The Bunk House & Mess Hall, referred to by park staff as the Superintendent s Building or Building 16, draws its significance from its architectural style, continued use within the historic Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and as a contributing building to the larger Caverns Historic District. Located north of the arroyo, called Bat Cave Draw, the Bunk House & Mess Hall is connected to the natural cave entrance and additional infrastructure via several footpaths. Part of a series of buildings built during the early development of the park, the Bunk House & Mess Hall anchors the entire complex from the view of the Visitor Center. As the largest contributing building in the district, the Bunk House & Mess Hall makes an impression on the landscape.
In addition to its significant scale, the Bunk House & Mess Hall is a surviving example of the Pueblo Revival Style, a rustic style initiated by NPS Chief Landscape Architect Daniel Hull, his successor Thomas C. Vint, and implemented by the building s designer Thomas Boles. Meant to blend into and reflect the landscape, this style utilized local materials and regional building techniques. The use of a unifying architectural style within a national park also reflects a greater trend seen throughout the United States at the time. Originally constructed as a guide s cabin in the floor plan was expanded in via an addition to its west fa ade designed by NPS Landscape Architect, Herbert A. Kriencamp.
Retitled the Bunk House & Mess Hall at this time, the adaptation was made to accommodate a growth in staff and needed facilities that came from the success of the surrounding national park. This THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 2) building has seen continual use by park staff, originally as housing for park guides and rangers, and later also by office staff beginning in the While some updates have been made to the interior in order to accommodate these changes in use, the exterior facades have been maintained. In this way, the Bunk House & Mess Hall is a functioning example of early construction within the Carlsbad Caverns National Park while also reflecting the Park s greater evolution and growth over the previous century.
Historian(s): Beatriz Alba, Anthony Vannette, Junyeoung Jeon, Lauren Kelly, Dan Scott, Tolu Oliyide, Vangie Ulila, Sofia Gonzalez, Estefania Barreto, Eliza Blackman, Laura Christman, Diana Hern ndez, Sydney Landers, and Ali Wysopal completed the report under the guidance of Professor Benjamin Ibarra-Sevilla from The University of Texas at Austin on September through December Part I. Historical Information A. Physical History: 1. Date of erection: 2. Designer: Thomas Boles, Park Superintendent and Herbert A. Kriencamp 3. Original and subsequent uses: i. The original cabin was a park guide s residence from its original construction between until ii.
An addition and renovations were made to the existing building in The finished building, referred to as the Bunk House & Mess Hall, housed seasonal and year-round park rangers with a dormitory, single-occupancy rooms, washrooms, kitchen, lounge, and mess hall.3 iii. In the summer of the dormitory used to house seasonal park rangers was converted for administrative office use. The lower level, single-occupancy space continued to house park rangers.4 iv. A second renovation was completed in in order to accommodate additional administrative use. The kitchen, mess hall, and former dormitory were converted into office spaces for the park s Superintendent, Assistant 1 Architectural Resource Group, Superintendent s Building Historic Structure Report, 16.
2 Swanson The Caverns Historic District, 3 Architectural Resource Group, Superintendent s Building Historic Structure Report, 16. 4 Boles Superintendent s Annual Report, (CAVE Archives). THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 3) Superintendent, Administrative Officer, Chief Ranger, Landscape Architect, and mail room.5 v. Additional upgrades were made to the interior of the building between The single-occupancy rooms in the lower-level of the building were converted into offices in vi. Today, the building continues to house the aforementioned offices introduced in in addition to a conference room, and IT room. The offices in the lower level are used by park rangers. 4. Builder, contractor, suppliers: i.
Builders: Park guides and other laborers; Armstrong and Armstrong, general contractors from Roswell, New Mexico7 ii. Oversight: Thomas Boles, Park Superintendent iii. Landscape Architects: iv. Suppliers: Limestone sourced from within the park.8 5. Original plans and construction: The original plans consisted of the bunkhouse structure that is indicated with the stacked rubble limestone wall construction. This structure and fa ade are still evident with the original walls and windows located on the east and south fa ade. 6. Additions and Alterations: i. In an addition was made to the west fa ade of the existing guide s cabin. The building was designed by Herbert A.
