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| Loudoun County Public Schools' Admin Building, Summer 2011 |
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June 27, 2017:
Dear Dr. Michelle Luttrell, Mr. Tom Marshall, Mrs. Jill Turgeon, Mr. Eric DeKenipp, Mrs. Beth Huck, & Dr. Eric Williams,
Hello, my name is A.J. Jelonek. I was a student at Evergreen Elementary School, J. Lupton Simpson Middle School, and Loudoun County High School. I also wrote the history of LCHS. I now come to you as a concerned citizen. I recently visited LCHS to view its current renovation. I was appalled by the new window design on the front of the building.
The windows in question are on the façade’s extensions past the Georgian style central section. These windows were originally a 1950’s modern style. Although modified in the 70’s, they have mostly stayed the same style. The new windows that are being added match the Georgian section’s style. The front section’s windows will now be all architecturally unified, but they never were supposed to be, nor should they.
Please do not misunderstand: I am all for modern, energy-efficient windows. I know the former windows were terrible at keeping heat in and the cold out. But the new window design chosen does not reflect the original builder’s design. The front of Loudoun County High School is its defining feature. With these windows, the iconic façade of this 62-year-old historic building has been compromised and damaged. This is akin to taking an 18th century building from Williamsburg or Yorktown, and dumbing it down to a Busch Gardens level of historic accuracy.
Was a historical consultant hired for this project? That should be a given when any of your older school buildings undergo a renovation.
As a product of LCPS, I have seen the incredible work that can be accomplished by its teachers and staff. I have seen renovations and construction projects that keep historic integrity while modernizing (LCHS’s 2005 renovation, and the exhibit at the new Frederick Douglass ES). I do hold LCPS to a higher level – because I know you can reach it and do your best while doing so.
I would love to now open a dialogue and hear your thoughts regarding the window update.
Thank you for your time,
A.J. Jelonek
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My note was forwarded on to LCPS's Department of Support Services. I was told an official response would take some time, understandably, as summer was their busiest time with school renovations.
Dear Dr. Michelle Luttrell, Mr. Tom Marshall, Mrs. Jill Turgeon, Mr. Eric DeKenipp, Mrs. Beth Huck, & Dr. Eric Williams,
Hello, my name is A.J. Jelonek. I was a student at Evergreen Elementary School, J. Lupton Simpson Middle School, and Loudoun County High School. I also wrote the history of LCHS. I now come to you as a concerned citizen. I recently visited LCHS to view its current renovation. I was appalled by the new window design on the front of the building.
The windows in question are on the façade’s extensions past the Georgian style central section. These windows were originally a 1950’s modern style. Although modified in the 70’s, they have mostly stayed the same style. The new windows that are being added match the Georgian section’s style. The front section’s windows will now be all architecturally unified, but they never were supposed to be, nor should they.
Please do not misunderstand: I am all for modern, energy-efficient windows. I know the former windows were terrible at keeping heat in and the cold out. But the new window design chosen does not reflect the original builder’s design. The front of Loudoun County High School is its defining feature. With these windows, the iconic façade of this 62-year-old historic building has been compromised and damaged. This is akin to taking an 18th century building from Williamsburg or Yorktown, and dumbing it down to a Busch Gardens level of historic accuracy.
Was a historical consultant hired for this project? That should be a given when any of your older school buildings undergo a renovation.
As a product of LCPS, I have seen the incredible work that can be accomplished by its teachers and staff. I have seen renovations and construction projects that keep historic integrity while modernizing (LCHS’s 2005 renovation, and the exhibit at the new Frederick Douglass ES). I do hold LCPS to a higher level – because I know you can reach it and do your best while doing so.
I would love to now open a dialogue and hear your thoughts regarding the window update.
Thank you for your time,
A.J. Jelonek
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My note was forwarded on to LCPS's Department of Support Services. I was told an official response would take some time, understandably, as summer was their busiest time with school renovations.
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August 21, 2017:
A.J.
