Modern History (Part 2), 2009-Present
Within weeks, Voith Mactavish had created the first set of working schematics for Abbott Dining Hall. Although the building’s basic floorplan was finalized in these early documents, months of design ensued to develop historically inspired architectural features for the space (as well as solving structural and mechanical problems). The committee ultimately determined that Abbott Dining Hall would be an amalgamation of historically inspired decorative elements such as wooden trusses with metal tie rods (like those seen in the Chapel) with some contemporary essentials such as a built-in audio-visual system. Invoking 19th century aesthetics using modern materials was a challenge for all involved. The building’s committee over a two-year period painstakingly surveyed hundreds of interior finishes such as wood types and stains, ceramic tiles, leaded glass colors and paint, textiles for curtains and upholstery, and even metal finishes for fixtures. In addition to analyzing finishes, the committee conducted community surveys to source stories from the School’s history that could be translated into visual imagery such as brass cutouts embedded into terrazzo. With such attention to detail, the committee and Voith Mactavish insured that the renovated Abbott Dining Hall would be a unique reflection of The Lawrenceville School.
Following 16 months of construction by Clemens Constructions Company, Abbott Dining Hall reopened on May 3, 2018, and the finished building inspired awe amongst the community. The main dining room was encased in red-stained white oak paneling and floors were patterned in tri-toned terrazzo. Chandeliers with laser-cut oak leaf images hung from a 40-foot pitched ceiling with decorative trusses and illuminated, custom-made wooden Thomas Moser furniture. Two new fireplaces with carved animal imagery (reminiscent of Memorial Hall) flanked the space, which was also lined on one side by seating alcoves with leaded glass lunettes. The side dining rooms had coffered ceilings and the newly formed Stephan Room boasted exhibition cases and panoramic wallpaper. The kitchen (largely designed by ICG) had been expanded to include a modernized servery, pizza oven, smoker, and slow-cooker amidst historically inspired subway tiles. The exterior of the building was just as impressive. Mimicking Upper House’s National Landmark esplanade, Abbott Dining Hall’s southwestern facing wall was festooned with an arcade, decorative columns, and a turret entrance. Jeremy K. Mario L’88 P’16 ’20 remarked, “The Lawrenceville campus has many buildings of character, but I can’t think of another that incorporates the personality of the School in quite the same way.” Embodying the past and present, Abbott Dining Hall will continue to represent and host the Fifth Form into the future.