Kriencamp, a National Park Service landscape architect who was also responsible for the Ranger s Residence and Elevator Building built around the same time. The finished building was referred to as the Bunk House & Mess Hall and its construction was meant to provide needed facilities for the expanding park. The eastern portion, the original cabin, was converted and expanded into a mess hall, storage area, kitchen, and cook s quarters. The new western wing consisted of a larger dormitory and washroom in the elevated northwest portion and six single-occupancy sleeping quarters and washroom on the southwest lower level. The central room, with stone fireplace and wooden decorative beams, was called the lounge.
The exterior facades of this addition matched the original bunk house in its use of the Pueblo Revival style, specifically in its 5 Taylor Hoskins, R. Superintendent s Annual Reports, (CAVE Archives). 6 Architectural Resource Group, Superintendent s Building Historic Structure Report, 18. 7 Swanson The Caverns Historic District, 8 Boles, Thomas. The Year in the Parks: Carlsbad Caverns National Park (CAVE Archives). THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 4) use of limestone materials. However, some differences, mainly in bedding patterns, masonry shaping, and the installation of metal casement windows, can be seen between the two phases. This project was part of a larger Carlsbad Caverns National Park development program overseen by Thomas C.
Vint, Chief Landscape Architect, for the National Park Service s Western Field Office beginning in Vint created a master plan which called for the construction of several buildings within the Pueblo Revival style, first selected by his predecessor Daniel Hull, and addressed landscape design. ii. The Bunk House & Mess Hall was renovated in following the change in use. During this time, the dormitory space, kitchen, and mess hall were repurposed for use by park administrative staff.9 The renovation was undertaken in order to accommodate this change and created private office spaces for the park s Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Administrative Officer, Chief Ranger, and Landscape Architect in addition to a mail room and file storage. Designs for this work were completed by K. M.
Saunders, architect for the Southwest Regional Office. iii. Between updates were made to the electrical, ductwork, and wall and floor finishes in some rooms. The single-occupancy rooms in the lower- level were also converted into offices in iv. A second renovation was undertaken in which included work on the interior office spaces and exterior doors. On the interior, the wooden floors were refinished, new carpet was installed in office spaces, glass storm windows were installed to the inside of the existing frames, and the electrical and plumbing fixtures were updated.11 New storm doors were installed on the exterior. v. In-kind replacement of the wooden vigas and wood veneer on the concrete lintels was undertaken in vi.
Further upgrades to the interior, including repairs and refinishing to the trim, basement railing, ceilings, and doors, were completed in The kitchen and bathroom in the upper, northwest level were remolded.12 Other technology related interventions took place during the late 20th-early century. Information Technology data closets, servers, and equipment were incorporated into the northeast and southeast portions of the structure. Additional interior walls were added to the original northeast bunk rooms to accommodate server storage and IT equipment. 9 Architectural Resource Group, Superintendent s Building Historic Structure Report, 24. 10 Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Work Performed on Building #16 Historic Structure, (CAVE Archives).
11 Architectural Resource Group, Superintendent s Building Historic Structure Report, 25. 12 Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Work Performed on Building #16 Historic Structure, (CAVE Archives). THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 5) B. Historical Context: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the Caverns Historic District includes 581acres within Carlsbad Caverns National Park on which sit thirty- seven contributing structures, including the Bunk House & Mess Hall, as well as several significant landscape features. Archeological reports show that Native Americans utilized the caves in Carlsbad before Anglo-American discovery in the late nineteenth century.
Earliest identified inhabitants of this landscape date back to the Paleoindian period and continues through both the Archaic and Ceramic Period.13 Eventually, European exploration and settlement of the region saw local mining of the cave for guano, which was shipped to farmers in California to plant citrus groves.