Thank you for your interest in our facility renovations. Please know that we are very proud of our facilities and are constantly active in maintaining our buildings and grounds in a manner in which facilitates the best educational opportunities for all our students. We have an extensive inventory of campuses and have a long history of modernizing our facilities with respect to student enrollment, programmatic offerings and code compliance. The most recent window replacement project is part of a history of renovations to the Loudoun County High School Facility. I have provided an attachment illustrating the numerous projects that have occurred in the past several decades that not only improved the service of the building to the citizens of Loudoun County but also significantly changed the building’s function and appearance. This can be said of almost all of our older facilities. Another attachment is a presentation provided to the public in our recent renovation, demolition and expansion of the facility in 2006 which includes numerous significant aesthetic and structural changes to the building. This particular window project is an example of providing improved energy conservation as well taking the opportunity to architecturally unify the whole elevation by providing a consistent style of windows throughout the façade. This is also consistent with the architectural style of this and other school structures as evidenced in the other attached exhibits.
Again, thanks for your interest in our school modernization program.
Kevin L. Lewis, PE
This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Likewise, this message may contain Federal and state governmental documents which are confidential, and the information contained therein may not be disclosed pursuant to applicable Federal and state law. If it is necessary to save this message it should only be saved to a server hard drive and not to any portable saving devices (i.e. laptop, flash drive, disks, etc.). If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and forward this original message to us at the sending address.
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August 28, 2017:
Dear Kevin Lewis (and others),
Thank you for your response, as well as the attachments. I downloaded the 2008 LCHS presentation back when it was still available on your website, it's a great resource.
I apologize if I was not clear in my original message. As I did state, I am all for energy-efficient windows, and I know how badly those classrooms needed them. I would like to know why the new windows' designs do not mimic the design of the front facade windows that originally were placed in those openings in 1954?
In regards to the 2008 presentation you sent, could you please respond to why in this 2017 renovation there was not the same push for preservation and replication of original front-facing design features as was present in the 2005/2006 renovation (as evidenced on pages 4 and 17)?
Can you please respond to my statement from my original message regarding how the front facade was never intended to be architecturally unified? Unlike the pictures of Georgian buildings you sent, LCHS's front facade was originally designed and built to have two distinct architectural styles, Georgian and 1950's Modern. It actually tells a subtle narrative, which I have written about here.
Can you please respond to my question from my original message asking if a historic consultant was hired to be a part of this renovation project?
If you would like to reread my original message I sent, since I make much reference to it, I have copied my letter below for your ease.
Again, I appreciate your time and effort towards responding,
September 21, 2017:
I am disappointed.
-A.J.
There was a lot I was disappointed about, but I didn't feel like airing all that out would do anything. They also wanted to be done with the conversation anyway.
Things learned from the whole conversation: They didn't hire a historic consultant. They chose the windows design to architecturally unify the front of the school.
The attachments were:
- A LCHS facilities history report, circa 2014. This was to emphasize that the building had changed from its original design, and that change happens. The list had varying degrees of detail, and left off numerous renovations.
- A powerpoint presentation "2008 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture: Loudoun County High School" on the 2005/06 school renovation. The powerpoint was meant to show again how extensive changes had already happened at the school, like the entire original back section being demolished, the Sky Bridge, or converting the original gym into the library. Thoughts:
- This is the same powerpoint I quoted in Windows Without Historic Integrity. It's interesting this document was chosen, because it has many slides on how many original design features were painstakingly restored, replicated, and integrated into the end product.
- There is a clear difference in importance between the front of the school and the back of the school. The front of the school -- the front door, the "wow" factor. The back of the school -- technical shop classrooms, looks like most of the rest of the school. Change is inevitable, change can be good (i.e. the Sky Bridge), but at the same time we maintain key important aspects that make a place special. The front of the school is definitely something that should be maintained.
- 4 pictures of schools with Georgian architecture taken from the internet, to show what Georgian buildings look like. Which are not relevant to the discussion, because LCHS was designed with two different architecture styles present. But if you knew that in the first place, you wouldn't have decided to put Georgian windows on the end sections.
