Shore Her Up!  -  Our Preservation Campaign

The Preservation Campaign is dedicated to work on the house that will ensure that it will remain strong
for another 150 years.

The Preservation Project

The Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club (PGRC) proudly owns and maintains the oldest permanent structure on Boathouse Row. Built in 1861, this unique facility has been the only rowing home to PGRC. For over 80 years, our Boathouse has provided a historic and important entryway for women to row on the Schuylkill River.

In order to make sure there is a home for the next generation of women rowers at our boathouse, PGRC initiated Shore Her Up!

Shore Her Up! consists of three critical construction phases as the PGRC Preservation Campaign raises funds to protect the PGRC boathouse. Shore Her Up! uses standard preservation techniques to improve and prolong the life of our remarkable boathouse.  

pgrc-schematic-sketch

Construction Phases

Phase 1
Stabilize the foundation and upgrade the boat bays. Completed!

Phase 2
Repair and seal the envelope of the building for energy efficiency: pointing, windows, and roof. In progress.

Phase 3
Renovate the interior of the building.
 

shore-her-up

Phase 1: A Firm Foundation

The National Historic Landmarks Program had identified the PGRC boathouse as one of five boathouses “most at risk” from erosion in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. Engineering studies of the boathouse made it clear that we needed to first stabilize the building's foundation. A new foundation with a steel-reinforced concrete slab was installed, and the boat bay walls, boat racks, and lighting were upgraded. The completion of Phase 1 of Shore Her Up! in 2015 ensures the foundation’s security for generations to come.

Phase 2: The Historic Exterior

Significant restoration/renovation of the building’s exterior is required to address settling due to regular flooding of the Schuylkill River, as well as environmental conditions, over the years. To date, PGRC has: 1) repaired, repointed and cleaned the masonry, 2) restored the original windows, cornices, and soffit, and repaired/replaced exterior doors, and 3) repainted exterior surfaces. This work was partially funded by grants from the PA Historical and Museum Commission.

Additional funds will be necessary to complete Phase 3 of the PGRC Preservation Campaign.

We need your help and your financial support ...  not only to help champion women's rowing but also to preserve one of Philadelphia's distinctive structures on Boathouse Row.

We are currently raising funds for the Deck Foundation Stabilization project. The deck and its foundation, which were added as an extension to the original boat bay, require repair of the foundation and replacement of the roof and deck. This project is estimated to cost up to $400,000.

How to Help

PayPal
You can easily and securely donate on either a one-time or recurring basis through PayPal:

Venmo
Send donations to @pgrc pgrc

Donate by Check
Checks payable to Philadelphia Girls’ Rowing Club with Preservation on the memo line may be mailed to: 

PGRC Preservation Campaign
Philadelphia Girls’ Rowing Club
14 Kelly Drive, Boathouse Row
Philadelphia, PA 19130

Please write Cindy D’Ambrosio through our Contact Us page, or call Sophie Socha at (610) 667-7431 for further information on donation options and opportunities.

The Philadelphia Girls’ Rowing Club is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are tax-deductible. 

Deck Foundation Stabilization

The PGRC boathouse was built in 1861, and in the 1930s, a rear extension to the boat bay was added which serves as the foundation for a deck.

In 2009 PGRC contracted with the Structural Engineering firm Keast & Hood to conduct a conditions assessment of the Philadelphia Girls’ Rowing Club building to provide guidance for appropriate stewardship of the property. With this assessment, a phased master plan for renovations and restoration was developed.

The first phase stabilized the building’s foundation. The second phase is the restoration of the building’s exterior. The Deck Foundation Stabilization project is the final phase of the Exterior Restoration of PGRC.


Assessment Findings – Rear Extension & Deck

  • Piers have rotated outward most likely due to inadequate soils and foundation.

  • Joists have pulled out of joist pockets in the stone wall with as little as 1” of bearing.

  • Tie rods and angles were installed to remediate the deck pulling away from the main building, however, cracks, widening of joints that were once tight, and dislocation of stones indicate that movement continues. 

  • The bituminous roofing beneath the wood deck is well past its serviceable lifespan, and leaks.  The underlayment is soft in areas and needs to be replaced. 


Scope of Work

  • Provide new foundation:

    • Remove the entire deck structure and piers

    • Soils testing and remediation to provide adequate bearing

    • Install new micropile foundations and reinforced concrete masonry unit piers; piers to be faced with stone salvaged from the original piers.  

  • Install new wood-framed deck structure and roofing. 

  • Install new wood deck: a 2’ x 2’ tile pedestal system which will allow access to roof below for maintenance.

  • Install a new railing with horizontal cable and wood top rail. 

  • Clean and Repair stone masonry as needed at the façade after the existing deck is removed.  Reinforce dropped lintels; repair wood trim.

  • Install side walls, oar racks, and other storage upgrades

  • Install new interior and exterior lighting & outlets

  • Relocate hose bib


May 4, 2023 Presentation

For more information about the project, click on the link below to view the presentation by Brian Wentz, structural engineer, Keast & Hood.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gYqRlzK3HKis1gk8TN2puLqCbltJfZfY/view?usp=sharing

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