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Newport Historical Society seeks enclosed vestibule at Brick Market; commission orders design review and continuation
Summary
The Newport Historical Society presented a $2.6 million museum project proposing glass infill and an ADA vestibule at the Brick Market; commissioners were split over enclosing the landmark arcade and scheduled a design-review meeting and a continuation to July 14.
The Newport Historical Society asked the Newport Historic District Commission on June 11 for approval to enclose part of the Brick Market arcade with removable glass infill, create an ADA-compliant vestibule and replace damaged signage as part of a privately funded $2.6 million Museum of Newport History project.
"A museum that cannot be entered by all members of the public regardless of mobility is not a true public institution," Rebecca Bertrand, executive director of the Newport Historical Society, told the commission, describing the vestibule as both an accessibility and equity measure.
Architect Thad Samasko (SV Design) described revisions since the last hearing, including removal of spandrel glass panels in the lower sections to increase transparency and a setback that keeps the glass well recessed from the brick face. "The glass is very far pushed back... we think honestly... this is perfectly appropriate," Samasko said, noting the system is removable and does not touch historic brick fabric.
Several commissioners, however, said the proposal read too strongly as a storefront and urged additional exploration of alternatives and a higher design bar for a national historic landmark. Commissioner Ray Goddard said the plan "looks far too much like a storefront" and asked whether a back-of-house entry or a smaller vestibule could meet accessibility needs. Other commissioners who visited the site or the submitted plans supported the project as a tasteful and reversible way to make the museum accessible.
To allow more detailed design work and additional site visits, the commission voted to schedule a design-review committee (a three-commissioner meeting) and continued the application to the HDC's July 14 meeting for further consideration.
Next steps: design-review committee meeting to be scheduled; the application will return to the commission on July 14 for further deliberation and potential vote.
