Manager, Mr. Anthony Madeiros, has more to say about the new features below.
What buildings did you work on in Dockyard?
We worked on Buildings #4, #7, #9 and #19 in Dockyard, also known historically as the Machine Shop/Chicane Building, Sail Loft, The Great Western Storehouse, and the Glassblowing Building.
The previous windows in the buildings had exceeded their life cycle and were not in good condition. Just the rot and broken windowpanes alone justified replacement. WEDco had been working for a while in renovating a number of buildings in Dockyard so the approval was a long time coming.
We locally built and installed new window frames, sashes and doors for the buildings, and made a few repairs and alterations to existing wooden doors.
Where there various types of windows that had to be done? How many?
We built traditional Bermuda sashes along with a few larger Radius windows. In total we built and installed just over 500 new window sashes.
What materials, stains, finishes hardware etc did you use?
We exclusively used Accoya wood for every new architectural feature. We didn’t apply any paint finishes to them in order for the windows to remain maintenance free for at least the next 50 years.
As they are historic buildings Accoya materials work to not only give them a long lasting material but also enable them to have a wood that ages well and will match the rest of the historical area of Dockyard.
How long did it take to do all the work?
We are still doing some finishing touches, so the entire scope of work is not fully complete yet. It has been just under two years since we first started milling lumber for the new millwork additions in Dockyard.
Anything special about the project or build?
Dockyard’s architecture is very unique in Bermuda, and each building we worked on has its own feel and personality. The specialness of the project was the opportunity to contribute towards extending the use of buildings that have been erect for over 200 years.
The West End Development Company (WEDCo) is very happy with Accoya lumber, so much so that they now specify its use in formal tender documents. They understand Accoya’s unique properties and how suitable it is for Bermuda. Most of the buildings in Dockyard have more than one storey, so WEDCo will save some money moving forward due to not having to repaint the windows and frames throughout their lifetime.