Nazareth Campus Service is advancing a broad range of projects to protect historic buildings, improve accessibility, care for sacred spaces and use resources responsibly. During a July 24 update, Campus Services Director Will Rosenbaum outlined work underway across Nazareth and explained how each project supports the Sisters, employees, guests and future use of the campus.
Motherhouse Roof Replacement Proposal
One of the largest projects being planned is the replacement of the Motherhouse roof. The existing slate roof has required repairs every year for at least a decade. Slate tiles can chip or break from age, weather and hail, and qualified slate contractors are becoming increasingly difficult to find.
Slate also places considerable weight on the aging structure and retains heat during the summer. Rosenbaum noted that cooling Nazareth’s buildings during summer now costs more than heating them during winter.
The proposed replacement is a stamped-steel roofing tile designed to closely resemble slate. The product was developed by Cornett Roofing, the company that completed work on the church, Vincent Cottage and Casa Maria.
“Because it’s the Motherhouse and one of the most central and cherished buildings here on campus, we will absolutely not change the appearance of the building,” Rosenbaum said.
The proposed roof offers several benefits:
- An expected lifespan of up to 100 years
- Strong resistance to hail and wind
- Significantly less weight on the building
- Lower cost than new slate
- Reduced heat retention
- Improved ventilation beneath the roofing material
The project would also include closed-cell spray-foam insulation in the attic. The insulation and ventilation system should help regulate attic temperatures and reduce the energy required to cool and heat the occupied areas below.
Existing slate will be saved where possible. Some pieces may become commemorative gifts, including possible gifts for donors. The remaining slate can be crushed on-site and used for pathways, planting beds or another campus feature identifying it as original Motherhouse material.
Heritage Hall Move
Heritage Hall will begin moving into the Drawing Room on Sept. 1. Because the Drawing Room is smaller, staff must determine which displays can move into the temporary space and which items will need to be stored. Heritage Hall is expected to remain closed for much of September while the transition takes place.
The move is necessary because structural repairs are needed in O’Connell Hall. The floor of the large second-floor room above Heritage Hall has begun to subside. Engineers used cameras inserted through openings in the ceiling to examine the original joists and columns.
“After a couple hundred years, it’s actually pretty impressive that it’s in that good shape,” Rosenbaum said. “But it will be a major repair.”
The project will require removal of the Heritage Hall ceiling and the floor above it. Once the structure is exposed, crews can repair damaged areas, support the columns and level the floor. The final timeline will depend on what is discovered after the flooring is removed.
After structural work is complete, the second-floor space will be renovated to accommodate staff currently working in the SCN Center, including the central leadership team, COFA and other departments.
A permanent location for Heritage Hall has not yet been selected. Options include keeping it in the Drawing Room, returning it to its present location or moving it to Crimmins Hall as proposed in the campus master plan. The Sisters of the Western Province will gather virtually in August to discuss the options, listen to ideas and enter into communal discernment.
Temperature and humidity sensors have been installed in the Drawing Room to protect the historical materials. Humidity is higher than desired but currently comparable to conditions in Heritage Hall. A broader HVAC project beginning with Carrico Hall and the church is planned to address humidity across several campus buildings.
Cemetery Expansion
The Nazareth cemetery remains one of the community’s most sacred places. A review completed approximately 10 to 12 years ago indicated that the cemetery had just enough remaining space for the Sisters living at that time. A recent evaluation found that the current boundaries are now approximately 30 to 40 graves short of projected needs.
The approved plan will extend the cemetery slightly west, toward the Seat of Wisdom statue and the path leading to the guard post. Eight trees are located within the proposed expansion. Younger trees will be transplanted when possible, while several larger trees will need to be removed.
The new ground will be formally consecrated before it becomes part of the cemetery. Its first use is not expected for approximately two years.
Additional cemetery maintenance is also planned. Contractors will address leaning or damaged stones, clean discolored monuments and explore ways to reset stones that have shifted out of alignment.
Carrico North Elevator
Physical work on the Carrico North elevator is complete. Crews replaced its controls and serviced the unit, while Siemens upgraded the connected fire alarm system, smoke detectors and related safety equipment.