Starting in Jim White, who would become important in the development of the area as a national park, worked for Abijah Long s guano mining company through the early years of the twentieth century, partaking in various exploratory trips through the cavern s Main Corridor and Devil s Spring.14 First established as a national monument in an article featuring the caves and the bats in National Geographic Magazine in January brought attention to the cave system and it was subsequently featured in the magazine in September with a larger spread, before being designated as a national park in The initial building that was to become the Bunk House & Mess Hall was built between as part of the park s development program.
Originally used as a guide s cabin, the building was designed by Park Superintendent, Thomas Bole, and fit within the Pueblo Revival Style. A form of the rustic architectural style in use throughout National Parks during this time, the Pueblo Revival style echoes the architectural features seen in Native American pueblos and Spanish missions of the southwest, including the use of vigas, a flat roof, and parapet.17 A single-level building with square floor plan and limestone random rubble fa ade, the cabin was constructed by park guides as well as other laborers. The cabin was built into the terraced hillside north of Bat Cave Draw and parking lots, and west of the main cave entrance.
The use of this style and respect for the form and mass established by earlier structures at the park, can be seen in the addition to this building. Designed by Herbert A. Kriencamp, a National Park Service landscape architect who also contributed designs for other structures at the park, the addition to the guide cabin 13 Rotham. A Historic Resource Study of Carlsbad Caverns and the Guadalupe Mountains National Parks and the Surrounding Areas, 14 Thompson, Underground Ranger: Adventures in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Other Remarkable Places. 15 See Appendix B, Fig. 1- 3. 16 See Appendix B, Fig. 4- 6.
17 In the case of Carlsbad Cave National Park, the Pueblo Revival Style was first implemented by the park s first principal planner, Daniel Hull, and continued to be applied by Thomas C. Vint who took over designing the Carlsbad Cavern Master Plan in (Architectural Resource Group, THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 6) was executed to accommodate a growing staff number and facility needs. The completion of the finished building, referred to as the Bunk House & Mess Hall, was celebrated by park staff and reported on in the local paper as a success.18 Beginning in the a new master plan was conceived of that included the removal and new construction of several buildings.
A majority of this work was completed by CCC crews and followed a new architectural style, Territorial Revival.19 This new style utilized adobe construction, a traditional building technique to the southwest region, with stucco finish alongside more classical elements. Buildings that were removed during this period include the Concession Building-Comfort Station, Nursery-Kennel, Ticket Office, original Power House, and Chief Ranger s Residence.20 The Bunk House and Mess Hall is one of a handful of buildings which remained unaltered during this period. Instead, contributions were made by the National Youth Administration to the interior of the property. Also part of the New Deal program, members of the National Youth Administration constructed several pieces of furniture for the mess hall.
Following its construction, the Bunk House & Mess Hall continued to function within the park as a residence for park rangers, with some space being devoted to offices for park administrative staff in the Over the remainder of the twentieth century, the rest of the building was slowly turned over for office use, which it continues to house to this present day. This change in use has resulted in alterations to the interior, but the exterior has remained relatively unchanged and continues to display the Pueblo Revival Style architecture that has been lost in other areas of the park. Part II. Architectural Information A. General statement 1.
Architectural character: Built in the Pueblo Revival Style, the Bunk House & Mess Hall includes character defining stylistic features, such as irregularly coursed rough ashlar and stacked rubble limestone masonry exterior walls; wooden decorative vigas and half-logs over concrete lintels; and a flat roof with crenellated parapets. As a result of its aggregated construction, the structure is rambling and has multiple levels as it generally follows the natural grade of the site. The masonry and wood material were sourced locally and their use both reflects and blends the architecture into the surrounding landscape. 2. Condition of fabric: Both the exterior and interior of the Bunk House & Mess Hall are in good condition.
18 Architectural Resource Group, Superintendent s Building Historic Structure Report, 19 Architectural Resource Group, Superintendent s Building Historic Structure Report, 15. 20 Swanson The Caverns Historic District, THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 7) B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall Dimensions: Due to the irregular shape of this building, the overall dimensions provided reflect the longest measurements taken from the north and west facades; roughly 112 x 70 (see Appendix A). The dimensions of individual wings are provided below for clarity. East Wing: roughly 66 x 40 and is comprised of three rectangular volumes organized in a linear arrangement from east to west. The easternmost volume is roughly 26 x 25 and contains rooms 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10.
