Nashville's Motherhouse gets new windows to match its historic aesthetic

Faced with issues of overcrowding and an outdated infrastructure, the Motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation, a nationwide community of teaching sisters founded in 1860, set forth a massive, $45 million renovation and addition to its historic house on a hillside overlooking the Nashville, Tenn., skyline.

The project, designed by architect Jim Thompson of Nashville-based Fowlkes and Associates Architects, involved three phases that included a 100,000-sf addition; a new chapel, forming the fourth side of what would become a cloistered courtyard; and a complete renovation of the 84,000-sf Motherhouse.

One of the most complex challenges on the project involved manufacturing and installing approximately 750 new and replacement windows that would match the historic appearance. Dale Inc., the local distributor for Marvin Windows and Doors, worked closely with the Building Team and Marvin staff to design and build the windows.

The renovation stage was especially complex, according to Bert Dale, owner of Dale Inc., requiring approximately 440 custom-built windows in a large variety of shapes and sizes, many of them of massive dimensions and requiring unique design solutions, including custom panning systems and replication details.

Marvin Windows and Doors Input No. 223 at BDCnetwork.com/quickResponse