The final step is an inspection and certification authorizing the elevator to return to service. At the time of the presentation, Campus Service expected that process to be completed within approximately one week.
Nazareth aims to modernize about one elevator each year. The O’Connell Hall elevator is scheduled for upgrades next year.
Motherhouse Flooring Work Begins Aug. 10
Replacement of the Motherhouse ground-floor flooring outside the Dining Room and kitchen is scheduled to begin Aug. 10 and should take no more than two weeks.
The existing flooring is difficult to clean and has begun lifting at the corners. Crews will remove the surface from both hallways at the same time, leaving a smooth temporary surface suitable for people using walkers and scooters.
The replacement material will be Marmoleum, selected in part for its environmental qualities. Its seams will be kept smooth to avoid creating obstacles for mobility devices.
Because newly installed tile requires approximately 24 hours to set, crews will complete one hallway at a time. Access to the Dining Room will remain open for every meal. When the main hallway is closed, diners will use the side door near the church connector.
The kitchen team will face an added challenge while the hallway between the kitchen and Dining Room is being completed: food will need to be taken outside and delivered through an exterior Dining Room entrance.
“Please pray for good weather during this period when the kitchen will be taking food outside,” Rosenbaum said.
Sacristy Repairs
Repeated leaks from the flat roof over the sacristy caused water to enter the ceiling. Previous repairs did not fully solve the problem, particularly after a period of heavy rain.
The ceiling material had begun separating from the joists and could have become a safety hazard. The entire ceiling was therefore removed. Cornett Roofing will replace the roof, and a new ceiling will be installed throughout the sacristy rather than creating a series of patches.
Mass will continue without interruption during the work.
“With the new roof, we should have no more leaks in there,” Rosenbaum said. “If you could join me in praying for that, I would appreciate it.”
Old Laundry Deconstruction
The removal of the Old Laundry Building was Nazareth’s first opportunity to fully apply the environmentally responsible deconstruction practices outlined in the campus master plan.
Instead of demolishing the structure and sending all its materials to a landfill, Nazareth worked with Ware Construction to salvage as much as possible.
The project recovered:
- 15,920 pounds of recyclable metal
- Large roof timbers capable of producing approximately 2,000 board feet of flooring
- 12 roof trusses
- Metal roofing
- Historic bricks
- Large pieces of hand-hewn limestone
The heart pine timbers will be resawn into antique-style flooring. The roof trusses and metal roofing, recovered from a related structure near the former water plant, are being reused on a building in Shelby County.
Crews also discovered large hand-cut limestone foundation stones that were previously hidden below ground. Nazareth is exploring whether the stone can be reused on campus or made available to contractors specializing in historic buildings.
Only 15 dumpster loads from the large structure went to the landfill.
“We wanted to make sure that we did this in the most environmentally sustainable way, not simply take a bulldozer and put it all in the landfill,” Rosenbaum said.
Nazareth also received payment for the recycled metal, creating a financial return from material that otherwise might have been discarded.
Erosion Project
Erosion in the fields near the front entrance has created gullies that carry soil and silt into Roadside Lake. As sediment accumulates, the lake becomes shallower and more susceptible to invasive plants.
Nazareth consulted erosion and river-restoration specialist Tom Biebighauser to develop a plan. Rather than beginning at the lake, the project addresses runoff farther uphill.
“The answer turned out to be: go upstream and fix the problem at its source,” Rosenbaum said.
Deep washouts are being reshaped into wider, gentler channels. Crews will add heavy rock, press it into the soil, cover it with a light layer of soil and replant the area. The work will slow water, stabilize the land and reduce the amount of soil entering Roadside Lake.
A shallow wetland will also be created to capture runoff and provide wildlife habitat. The surrounding meadow will be allowed to return to native grasses, wildflowers and pollinator plants.
Nazareth continues to manage invasive plants, including autumn olive, bush honeysuckle, Johnson grass and horseweed. With approximately 300 acres to maintain, priority is given to areas regularly visited by the Sisters and locations with particular ecological importance.