The central rectangular volume is roughly 24 x 37 and contains rooms 2, 3, 7, and 8. The westernmost rectangular plan volume is roughly 16 x 28 and contains room 1. West Wing: roughly 70 x 46 and is comprised of two levels of L-shaped volumes. The upper volume is to the north and the lower volume is to the south. The levels partially overlap. There is a third, single-story volume located between the two main volumes, accessible from the exterior The upper level volume is roughly 47 x 46 and contains rooms The lower level volume is roughly 46 x 42 and contains rooms The exterior, utility room is roughly 11 x 11 and contains a single room, 25. 2. Foundations: The foundation of the building is composed of a combination of load bearing wall strip footings with intermittent piers.
There are some areas around the base of the building on the north fa ade that show signs of improper drainage and moisture related damage. 3. Walls: The exterior walls are made up of load-bearing masonry with stacked rubble limestone on the old building and irregularly coursed rough ashlar limestone on the new building (Fig. The oldest, easternmost rectangular volume illustrates two load-bearing wall construction solutions (Fig. 5 and The east and south fa ade are built with smaller, more irregular, rough-stacked limestone walls with smaller, rectangular punched openings (Fig. 6). The 2 thick walls also have an additional 3 diameter, 4 tall cylindrical buttress located on the southeastern portion of the building. THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No.
(Page 8) The remaining exterior walls illustrate a more refined load-bearing structural system with random-patterned ashlar cut limestone, and larger punched openings. Each of the openings are expressed with similar cylindrical heavy timber lintels and contain the metal operable casement windows. The north fa ade also utilizes larger, more rectangular limestone blocks that have a consistent concave mortar joint (Fig. 4 and 5). Decorative wooden vigas run across all four facades of this building, placed every two to three feet, on center. While not structural, they help capture the rustic style being sought in the park s early development period. The rubble limestone wall and mortar joints are in good condition and appear well maintained.
The wooden lintels show varying degrees of cracking and deterioration due to weathering. The protruding wood vigas are increasingly deteriorated and in some cases breaking away from the wall. Improperly installed electrical cables are wrapped around some vigas causing additional stress and fatigue (Fig. 4. Structural System and Framing: All exterior walls are load-bearing masonry walls, with an average thickness of 1 9 . 5. Porches, stoops, balconies, porticoes, bulkheads: There is a sunken patio on the north fa ade, outside of what is now the main entrance to the building (Fig. 10 and 6). The square-shaped plan patio is composed of a flagstone floor and limestone retaining wall on the north and east side.
The patio can be accessed from above via a set of concrete stairs set into the north retaining wall, which descend into the space, terminating 3 to 4 feet in front of the main door. The flooring consists of slate flagstone that is arranged in varying shapes and sizes. The flooring is showing visible signs of spalling in several locations (Fig. An L-shaped plan patio is located at the building's south entrance with the bend facing north and the long side facing east. Used as the main entrance to the Bunk House & Mess Hall after its initial construction in the patio level is 1 -9 above the natural grade line and is accessible via flagstone steps on the east side. There are two entryways accessible from this patio.
One, on the southward facing fa ade, opens into the central space (Room There is a short flight of stairs located on the northeast corner bend leading to this entryway which is elevated 3 -1 above the patio level. The second door is located on the eastward facing fa ade and leads to the corridor in lower-level of the building (Room The floor of this patio is also comprised of flagstone. There is a limestone coursed ledge surrounding the south edge of the patio. The ledge has a stepped profile, terminating on the east and against the wall on the west. THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 9) 6. Chimney: One rectangular chimney is located on the eastern edge of the west wing, connecting to the fireplace in Room #1.
It is made of the same coursed limestone as the addition. 7. Openings a. Doors and doorways: The Bunk House & Mess Hall has five exterior doors. The wooden plank doors off of the south patio, north patio, and the door on the north fa ade opening into Room #5 are original. Both doors which open into Room #1 contain their original, four-light glazing while the glazing in the exterior door on the south patio which accesses the lower level of the building has been replaced with a single light. There is no glazing present in the exterior door attached to Room #5. The fifth exterior door is located on the north fa ade, towards the west end, and opens onto Room # 23. This door is not original. Most of the original hardware on the doors have been replaced with modern aluminum hardware.
