Project Case Study
Lindley Hall was built in 1934 as a gymnasium-auditorium and earned its reputation as the “best playing court in the state of Kansas.” In June of 2021, a wind storm caused external and structural damage to the building and it was deemed structurally unsound for use. The citizens of Newton passed a bond in 2022 to repair the building in addition to ADA upgrades, additional parking, a new turf field, previous locker rooms turned into classrooms, and a new flexible learning area on the old stage. With the renovation, the school now has space to hold large group gatherings such as assemblies or music concerts and no longer have to be bussed across town.
Due to the exterior load-bearing walls giving in and nearly collapsing, our team’s solution was to first install a structural steel skeleton inside the gymnasium. This reinforced the walls and prohibited any future movement. The framework stabilized the walls and involved a complex installation process, which required temporary roof closure each night. To serve as an insulation layer, our team installed a new TPO roof, allowing removal of the drop ceiling and revealing the character of the historic building through exposed barrel trusses, wood joists, and wood ceiling.
