The University has been caught up recently trying to replace aging windows in the White-Gravenor building but has run into trouble with the District’s regulations governing historic buildings. Apparently, energy-efficient windows a 1?4 inch bigger than the historically accurate replacements are holding up production. Let’s take a look at some of the other historic window regulations D.C. has to offer…
2300—GENERAL PROVISIONS (WINDOW REPLACEMENTS)
2300.1 Windows are an important and integral part of the design of most buildings … the Board and staff evaluate the effect of the proposal on the aesthetic values and the historical and architectural significance of the affected historic building…
2300.1(A) In the event that windows are an unimportant and non-integral part of the building, organizations will be required to provide additional windows until they are.
2300.2© In the event that replacement is necessary, the new features should exactly match the historic windows…
2300.2 (D) Replacement historical windows should, if possible, be manufactured by historical figures reached by time machine, or, failing that, by period-actors in registered historical theme parks.
2301—WINDOW TYPES
2301.2 “Historic window” means:
a) A window that appears to date from the construction of the historic building, as determined with a reasonable degree of certainty…
b) A pain in the ass that will cost your organization time and money to repair or change.
2303.3 A permit is required for repair work that involves any change in configuration, shape, size or profile of any component of the total window assembly…
2303.3 (A) A separate permit is required for looking through, at or around any component of the total window assembly.
2305 WINDOW REPLACEMENT: GENERAL PROVISIONS
2305.6 Replacement windows may be double-glazed, but they shall have either “true-divided” lights, or “simulated-divided” lights (integrally applied external and internal muntins)…False muntins or “grids” located between two planes of glass, “snap-ins” applied either internally or externally are not considered acceptable muntins.
2305.6 (A) We don’t know what any of this-especially the part about the false muntins-actually means.
2305.6 (B) Mmmmm, muntins.
2313—SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FOR WINDOW PERMIT APPLICATIONS
2313.1 Permit applications for window work shall include close-up photographs…
2313.3 If necessary, the staff may request material samples or an on-site mock-up.
2313.4 Whether or not it is necessary, the staff deserves on-site mockery.
In the future, we hope to see the University adhere to these and other strict standards put in place for no apparent reason. Or maybe some bright person in the city government will leave our muntins alone.
