On August 28th, the cupola was installed at J.R. Lowell Elementary School. This new cupola is a replica of the original 1926 wooden cupola, which was part of a passive ventilation system for the school that was abandoned when individual room heating and ventilation units were installed after the middle of the 20th Century. The beautiful wooden cupola had deteriorated to the point that it had been shrouded in a weatherproof membrane wrapping for years.
Watertown loves its classic “schoolhouse on the hill”, so it was important to provide a faithful, durable replacement of the original cupola. The Yankee Steeplejack Company worked with Ai3 and the General Contractor (CTA Construction Managers) and shipped the existing wooden cupola to Duro Fiber Company, who created this durable GFRP (glass fiber reinforced polymer) and copper replica that will inspire Watertown schoolchildren for generations to come.
Click Here to learn more about the J.R. Lowell Elementary School project.