A prescribed burn is being considered for August or September in the field between the SCN Center and Roadside Lake. Burning at the appropriate time can reduce invasive plants and encourage native species. A certified burn manager will oversee the work, and weather, wind, recent rainfall and available fuel will all be evaluated before a date is selected. The community will receive advance notice.
Maintaining Future Options for 70 Acres
Nazareth has not made a long-term decision about the approximately 70 acres located across Kentucky Route 332. The land was previously farmed, and options such as solar development have been discussed, but no plan has been approved.
To prevent the field from becoming fully wooded while still protecting wildlife habitat, Nazareth is using a rotating mowing strategy. Less than half the property was mowed last year, and a different section is being mowed this year. Future work may divide the acreage into four sections, with one mowed annually.
This approach keeps the property available for future discernment while allowing birds, insects, rabbits and other wildlife to move among areas at different stages of growth.
Hill Haven
The former Butler Building has been renamed Hill Haven in honor of Sister Pat Hill, who led the Montessori program there for many years.
“All three of my children who came here to Montessori used that building for their nap time,” Rosenbaum said. “I can never go into that building without thinking about Sister Pat and all the little ones at Montessori.”
Fiber-optic cable has been installed beneath the road, connecting Hill Haven to the campus network. The connection will support Wi-Fi, videoconferencing, fire-panel service and other electronic needs.
Additional improvements include:
- A kitchenette
- New drywall
- An ADA-accessible restroom
- Interior and exterior painting
- Flexible furniture for small groups
The room will initially seat approximately 12 people. Stackable chairs and a folding table will allow the arrangement to change for meetings, group conversations, prayer or programs using floor cushions.
The building is expected to be ready in September. Next year, the former Montessori playground will be developed into a meditative garden with additional landscaping.
Rosenbaum described the vision as “a more meditative, quieter, more spiritual” setting where Sisters, employees and retreat groups can use the indoor and outdoor spaces together.
Guest House Floors Restored
Four second-floor bedrooms and the connecting hallway in the Guest House are receiving new or restored flooring.
In three areas, crews were able to sand and restore the original wood floors. In two other areas, the flooring was too damaged to save and asbestos-containing tile was found underneath. The asbestos was professionally removed, and new flooring was selected to coordinate with the restored wood.
Maintenance Shop Renovation
Work began July 13 in the maintenance shop. Two enormous boilers remain in the basement from the former system that heated much of the campus through underground steam tunnels.
Because the boilers contain asbestos insulation, specialized abatement is required. The boilers are too large to leave the building intact and must be cut into sections. Their metal, along with unused vents and pipes, will be recycled.
The larger renovation also includes updated electrical service, improved lighting and new paint, creating a safer and more functional workplace for the maintenance team.
Television Service Moves to New Provider
Nazareth was required to find a new television provider after Spectrum purchased Bardstown Connect. Spectrum did not submit a formal proposal and indicated that service could cost approximately $96,000 annually.
Groove Technology Solutions, a DIRECTV reseller also serving Nazareth Home, was selected instead. The goal was to preserve the familiar channel lineup and equipment. Nearly all previous channels were retained, and Cozi TV, MeTV and the ACC Network were restored. The SEC Network, KET stations and major broadcast networks also remain available.
Channel numbers changed, but updated guides were distributed. Some older televisions may not recognize every channel and may need to be rescanned or replaced.
After six months, the Sisters will be surveyed about which channels they watch, which they do not use and which they would like added. The responses may allow Nazareth to adjust the lineup and potentially reduce costs.
“This is not the final lineup, and we can evolve this,” Rosenbaum said.
Additional Campus Updates
- New chairs, tables, swings and other furnishings have been placed in the Garden Pavilion behind the David Hall parking lot.
- Campus Service also welcomed three employees:
- Greg Jones, a cook in Food Service with prior chef experience
- Chandra Keplinger, a new member of the Housekeeping team
- Ashley Reid, who joined POFA
- Dining Room users are reminded that paper napkins should now be placed in recycling rather than compost or trash. Napkins were removed from the compost stream because the volume of fibrous material was affecting the balance of the compost. Used napkins, including those with small amounts of food residue, remain recyclable.