Commercial Architecture November 2017 - 58

windows

PROJECT

Right. XD Clutch FlexShades from Draper Inc. have a 1% openness factor, coordinate with the wall
color, and complement the exhibits and historical character at the Coffin House historic site.
Below. Shades avoid readability issues from light spilling in behind the exhibits. Windows from the
original 1836 structure use shades with extended valances to span gaps left by the shade headers.

Protecting And Enlightening History
Draper shades provide sun/glare control for museum exhibits.
"

he story of Levi and Catharine Coffin is

for Synthesis Inc., Indianapolis, sought a shading solu-

and objects. The shades will also be instrumental in as-

one of the best documented in the Unit-

tion to combat the heat buildup and glare and to pre-

sisting the building to maintain a consistent tempera-

ed States when it comes to Underground

serve the exhibits. "Our shade design goal was to not

ture without impacting our guests or exhibition."

Railroad history in Indiana," said Joanna Hahn, man-

detract from the historical character of the building or

In addition to the glare and heat buildup issues on

ager of the Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic

exhibits," said Anderson. "We wanted to provide sun

the southern exposure, windows located behind exhib-

Site. The Underground Railroad, a secret network of

and glare control for exhibits, patrons, and staff. The

its on the west side of the building created a problem. To

abolitionists and safe houses used by escaping African

shade design is very clean and non-obtrusive."

avoid readability issues from light spilling in behind the

American slaves trying to make their way to Canada or

Draper Inc., Spiceland, IN, wanted to ensure the

free states, by 1850 had transported as many as 100,000

tools used to tell the Coffin's story were preserved, and

escaped slaves to freedom. To better tell the Coffin's

that visitors would have a memorable experience while

"Some of the windows were salvaged from the orig-

story, in December 2016 the State of Indiana opened a

touring the museum. The company was chosen to pro-

inal 1836 home and others built to match the original

new interpretive center on the existing historic proper-

vide the necessary window shades.

windows, which had side casings," Anderson said. "We

exhibits, shades had to be in the windows and there was
another possible problem.

ty. "The interpretive center serves as a way to help put

Since the window shades do not need to be operated

specified an extended valance to span gaps left by the

the story of Levi and Catharine Coffin in perspective

often, Draper's heavy-duty XD Clutch FlexShades were

shade header, which was mounted close to the win-

to the much larger history related to the Underground

used. Anderson chose an alabaster color to coordinate

dow."

Railroad in the United States," Hahn said.

with the wall color, which also complemented the ex-

The Coffin house in Fountain City, IN-then called

hibits and the historical character of the building.

Draper delivered, creating a uniform and cohesive
shade design. "The shades blend well with the aesthetic

Newport-was a main stop along one of the secret Un-

According to Hahn, the shades-which have a 1%

of the architecture, which blends historical details with

derground routes, and the historic site is designed to

openness factor-control the light levels and offer the

modern touches," Hahn said. "The shades are easy to

give a picture of what that experience would have been.

right solution.

operate and seem very durable. A site like ours depends

As "conductors," the Coffins helped more than 1,000
freedom seekers find their way to safety.

"The shades allow us to use our lighting system more
effectively to properly showcase the exhibition panels

on durable materials that will last for years and we expect the window shades will only be a benefit." CA

The interpretive center includes an exhibit area and
store on the building's southern exposure, with a lot of
natural light entering through the windows. "Light can
be an enemy for any museum," Hahn explained, "especially those that contain artifacts that can degrade due

Circle 8 on the Reader Service Card.

to too much light exposure."
With this in mind, Lynda Anderson, R.I.D., LEEDAP, an interior designer of architectural design solutions
58

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

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NOVEMBER 2017

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Learn more about the Levi and Catharine Coffin
State Historic Site.

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture November 2017