Projects
Portland City Hall
Portland City Hall was designed in the Beaux Arts style by the nationally renowned architecture firm Carerre and Hastings in association with local architect John Calvin Stevens. Portland hired Turk to restore the Clock Tower and Parapets. The Clock Tower project included restoration of the steel structure supporting the transition of geometry between levels. Multi-tonne stones had to be removed to access deteriorated raw steel and replace with new stainless-steel plates and earthquake compliant structure. Additional work included re-roofing the dome with 20 oz. copper, re-plastering the belfry roof, restoration and relocation of the historic Howard designed clockworks and bell, restoration of the wood windows, restoration of the weathervane, and masonry restoration. All work was reviewed by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and Portland’s Historic Preservation Board and had to conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The project received a Statewide Historic Preservation Honor Award.
West Quoddy Head Keeper's House
Located in the easternmost point of the United States the site overlooks Campobello Island beyond the Quoddy Narrows. The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands hired Turk to oversee the exterior restoration of the historic wood-framed Keeper’s House. The project included the removal of 1970’s era aluminum siding and trim; repair of wood board sheathing; replacing the siding with modern cementitious clapboards and shingles that match the original wood coursing patterns; and replica corner board, window casing and eave trim profiles crafted from the same cementitious material.
131 Washington Ave. Portland, Maine
A photographer bought this blighted property to restore rather than tear down. He hired Turk to manage a radical rehabilitation to preserve the character of the neighborhood. John worked with Resurgence Engineering to rework the structure. The original owner’s family converted the house to a neighborhood laundry in the early 20th century. Around that time, they added a single-story brick shop at the rear of the property and converted the wood-framed structure to commercial use. Though small in footprint, the project involved complicated code analysis and temporary structural support during construction. Builders added new concrete foundations and structural framing; code upgrades for interior fit-out for a small grocery store, and an artist studio in the brick structure in conformance with current building and life safety codes. Exterior façade restoration was based upon 1924 tax photos.
Liberty Hall, Machiasport, Maine
This c. 1873 Italianate town hall served its Down East community as the daily social center for over 120 years before the town offices were moved to a modern structure and the building was abandoned. The project included restoring the building to its 1888 appearance. Turk worked with Resurgence Engineering on a radical structural intervention to save the building, restoration of all original ornamental trim and clapboards as well as the re-creation of the Italianate Belvedere. Paint analysis was performed to determine the original two-tone color scheme. Future work will include interior rehabilitation including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, life safety and accessibility upgrades as well as historic finish restoration.
Portland Observatory
The Portland Observatory was built in 1807 as a ship-to-shore signal tower in the era before Morse Code. It is the last remaining signal tower in the country and is currently a National Historic and Civil Engineering Landmark. John past firm was commissioned to restore the dilapidated timber-framed tower to the identified mid-nineteenth century period of significance. Initially, the building’s exterior sheathing was dismantled and the lantern removed to facilitate the assessment of the tower’s timber frame. Using historic photos, graphic documentation and our Historic American Buildings Survey measured drawings, the firm prepared construction documents and oversaw the tower’s careful restoration. We introduced a side walk lift to preserve the historic character of the site and to provide universal access to the ground floor. Inside, new exhibits were installed and a remote live video display was installed to provide views of the harbor. As an official project of the Save America’s Treasures program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the restoration was funded with grants from the National Trust and the National Parks Service, as well as funding from ISTEA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HCD program. The restoration received honor awards from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Maine Preservation. All design recommendations were reviewed by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and the Portland Historic Preservation Board and had to conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
Fort Popham, Phippsburg, Maine
Fort Popham was built in 1861 as part of the Third System of coastal defense fortifications. Originally intended to be a three-tier fortification, construction was stopped in 1869 after Civil War experience proved Third System forts were vulnerable to modern rifled guns. The two-tier fort, constructed of brick and granite was rapidly deteriorating from 150 years of exposure to the harsh coastal environment. The Maine Department of Parks and Lands hired Turk in collaboration with Resurgence Engineering to restore portions of the pre-Civil War-era fort to make them accessible and safe to the public. The project included masonry stabilization and restoration a new steel guardrail system and entry gates.
Deering Oaks Castle-in-the-Park
The Castle in the Park was designed by local architect Frederick Thompson.The 19th century structure was unsympathetically modified circa 1954 and again in 1977. Design work was based on historic photographs, postcards and drawings. Work included new stained glass windows, reconstruction of the cobble stone and slate fireplace, new slate shingles and replacement of all interior woodwork based on in situ remnants. New mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems were installed and the building is now fully ADA accessible. The building is now a café serving park visitors.
Veterans' Cemetery, Augusta, Maine
The Cemetery includes 35,000 burial plots, a Visitor’s Center / Administration Building, a Memorial Wall, a Memorial Chapel for 80 mourners and a Maintenance Garage. The design features two distinct book-ending forms connected by a curvilinear memorial wall.
Spurwink Church, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Built in 1802, the church is a blend of Federal Era, Greek and Gothic Revival architecture. The Town hired Turk to assess existing conditions and design a new stable foundation and underdrains, restore the belfry, and restore interior plasterwork, faux wood grain paint and double-hung window sash. Work also included exterior façade restoration, shutter restoration, storm and screen door design and entry ramp design. Belfry work included zinc-copper flashings and bell yoke restoration. All work had to conform to sensitive site constraints including adjacent cemetery, historic stone wall and abutting roadways.
Portland City Hall Monumental Stair
After over a century of use, the Plaza had experienced creep resulting from the burying of the remains of the previously burnt City Hall into the soils of the 1904 Plaza. Unsuitable soils included charred timbers, lead flashings and masonry remnants. Turk collaborated with Resurgence Engineering to stabilize the subsurface and install appropriate foundations. Additional work included restoring the original stones, new replica decorative slate cobbles, cleaning and repointing masonry. New pebble-dash concrete sidewalks and bronze memorial embedded lettering are also featured.
Wilde Chapel, Evergreen Cemetery
Turk and Resurgence Engineering were hired by the City of Portland to produce a conditions assessment, treatment plan and cost estimates for phased restoration. The team produced CAD drawings and made prioritized recommendations for repair based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Recommendations for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
Alumni Hall, University of New England
Port City Architecture hired Turk as preservation consultant for the comprehensive rehabilitation of this 1833 Federal style building. Work included guiding the design to retain significant character defining features and comprehensive exterior restoration to its documented 1866 appearance.