irwin seating company

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CASE STUDY:Bailey Hall, Cornell University ~ Ithaca, New York

With its colonnaded portico and monumental stairs which

lead to a main entrance with 11-foot tall doors, Bailey Hall is

considered an excellent example of early 20th century classical

revival architecture. The building, which is used for sympo-

siums, concerts and classes, underwent a 3-year, $17.3 million

renovation that was completed in 2006. Renovations to the

historic building were designed by Mitchell/Giurgola Architects

and feature a three-story addition to the back of the hall, a

new acoustical canopy, improved restroom facilities, a handi-

capped-accessible elevator and a gentler floor slope.

The hall, originally built in 1912, held 1,948 chairs. The seating

was reduced to 1,324 chairs to meet current building codes

and to provide a more comfortable environment for patrons.

Irwin Seating Company removed the chairs and shipped all

the components back to the factory for complete restoration.

Backs and armrests were stripped of old finish, sanded smooth,

re-stained and sealed. Backs were given an upholstered pad to

enhance comfort. Ninety-four years of grime and decay were

stripped and sanded away from the chair standards which

were then modified to support new ergonomically designed,

self-rising upholstered seats which feature an attractive wood

bottom. Concealed low-voltage aisle lights were added to the

aisle armrests and custom number and letter plates were made

to replicate the orginal tags.

As Bailey Hall demonstrates, restoration of existing chairs is

an excellent way to maintain the architectural design and

integrity of an auditorium or theatre. Restoration is also a

great way to practice environmental stew-

ardship. While not every chair is a viable

candidate for restoration, frequently chair

components can be restored and used with

new ones, as shown here. With a century of

knowledge and experience backing us, Irwin

Seating Company takes

pride in its ability to

blend today’s technology

with the design and char-

acter if yesterday’s chairs. The

end result is a finished product that

the original craftsmen could only imagine.

Let us show you what we can do for you.

Dedicating ourselves to customer satisfaction, employee well-being, and profitable growth.

Printed in USA© 2007 Irwin Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Irwin Seating CompanyP.O. Box 2429 (zip 49501)3251 Fruit Ridge Ave. NWGrand Rapids, MI 49544Sales Office: 616-574-7400Fax: 616-574-7411E-mail: sales@irwinseating.comwww.irwinseating.com