Ralston Hall Assessment and Seismic Retrofit and Rehabilitation, College of Notre Dame de Namur

Cornerstone initially performed a seismic and conditional assessment for seismic retrofit and rehabilitation of a historic, 1860 era, 4 story historic wood and unreinforced masonry manor house in Belmont.   The assessment report was followed by a schematic structural retrofit design to evaluate projected costs for fundraising efforts.  This building is listed on both the State and National Historic Registers and is located on the campus of Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont.  The original mansion was added onto several times over the years and the contributing features for historical preservation are layered and complex.  Interesting components include a large unreinforced masonry cistern with a music wing built atop and underground storage complex on this sloping site. The building currently serves as an office and entertainment space for the University and the adjacent High school, as well as housing the facilities offices of the University.