Since it collapsed in May, it has been analyzed, disassembled, repaired and/or rebuilt. Finally, most of the scaffolding has now been dismantled, and the renovated spire on top of the iconic collegiate church will beckon to the Hamiltonists in the next few centuries.

Attentive admirers will notice that the previously all-white spire is now embellished with gray and green, and the dome and quill vane have changed from a bright new copper color to gold.

The new colors reflect the meticulous effort to preserve as much of the history and utility of the minaret as possible.

The church opened in 1827 and is one of the first buildings constructed on the campus. The church is included in the National Register of Historic Places and is considered to be the last three-story church of that era in the United States. The minaret, especially the internal wooden frame structure, is in urgent need of repair, and the removal of the top 35 feet proved to be the best way to achieve this goal. 

The wooden skin of the minaret is protected by dozens of layers of paint, and the result is much better than the shape of the inner frame. Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects, a company specializing in historical preservation, handled the project and determined that the color of the minaret had changed over the centuries.

William Huggins, the architectural director of Hamilton, said: "We really don't know the range of colors and what the colors are. It is not until we enter this well-designed demolition and research mode that the team will be able to figure it out. "System Management. 

Architect Lawrence Wilson said that by tracking the old images and descriptions of the building to be included in the audience, and by analyzing the paint, the architect was able to determine that when it was first raised, the minaret was likely to have four colors. company.

Initially, the background behind the independent pillars was painted gray; the shutters that formed the openings of the bell tower were painted dark green; those colors have been restored. In addition, the clock face has also changed from black to white.

View historical timetables, construction photos, and learn more about the architectural details of one of the first buildings constructed on campus.

The original metal of the dome has been coated with gold leaf, so the dome and quill weather vane are painted gold to reflect this.

Huggins said that before the $3.1 million refurbishment of the spire, the church looked dilapidated and held together by paint and patchwork restorations. "Now you can take a step back and look at the design, the wood, and all the things used to restore this building, and you think you can't go anywhere in this place," he said.

Follow Professor Margie Thickstun to visit the refurbished List Center (formerly List Art Center), which is now home to the Department of Literature and Creative Writing.

The renovation of Kirkland Cottage is nearing completion. Browse gallery construction photos.