Original hardware, lock and bronze hinges remain on the south fa ade door attached to Room #1 and on the north fa ade door attached to Room #5. Only the original bronze finish hinges remain on the middle north fa ade door. b. Windows: There are four different types of windows present; metal casement, wooden double-hung sash, metal storm windows, and skylights. The punched openings in the northeast corner of the original guide s cabin are framed with large rectangular wood members and contain the original 6/6 and 1/1 double- hung windows (Fig. 14 and The remaining windows in the Bunk House & Mess Hall are functional metal casement with original hardware.
Several of the windows throughout the east and west wing of the building have been fitted with thin framed aluminum storm windows to the interior. Above each window, there is a concrete lintel, hidden by a halved timber beam to give the illusion of a wooden lintel. Most of the exterior windows are in good condition with exception to a few areas. The westernmost wood double-hung window on the south fa ade is racked in position and remains partially open. Some of the thin framed metal casement windows need proper caulking and sealant around some of the exposed and weathered areas. There have been previous replacements made to the glazing in the metal casement windows in Room #18 and some of the operating hardware in these windows is damaged and only partially functional.
Additionally, the northeast casement window has an improperly installed window AC unit with plywood infill that is causing problems in and around the fa ade in this area. Some of the door and windowsills have minimal biological growth as a result of continued moisture exposure. 8. Roof THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 10) a. Shape, covering: The roof shape follows the rectilinear form of the load bearing limestone walls. Each of the fa ades have intermittently spaced terra cotta scuppers that help drain excess water from the roof. The majority of the roof is flush with the top of each of the walls with exception to the crenellated portions located near the corners and intersections of each of the building volumes.
The roof construction appears to be wood frame construction with white painted elastomeric roof coating on top. C. Description of Interior 1. Floor plans: The general layout of the Bunk House & Mess Hall is rectangular in shape and can be divided into an east wing, central room (Room and west wing (see Appendix A). The east wing consists of an easternmost square volume and a rectangular volume with a hallway that connects this portion of the building to the central room. Each of these areas are further split into individual rooms. Room #5 is isolated from the rest of the rooms in the east wing, it can only be accessed from the exterior via a separate small stone terrace and steps paved with flagstone on the north entrance.
The central room has an open layout and multiple access points including two exterior doors, two interior doors, and an opening to the eastern hallway. West of the central room, there are two L-shaped volumes. As the building follows the natural slope of the hillside, the western portion is split between an upper, north level and a lower, south level. The two levels overlap in the middle creating the highest point of the building, Room which is accessed via a short set of steps at the end of the hallway (Room on the upper level. Both levels are further split into individual rooms and central hallways. Between the north and south level of the west wing, there is a courtyard and an exterior building connected to the south fa ade of the north level. 2.
Stairways: To access the lower and upper levels in the western wing, there are three interior staircases (Fig. 14 and At the eastern end of the corridor (Room in the lower level, there is a wooden staircase leading up to a landing outside of the interior door to the central room (Room The carpet on the stairs and landing is in the process of being removed and replaced with new Douglas Fir wood floors to match the original flooring material. There is a wrought iron railing running along the west edge of the staircase. To access the north level of the west wing from central room, there is a wooden staircase leading up to a hallway, Room This staircase is surrounded by wood trim and the walls on either side have been partially paneled with matching wood planks.
There is a wrought iron handrail on the northern wall along the staircase. A third staircase with wooden steps is located in the north wing between the aforementioned hallway (Room and the kitchen (Room #18)(Fig. While there is no handrail, there is a short, wooden wall constructed of wooden planks, wood trim, and boards along a portion of the eastern edge of the staircase. THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 11) 3. Flooring: There is a variety of flooring present throughout the Bunk House & Mess Hall. Within the central room and east wing of the building, the floor is a combination of staggered hardwood flooring consisting of approximately 2 wide Douglas fir planks that runs longitudinally across the rooms.
