Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Winter 2022 11 of 1916 raised the necessary funds to construct the building, joining the Eaves and the Lodge residencies in providing sleeping quarters to complement the growing number of studios. e building draws its name from SAI's national publication, which is still in wide distribution today, PAN PIPES. According to Resident Director David Macy, interior comfort and safety were the main reasons for the renovation, along with modernizing the building and bringing it up to current energy conservation standards. "Now, instead of eight people sharing two small bathrooms," said Macy, "there are seven bedrooms, two shower rooms, and two water closets. ings will be more comfortable for future Fellows." e tiled showers, occupying what was originally a kitchen space of the walk-out basement, reflect a European style with a partition wall rather than a curtain or glass doors. e fir floors throughout the building have been sanded and refinished and new furnishings now replace those items that couldn't be restored. At the footing of the foundation wall, eight feet below grade, a perimeter drain was installed to keep groundwater out of the basement and improve the building's interior air quality. On the second floor, eight windows were replaced to provide safe fire egress (the original windows were considered too small by today's standards). "One of the greatest improvements at Pan's," said Macy, "is hidden in the building envelope." Aer the roof was removed and the old cellulose insulation removed, eight inches of closed-cell foam insulation was sprayed into the raer cavities before new decking and shingles were installed. Foam insulation was used in the walls of the shower rooms and water closets. When the time comes to replace the building's old oil-fired boiler, an electric heat pump will keep the building comfortable without depending on fossil fuels. Currently, Pan's electricity is 100 percent renewable thanks to MacDowell's first solar array, which was added in 2016. During the summer and fall of 2020, landscaping efforts improved the exterior aspect of the building and created a seamless fit in its location just off High Street. "anks to a seven-year campaign by Sigma Alpha Iota, nearly half of the renovation expenses were underwritten with donated funds," said Macy. "We're grateful to have received $20,000 a year each of the last five years from SAI and very glad to see all the improvements realized in 2020." e balance of the renovation was drawn from a Building & Equipment Reserve Fund, a board designated portion of the endowment established to support good stewardship of MacDowell's studios and common buildings. Tom Tolman, courtesy of MacDowell Tom Tolman, courtesy of MacDowell Jonathan Gourlay, courtesy of MacDowell Jonathan Gourlay, courtesy of MacDowell SAI Philanries, Inc.

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