Milton’s facilities department recently took great care in restoring one of campus’s most beloved buildings. Straus Library—one of the School’s original, Georgian structures—housed the Milton Academy library from 1929 to 1971; it now serves the college counseling office and is a gathering space for formal and informal events. This summer, a devoted maintenance team, led by Associate Director of Facilities Steve Zannino, corrected structural damage and completely restored Straus’s back patio.
Due to drainage issues, water damage was causing the original bluestone patio to erode and the floor of the Trustees Room to deteriorate. Mr. Zannino cites one reason for the damage being an overgrown root system of surrounding trees and plantings. These plantings were replaced with new shrubs and trees, including boxwoods and magnolias. The maintenance team replaced gutters and waterproofed the foundation. Restoring the patio involved meticulous planning; preserving the original railings and bluestone capstones was a priority, once the patio was laid with new bluestone. New, brick walkways between Wigglesworth Hall and Straus are ADA compliant and offer on-grade access to the new patio. The result is a welcoming and open outdoor space that maintains the integrity of the building’s rich history.