Within this section of the building, the flooring in rooms 5 and 6 is a thin patterned linoleum and the flooring in rooms 4 and 9 consists of a thin carpet on padding. The flooring in the west wing also varies. Within the upper level, a majority of the spaces have linoleum tile floors with the exception of the wood plank floors present in Room The lower level of the west wing has carpet throughout, though it is in the process of being removed. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: A majority of the interior walls throughout the east wing, central room, and lower level of the west wing are finished with white-painted rough-finish plaster. The plaster is filleted at sill, head, and jamb conditions. The interior walls within Room #5 are noted as white painted rough plaster finish over metal lath.
Changes to this pattern can be seen in rooms #6, 8, 9, and 10 within the east wing and throughout the whole upper level of the west wing where the interior partition walls are drywall with white-painted rough-finished plaster. Additionally, the partition in Room #6 is made of painted plywood with wood trim. At the top of the plywood partition wall, there is a rectangular opening with a metal grate connecting to the adjacent IT Storage Room. There is variety in ceiling material depending on the space. Within Room #1, the ceiling is characterized by six transverse beams and one longitudinal beam running north-south, producing ten coffers (Fig. These structural beams, as well as perimeter beams, are veneered with a stained hardwood. The coffers are finished with planks of the same wood.
These planks vary in widths between approximately 2" and 4" and their orientation varies by coffer. The four coffers on the north side of the room and the four on the south side have the planks oriented at 45-degree angles from the beams whereas the two coffers in the middle of the room have their planks running north-south. The ceiling in Room #8 is characterized by two sets of 8 x8 beams that are offset from the walls running east-west direction. 4 x 8 beams are attached on the east and west wall, and an 8 x 8 beam is attached on the northwest wall. All the beams have a wooden veneer finish. Two sets of 1/6 x wood planks run north-south direction intersecting with the beams dividing the ceiling area equally.
Two similar wood planks where added parallel to the first planks but in random spacing and spanned up to the inner face of the beams. There is x cavetto molding run along the sides of the beams and planks, except for the side facing the north wall. THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 12) The remainder of the rooms within the east wing consist of a drop ceiling with 1 x1 acoustic ceiling tiles. Within the west wing, a majority of the ceilings are finished with white plaster and paint. The exceptions are rooms 14, 22, and 23 which feature a drop ceiling with 1 x1 acoustic ceiling tiles. The characteristic filleted plaster work can be seen the curved finish given to the wall to ceiling juncture throughout the west wing.
Additional plasterwork can be seen in Room #17 where the ceiling is angled and curved to form a unique trapezoidal shape (Fig. 5. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: The east wing of the interior of the Bunk House & Mess Hall has multiple historic cased openings. The first cased opening connects Room #1 with the east wing. This cased opening is wrapped in stained wood trim. The second, smaller cased opening is located between rooms 8 and 9 and is also wrapped in a similar wood trim with slightly different molding profile (Fig. There are also two plaster cased openings on the west elevation of Room #1 that connect the west wings (Fig. Within the Bunk House & Mess Hall, there are four styles of doors present.
A majority of the interior doors in the west wing are constructed of tongue and groove sugar pine planks tied together by three oak spines (Fig. Other variations include the two wooden interior doors along the west wall in Room #1 (Fig. Both of these doors are made of thick wood planks with stained oak wood trim, similar to the original exterior doors. More contemporary additions can be seen in rooms 8, 19, and 22. The doors off of rooms 8 and 22 are hollow core encased by a wood veneer. The is a wooden, paneled door, painted white leading to Room b. Windows: As previously mentioned, there are four types of windows present in the Bunk House & Mess Hall. A majority of these windows are original to the structure and functional from the interior.