To be frank, the response and attachments made it very clear they had only glanced at what I had written and put together their response from that. Points they brought up had already been addressed in my original correspondence, while other things were completely ignored. It was difficult to write a response that was not a cut-and-paste of my original letter.
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August 28, 2017:
Dear Kevin Lewis (and others),
Thank you for your response, as well as the attachments. I downloaded the 2008 LCHS presentation back when it was still available on your website, it's a great resource.
I apologize if I was not clear in my original message. As I did state, I am all for energy-efficient windows, and I know how badly those classrooms needed them. I would like to know why the new windows' designs do not mimic the design of the front facade windows that originally were placed in those openings in 1954?
In regards to the 2008 presentation you sent, could you please respond to why in this 2017 renovation there was not the same push for preservation and replication of original front-facing design features as was present in the 2005/2006 renovation (as evidenced on pages 4 and 17)?
Can you please respond to my statement from my original message regarding how the front facade was never intended to be architecturally unified? Unlike the pictures of Georgian buildings you sent, LCHS's front facade was originally designed and built to have two distinct architectural styles, Georgian and 1950's Modern. It actually tells a subtle narrative, which I have written about here.
Can you please respond to my question from my original message asking if a historic consultant was hired to be a part of this renovation project?
If you would like to reread my original message I sent, since I make much reference to it, I have copied my letter below for your ease.
Again, I appreciate your time and effort towards responding,
- A.J. Jelonek
PS: I know you have a lot of schools to keep track of, but I noticed your LCHS Facility History List PDF is missing the 2009 roof molding/gutter renovation, the 2010 cupola renovation, the recent addition of the access ramps to the front of the school, the 1976 window/cupola renovation, the c. 1990's adding A/C to the main building, and the addition of the elevator to the 1966 2-story business wing section, among others.
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I received no response from this. A few weeks later, I send a follow-up asking if this would be responded to.
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September 19, 2017:
A.J.
A quick note to follow up. I appreciate your interest in the project and please know that I assigned a number of staff members and asked consultants to contribute to the response to your initial inquiry. As such, we believe we have addressed you questions. Again, thank you for your interest in our capital program.
Kevin
CONFIDENTIALITY WARNING:
This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Likewise, this message may contain Federal and state governmental documents which are confidential, and the information contained therein may not be disclosed pursuant to applicable Federal and state law. If it is necessary to save this message it should only be saved to a server hard drive and not to any portable saving devices (i.e. laptop, flash drive, disks, etc.). If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and forward this original message to us at the sending address.
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PS: I know you have a lot of schools to keep track of, but I noticed your LCHS Facility History List PDF is missing the 2009 roof molding/gutter renovation, the 2010 cupola renovation, the recent addition of the access ramps to the front of the school, the 1976 window/cupola renovation, the c. 1990's adding A/C to the main building, and the addition of the elevator to the 1966 2-story business wing section, among others.
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I received no response from this. A few weeks later, I send a follow-up asking if this would be responded to.
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September 19, 2017:
A.J.
A quick note to follow up. I appreciate your interest in the project and please know that I assigned a number of staff members and asked consultants to contribute to the response to your initial inquiry. As such, we believe we have addressed you questions. Again, thank you for your interest in our capital program.
Kevin
CONFIDENTIALITY WARNING:
This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Likewise, this message may contain Federal and state governmental documents which are confidential, and the information contained therein may not be disclosed pursuant to applicable Federal and state law. If it is necessary to save this message it should only be saved to a server hard drive and not to any portable saving devices (i.e. laptop, flash drive, disks, etc.). If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and forward this original message to us at the sending address.
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September 21, 2017:
I am disappointed.
-A.J.
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There was a lot I was disappointed about, but I didn't feel like airing all that out would do anything. They also wanted to be done with the conversation anyway.
Things learned from the whole conversation: They didn't hire a historic consultant. They chose the windows design to architecturally unify the front of the school.
And that is where this section of the saga ends. Is it the final end? No.
LCHS Windows Saga:
Windows Without Historic Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Narrative Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Visual Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Historic Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Narrative Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Visual Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Enjoy other LCHS Articles from the same author:
