At 68,Stephen’s gets a makeover

“But the essence of the project will be to retain the building’s heritage look and do away with incompatible finishes and construction that have been incorporated over the years,” conservation architect and director of Cultural Resource Conservation Initiative (CRCI) Gurmeet Rai said.

Rai is handling the makeover project.

The main areas identified for conservation work are the old and new science building,the gymnasium,the hostel block,Walter George’s building,the principal’s residence,some of the professors’ residences,and the canteen.

New ramps will be built alongside the stone pathways to make the campus accessible. “We will have to use red sandstone for the ramps to give a compatible look — stone pathways are uncomfortable for wheelchairs,” Rai said. “We can also use timber on the exterior of the steps and sides of the railings.”

The principal’s residence,Rai said,will get finishes of terrazzo floors and Jaguar sanitary fittings,which go with the heritage look of the British-era building.

“After the waterproofing is done,we will rationalise water distribution on campus by lowering the ground level to check seepage,” Rai said. “We will also work out a rainwater harvesting system.”

The conservation work will need the MCD’s approval as the college building is on the list of heritage buildings compiled by the Indian Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). A proposal will also have to be forwarded to the Heritage Conservation Committee,set up on the

Supreme Court’s instructions to oversee protection and conservation of all listed heritage structures.

According to college authorities,the waterproofing work has already started and a proposal for the second phase of extensions would be sent to the MCD soon. The estimated cost of the entire project is around Rs 1 crore,of which Rs 50,000 is allocated for waterproofing and the rest for new construction,furniture and infrastructure.

“The budget proposal will be forwarded to UGC for approval as the college doesn’t have adequate funds for the entire project,” college principal Valson Thampu said. “The conservation work was necessary as there was a lot of seepage on the roofs and walls. The college was built in 1941 and time has taken its toll.”

More lecture and tutorial rooms will be constructed on extension of Walter George building,Thampu said.

“Though it will cost us a lot,we owe it to the young scholars who come to us,” he said.

Areas for renovation,conservation,construction
* Old and new science building
* Gymnasium
* Hostel block
* Walter George’s building
* Principal’s residence
* Some professors’ residences
* Canteen
* Ramps to make entire campus disabled-friendly

Rs 1 crore
is the cost of the entire project