The thin framed aluminum storm windows and screens found on the interior of several of these windows vary in operability. Within Room #4, there are two east facing single-hung and two south facing double-hung sash windows. The two east facing windows are 1/1 lights and the south facing windows are 6/6 lights. Each of the interior windows have metal interior single-hung storm windows. The double-hung 6/6 windows and the southernmost 1/1 sing-hung window maintain their historic wooden sashes. The sashes for the northernmost single-hung 1/1 window have been replaced with aluminum versions set within the historic wooden frame (Fig. THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No.
(Page 13) Within Room #1 there are two identical windows on the north and south side of the room, that are directly across from one another. They are double casement windows that are six lights wide and eight lights high. On either side of the window, there are two bays of lights that remain fixed, whereas the four central lights open. At the bottom of the window there is a lever that pushes the windows open and pulls them shut. This style of window hardware is seen throughout the Bunk House & Mess Hall. Rooms 2, 3, and 7 feature windows that have a modern sliding window on the interior and a historic metal casement window on the exterior. The double- casement windows are four lights high and six lights wide. The endpanes are fixed, and the center four lights are a double casement window.
In rooms 2 and 3, these windows are south-facing and in Room #7 the windows face north. It is noted that in the case of both windows in Room #7, the storm windows do not fit properly in the openings. The jambs are not plumb and instead are splayed towards the interior. Room #3 also features a second, similar but larger double-casement window on the east wall that is four lights high and eight lights wide with a double-casement window in the center four lights. Rooms 5 and 6 each house a slightly smaller versions of the typical double-casement window with six lights per sash. The window in Room #5 is boarded up with plywood panel to allow for the serving air conditioning unit. The window sashes and frame are still left intact.
The window in Room #6 also houses an inoperable, wood-clad window insert. This reliance on metal casement windows, with variations in the number of lights, continues through the west wing of the building. Room #18 has three south-facing windows and five west-facing windows (Fig. 35 and All are single sash, metal casement windows, two lights wide and three lights high. A thin-aluminum framed screen is installed to the interior of eight of these windows. All other windows on the upper level and a majority of the windows in the lower level of the west wing are metal double-casement windows, four lights wide and four lights high, with a modern, thin-aluminum sliding window on the interior (Fig.
This includes one southern facing window in Room one south-facing, three west-facing and one north facing window in Room one north-facing window in Room one north facing and two east-facing windows in Room two west facing windows in Room one north-facing window in Room one north and one west-facing window in Room one west and two south-facing windows in Room and one south facing window in both rooms 12 and 11. Room #11 also features two east facing windows that are single-sash metal casement with three vertical lights and a modern thin aluminum storm window set flush with the interior wall. Finally, there is a skylight located in the ceiling of both rooms 10 and 18. THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 14) 6.
Decorative features and trim: Decorative wood trim runs throughout the Bunk House and Mess Hall. The wood baseboard trim 3 high with quarter-round molding at the base and plain wood trim around the doors seen in rooms 2 and 3 are typical of the style seen across the interior of the building. The trim is stained and varnished to match the doors. Some variation in trim can be seen in Room #10 and in the west wing of the building. In Room there has also been an additional x 3 unpainted wood baseboard attached to the face of the existing baseboard trim. The typical 3 high with quarter-round molding baseboard trim across the upper level of the west wing has been painted white.
The baseboard molding across the lower level of the west wing is also painted white but is wider and lacks the additional quarter-round feature. Like the plastered wall, the molding is often filleted as it meets openings. A significant decorative feature in the Bunk House and Mess Hall is the limestone fireplace located in Room #1 (Fig. Installed in the center of the west wall, this is the only fireplace in the building, and it occupies a place of prominence. It is made of the same local limestone that has been used throughout the exterior of the building, laid in an ashlar pattern. There is also a rectangular niche in the center of the upper portion of the stone cladding.
The firebox has a brick interior laid in a herringbone pattern with a concrete hearth that is flush with the floor of the room. Hardware: Throughout the Bunk House & Mess Hall there remains several examples of original cast or wrought iron hardware. Most of the windows retain their original hardware. For the metal casement windows, both single and double, the typical hardware system includes a rotating handle and latch system, located near the center of window, and telescoping casement stay, located at the center of the sill bellow each sash. This hardware has been painted an off-white cream color to match the window sashes and frames. This typical hardware set is present on all casement windows except in Room #2 where the window latch and closer hardware on the south fa ade are missing.
