Four phases. One White House, rebuilt.

Insulation passes inspection; windows and siding underway

Work at the White House advanced on several fronts this week. The wall insulation passed inspection, and the closed-cell spray foam is nearly complete, with only the gable ends left to finish. Window installation has begun, with new units being set at the openings, and exterior cladding has started going up on the completed elevations. Inside, the whole-house rewire is nearing completion, with the historic pressed-tin ceiling preserved alongside new recessed lighting, and an electrical inspection scheduled for the end of the week.

As is common in a building of this age, the crew has uncovered a few conditions that were not visible until the walls were opened. Concealed rot in the cornice, soffit, and porch trim was repaired to protect the structure from further weather exposure, and the first-floor window openings needed modification to receive the new units. These items have extended the schedule modestly — the contractor now estimates roughly seven to eight weeks to completion — but work is continuing without interruption.

Next week the team will close out the gable insulation, continue setting windows and installing siding, and move toward finishing the electrical work. A board walkthrough of the interior is planned before the 4th of July to review progress and decide whether interior painting will be added to the scope.

Watch: the latest construction photos from the renovation

A short video tour of the most recent progress on the White House renovation, with the latest photos from the construction site.

Week one complete; Mass Save rebate secured

The first week of construction on the White House is complete, and the general contractor reports that progress is going well. During the week, Mass Save visited the site and qualified the project for $8,000 in insulation rebates, another step in keeping the work cost-effective for the chapter. The contractor has also provided a full written update, with photos documenting the current status of the exterior work.

Final walkthrough done; contractor takes the keys, construction begins Monday

A final on-site walkthrough was conducted with the general contractor and his team, alongside several board members and undergraduate residents. The group reviewed the project scope, identified potential challenges, and discussed final construction logistics to ensure the work proceeds smoothly. The undergraduates did an excellent job preparing the house for the upcoming exterior work. With the full rewiring scope only recently added, a small number of additional items had to be relocated over the weekend to provide adequate access for the electrical work. The contractor has now taken possession of the master keys, and construction is scheduled to begin Monday. This marks the start of a significant investment in the White House, one that will improve safety, comfort, energy efficiency, and the long-term sustainability of the property.

Full White House rewiring added to the current scope

Through discussions around potential scope enhancements, the team identified an opportunity to expand the project to include a complete rewiring of the White House. Completing this work concurrently with the insulation upgrades is critical, as access to the wall cavities will be significantly more limited once the new insulation is installed. The new electrical system and updated fixtures will improve safety, reliability, and functionality throughout the White House while supporting the building's long-term needs. While originally planned for the later bedroom renovation phase, this work can now be completed as part of the current project, thanks to additional budget flexibility identified within the overall scope.

Hazmat report in; project moves to traditional wood clapboard

The hazardous materials report on the White House exterior is back, with two findings that shape the next phase of work.

First, the building will require RRP (Renovation, Repair, and Painting) lead-safe work procedures before siding work can begin, due to the presence of lead paint on the exterior. This was expected given the building's age. Parker employs painters who hold this certification, so it should not alter the project timeline.

Second, and more important: when the general contractor opened an inspection point, the original wood clapboard was discovered underneath the existing aluminum siding. This finding changed the Historical Commission's previous direction on the approved siding approach. Rather than proceeding with the previously scoped James Hardie clapboard plank, the project will now move forward with traditional wood clapboard siding to match the home's original detailing and historic character. When sourced from the right vendor and installed correctly, the selected wood clapboard is expected to provide a comparable service life to the previously specified Hardie product. The team does not expect a large change to the budget from this move, but will know for certain once the contractor receives bids from his vendors.

Pearl Harvest Group signed; first payment locked in for April 1

The Board signed the construction contract with Pearl Harvest Group (PHG) and finalized the payment schedule. The first payment of $90,000 is due April 1, covering the downpayment on windows and siding materials so the long-lead items are ordered before crews mobilize. Eli also worked with PHG to produce a two-page Scope of Work summary that was distributed at the March 7 alumni meeting. With the contract executed and materials on order, the project is officially out of the planning phase.

Two bids in; architect confirms scope alignment

Two formal bids came back against Jesse Hilgenberg's permit drawings: Pearl Harvest Group and Madigan, with Madigan roughly $150K higher. Eli, Jesse, and PHG's president Parker met to walk the bid line by line and confirm everything tracks with the permitted scope. Within the original $300K budget, the team also folded in a few additions (front door replacement and 3rd-floor dormer insulation) by trading down on window brand selection. A $20K contingency for fire escape code upgrades is being carried separately, and a Mass Save Home Energy Assessment is in flight that could unlock up to a 75% insulation rebate. Final bid acceptance is pending one last scope review.

Permit drawings approved; project goes out to bid

The Worcester Historical Commission has signed off on the final 14-sheet permit drawing set for the White House exterior. Architect Jesse Hilgenberg (AIA, NCARB) and his team at Dixon Salo Architects in Worcester carried the project through schematic design (March), design development (June), and bid drawings (October).

The exterior wall assembly is a complete re-skin: demo the existing aluminum siding, plywood sheathing, and old cavity insulation; keep the existing 2x4 wood studs and the interior lath and plaster; then build back with closed-cell spray foam in the entire cavity, 5/8" Zip Panel sheathing (taped), a Benjamin-Obdyke HydroGap self-adhered weather barrier, and James Hardie clapboard plank siding (smooth, 4" exposure, Arctic White). The Hardie board siding is a Worcester Historical Commission requirement to preserve the original wood look.

Windows across all four elevations are being replaced with triple-pane Low-E units (Andersen A-Series equivalent, U-value 0.27, SHGC 0.40), composite exterior with wood interior, and simulated divided lites to keep the period appearance. The original dentalwork, frieze boards, corner boards, decorative roof edge trim, and porch soffit detailing are all being preserved, sanded, and repainted rather than replaced.

The plans also build in a discovery clause requiring the contractor to notify the architect if original historic siding is found beneath the existing exterior, which sets up Historic Commission protocol before anything gets removed. Plans are now out to bid, with construction targeted for May 2026. Code compliance items (notably the fire escape) are being scoped into bid contingencies up front so we don't get surprised mid-project.