Preserving Historic Character with Custom Wood Windows at Reis Hall

At Reis Hall on the Allegheny College campus, the project team was tasked with upgrading aging windows while preserving the building’s historic identity. The structure’s brick façade, detailed stonework and arched window openings required a solution that could align with the original design language rather than compete with it. 

The final specification centered on Pella Reserve traditional double-hung windows and fixed units with clad wood construction, allowing the team to maintain the building’s proportions, profiles and architectural rhythm while introducing updated performance capabilities.

Historic campus buildings often require more than a standard replacement approach. In this case, the window package needed to reflect the original sightlines and detailing while fitting into existing masonry openings. 

The team specified custom-sized double-hung windows and fixed sash sets to align with the building’s varied opening dimensions, including taller vertical units and multi-part configurations. These custom sizes helped maintain consistent spacing and alignment across the façade, which is critical in buildings where symmetry and repetition define the architecture. 

Clad wood construction also played a key role. From the exterior, the windows were finished in a custom EnduraClad® color to match the historic palette, while the interior featured a painted wood finish that aligns with traditional campus interiors. This combination allows the windows to blend into both the exterior masonry and interior spaces without introducing visual disruption.

One of the more technically specific aspects of this project involved the integration of arched and specialty-shaped windows into the overall system. 

The building features multiple arch-top openings and curved profiles that required custom-fabricated fixed units and multi-wide sash sets. These assemblies were designed to follow the original geometry of the openings, including partial arch heads and multi-unit configurations that preserve the layered look of the façade. 

For architects and contractors, this type of coordination is critical. Maintaining the original curvature and proportion of arched openings ensures that replacement windows do not flatten or simplify historic detailing. Instead, the final result reads as a continuation of the original design intent.

While the visual outcome was central to the project, performance upgrades were equally important. 

The windows were specified with dual-pane Low-E insulating glass with argon fill, supporting improved thermal performance compared to older glazing systems. This type of glass helps regulate interior temperatures while reducing long-term energy demand—an important consideration for institutional buildings with consistent occupancy. 

The clad exterior adds another layer of durability. By protecting the wood frame with a factory-applied finish, the system reduces long-term maintenance requirements while maintaining the appearance of traditional wood windows. 

Performance ratings across the units—including CW and AW class designations in select configurations—also support structural reliability, particularly in larger or mulled assemblies where consistent performance across multiple units is required.

Across the building, a mix of double-hung, fixed and direct set windows was used to address different functional and architectural needs. Despite this variation, the system maintains a consistent visual language through aligned sightlines, matching finishes and coordinated profiles. 

This level of consistency is especially important in campus environments, where individual buildings contribute to a broader architectural identity. By using a unified window system with custom sizing and detailing, the project team was able to preserve that identity while upgrading performance.

The Reis Hall renovation reflects a common challenge in institutional and historic projects: how to improve building performance without altering the character that defines the structure. 

By combining custom wood window solutions, historically aligned finishes and modern glass technology, the project demonstrates how commercial window replacement can support both preservation goals and long-term building performance. 

For architects, contractors and facility managers working on similar campus or municipal projects, this approach highlights the importance of early coordination between design intent, product specification and fabrication capabilities.