In the historic Egyptian Building, creativity rose to the occasion to replace more than 1,200 ceiling tiles
Historical sensitivity came together in the extensive project to restore the unique structure on the academic medical center campus.
October 14, 2024
A team of expert craftspeople managed the painstakingly complex – and rewarding – process of replacing more than 1,200 tiles to maintain the uniquely striking appearance of VCU’s historic Egyptian Building. (Photo by Quentin Penn-Hollar)
By Joan Tupponce
Keith Van Inwegen headed to the Egyptian Building in spring 2022 after hearing that a few ceiling tiles in the lobby were damaged. The tiles had been in place since the 1930s, when the historic building at Virginia Commonwealth University was gutted and renovated.
“We saw that the adhesive had started to give way,” said Van Inwegen, assistant director of planning and design for Facilities Management. “There was no way to fix the tiles.”
A more creative solution would be needed – and the project turned out to be one of the most interesting projects he has worked on at VCU.
“The Egyptian Building is the oldest building on campus. It’s in the VCU brand,” Van Inwegen said. “We definitely wanted to take extra care to make sure we were not doing anything to damage the historic nature of that building.”
A structural marvel on the academic medical campus, the Egyptian Building was originally the Medical Department of Hampden-Sydney College. It later became the inaugural home of the Medical College of Virginia, now part of VCU.
Van Inwegen hired Glavé & Holmes Architecture. Susan Reed, a principal of the Richmond firm and its director of historic preservation, came to the site, held one of the tiles – “it was a light and unusual material,” she said – and began thinking of how to keep the tiles adhered. The previous adhesive contained asbestos, and “when we looked closer, we saw how many tiles had been replaced over the years.”
The Glavé team documented each tile in the ceiling and completed a detailed site survey.
“Due to the adhesive failing and the fact that the tiles couldn’t be removed without them breaking, we made the decision to replicate them,” Reed said. “That’s when the hunt for a craftsperson that could replicate the tiles began.”
The hunt yielded a campus connection. VCU alum Charles Ponticello and fellow artist Marilyn Haskin were chosen to replicate the more than 1,200 tiles. Ponticello received his master’s degree in sculpture from VCU.
“I had worked with Charlie at the Scott House,” Reed said, referring to the historically sensitive rehabilitation of that campus building, which dates to the early 20th century. “I knew him as being a specialty person, and fortunately, he was interested.”
Both the Scott House and the Egyptian Building are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. Additionally, the Egyptian Building was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1971.
“With Charlie, the big task was the investigation of materials used in the tiles. When that was completed, we discovered an unusual 1939 material not commonly found,” Reed said. “Charlie found the material in Denmark. The tiles were the same, but they were larger than we needed.”
During studio visit, artist Marilyn Haskin speaks with Nickolas Coile, project manager for Glavé & Holmes, about the tile replication process. (Photo by Glavé & Holmes Architecture)
That meant each replicated tile for the Egyptian Building had to be customized, and Reed leaned on the experience, expertise and creativity of Ponticello and Haskin.
The tile replacement was overseen by Jesús Najar, then a project manager at VCU Facilities Management, and Nickolas Coile, project manager for Glavé & Holmes.
“Jesús oversaw construction and installation as well as the contractors and implementation,” Van Inwegen said.
Ponticello made the replacement tiles and Haskin painted them. Each was numbered to make sure that colors matched before Haskin began painting.
“Charlie knew how to get the shape and texture right,” Reed said, adding that each painted tile was surrounded by eight tiles to form a pattern. “It’s a puzzle to make sure they are put in the way they came out. It’s just patience at that point. Charlie made sure the end result was compatible with the originals. Charlie and Marilyn did a fantastic job in being faithful to the original.”
VCU alum Charles Ponticello and fellow artist Marilyn Haskin customized each replicated tile for the project. (Photo by Quentin Penn-Hollar)
Glavé called in Rebekah Jamerson, a Richmond-area specialist, to repair the plaster that had come down during the process, to make sure the new tiles would be adhered to a stable surface.
As with VCU’s Van Inwegen, Reed said the Egyptian Building project was the most unique she has tackled.
“It’s a very specific task with archaic materials. It required finding the right craftspeople to do the work,” Reed said. “What they did was amazing. It definitely was rewarding.”
