Highly efficient polyurethane insulation is being sprayed into the wall and ceiling cavities of the Monitor Suite in the photo above. The main advantage of sprayed-on foam insulation in this application is the fact that a two-foot thick stone wall would normally allow for moisture condensation due to the temperature differential between a warm building and cold stone. With spray foam, we are able to maximize the vapor barrier and insulation properties in a single layer of the building envelope. It is also inert and stable after it has cured, does not off-gas any VOC's and is considered a "green product." As well as becoming quieter, the building is also starting to retain its heat- a welcome experience in February.
February 09, 2009
January 30, 2009
Cold Ground = Warm Building
Its hard to believe that under 3" of snow and two feet of frost there is enough heat to keep 13 hotel rooms and two restaurants warm for the winter. The photo shows some of the geothermal bore holes that extend 100' deep to where the temperature of the earth is a constant 52 degrees. On a day like the day pictured, the building is about 15 degrees. High school physics tells us that Pressure x Volume = Temperature (P x V = T). So, by adding a little pressure via a mechanical heat pump, the temperature of the earth (52 degrees) is delivered into the building at a comfortable 72 degrees. Now that's earth-friendly!
January 14, 2009
No Parking
The entry drive is very busy these days. Even though trucks are back-to-back in this photo, access is typically managed well enough to get through. However, the trades are using every inch of the property as staging ground while the Stone House moves into its most busy period to date. Pictured here are trucks representing HVAC, Verizon, National Grid and fireplace installers.
December 30, 2008
Happy New Year- With Power
National Grid showed up today with their underground feeder cables. With all of the prep work, temporary loss of power has never been such a welcome occurrence. Note the impact gates and blast wall in front of and behind the new transformer. We hope to bring the Barn online with permanent power with the new year.
December 17, 2008
12-17-08 Utility Trench
It doesn't look like much, but this will be what is essentially the nervous system, arterial system and respiratory system of the Historic Stone House. The utility trench pictured here connects all of the new Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing systems from the new equipment room below the Pond Suite to the Main Building. In fact, the system goes on to interconnect with the Wood Barn. The space above will be back-filled and covered with a slab of concrete and later become a renovated 1-bedroom suite. Originally believed to be an outdoor corral, it evolved into a covered stable area and most recently existed as a studio apartment and managerial offices.
December 10, 2008
12-9-08 Site Progress
It was a busy day on site today with many pieces of heavy equipment operating in close quarters. Pictured here (from left to right) an excavator placing one of the last large septic structures, another excavator with a hammer attachment (see VW-sized boulder to its left), an idle geothermal drill rig (used for holes needing deep casings) and an active drill rig finishing up the last bore hole on the east side of the Stone House.
December 09, 2008
Cable Show to Feature Little Compton Project
LITTLE COMPTON – The ongoing renovations at the Stone House are set to be featured on Discovery Channel’s Planet Green channel.
The redevelopment of a 154-year-old hotel will be featured on “Renovation Nation,” an hour-long program focusing on environmentally conscious building, according to developer Goosewing Hotels & Resorts.
A film crew and the show’s host, Steve Thomas, were on site last week for the taping.
The inn was named this spring to the National Register of Historic Places after Goosewing purchased it in October 2007 for $5.4 million. The main building has 12 guest rooms and the Wood Barn building has three one-bedroom suites.
Goosewing to Sell Stone House Guest-Suite Memberships
LITTLE COMPTON – Goosewing Hotels & Resorts, the redevelopers of the Stone House hotel, this week announced that they will sell memberships to three of the historic inn’s guest suites.
Membership pricing starts at $1.25 million, the company said. They are 99-year, transferable leases for one of three suites – the Heron, Plover or Osprey – and include “the flexibility to have the leasehold managed as part of the Stone House guest-room inventory at times of the member’s choosing,” the company said in a news release.
“This is a unique opportunity to become a member of Stone House and enjoy resort-style living in one of the most sought after coastline communities in New England,” CEO Craig Pishotti said in a statement Monday. “Estate members will experience extraordinary amenities and services on a level with the finest international resorts.” >> Read More
New Cupola Crowns Historic Stone House
LITTLE COMPTON – A re-creation of the 15-by-15-foot cupola that had formerly sat upon the roof of the Stone House was raised into place last week.
Parent company Goosewing Hotels & Resorts this week said the cupola’s design and six-foot windows were an attempt to recreate the Italianate style of the original cupola, which was built in 1870.
“Fortunately, quite a few historic photographs existed and were essential to the extensive process of recreating the cupola and the other historic elements of the property,” said Zachary Miller, Goosewing co-founder and president of development. “Our prime focus is to preserve and renovate historic elements from decades past and integrate today’s sustainable development and green building standards.” >> Read More