The double-hung wood sash windows have all retained their original latch and closer hardware. A large portion of the door hardware on the interior has been previously replaced. The doorknobs on the interior doors throughout the east and west wing are mostly modern aluminum hardware. Many of the interior door hinges appear to be the original bronze finish. Both doors on the western wall of Room #1 have modern aluminum hardware, however, the door leading to the upper level does maintain its original cast or wrought iron closing mechanism (Fig. All the plumbing fixtures within rooms 10, 18, and 19 have been replaced with more modern finish types. In Room the sink is a wall-mounted porcelain sink with single chrome faucet.
There is also a floor-mounted porcelain toilet that is THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 15) located adjacent to the sink on the west face of the room. In Room the porcelain sink is set within a contemporary laminate countertop and cabinet. Finally, original hardware can be seen on the built-in cabinetry located along the south wall in Room These petite cabinet knobs are circular and appear to be made of bronze or brass. They have a twisting thread pattern along the edges. 7. Mechanical equipment: a. Heating, air conditioning, ventilation: Exposed metal ducts and vents can be seen running throughout the Bunk House & Mess Hall as many were installed as part of various heating and air conditioning system updates throughout the life of the building.
Modifications and additions to the heating and ventilation system is documented to have started as early as with the first renovation of the building. During this time, new ductwork was installed in the lower level of the west wing as part of a new hot air oil-fired furnace. Additional changes to the ductwork are noted to have taken place in The current configuration of ductwork is as follows. Within Room #1, there is a supply vent with a metal diffuser at the top of the east wall to the left of the opening into the corridor. Both rooms 2, 3, and 4 contain a supply mechanical vent located near the north face of the interior wall. It is covered with a replacement metal supply diffuser.
Located directly opposite the door in Room #5 is a large duct which goes through the plywood partition wall to the other IT storage room (Room #6) via a vent located at the top of the wall. The large primary duct supply then continues across the ceiling of Room #6 from east to west. In Room #7 there is one supply vent with a metal diffuser at the top of the south wall and one return vent with a metal diffuser at the base of the south wall, cutting into the baseboard. There are two sets of 1 -2 x 8 duct supplies running under the wooden beams in Room #8, one on the middle and one going north-south direction, the other on the Northwest corner running east-west direction.
In Room #9 there is one large primary duct supply that is located over the north portion of the corridor running east to west from the adjacent corridor closet to Room In Room #10 the large primary duct supply continues over the north portion of the bathroom running east to west. Within the upper level of the west wing, there is a primary duct running from east to west through room 24, 20, 23, and ending at Room #22 where there is a metal diffuser at the top of the east wall. This primary duct is concealed behind dry wall in Room above the cabinetry on the south wall. The primary duct crosses the northern portion of the hallway in Room #20 where there is also a return box set attached to the ceiling.
There is additional mechanical equipment concealed by a drop-down dry wall ceiling in a portion of Room Much of the mechanical equipment on the lower level of the west wing is concealed by the drop ceiling. There is a large floor-to-ceiling THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 16) metal mechanical cabinet at the west end of Room #14 with a metal diffuser on the bottom, east side. b. Lighting: The lighting and electrical have been updated multiple times throughout the life of the building. In new fluorescent lighting was installed throughout the Bunk House & Mess Hall. Most are a standard, rectangular shaped lights with linear fluorescent tube.
There are two round lights with curved fluorescent tubes, uncovered, on the ceiling in Room The wiring has been upgraded as the needs of the building s occupants have changed. Documents indicate re-wiring was completed in (to coincide with the installation of the fluorescent lights) and in during the renovation of room 18 and 19. Some electrical is also tied to the building s use as an IT office. In Room #7, electrical conduit runs along the upper part of the south wall into an electrical box on the east wall. c. Plumbing: The plumbing has been updated over the life of the Bunk House & Mess Hall as its use has changed. Within Room #1 there is exposed piping protruding from the floor near the west wall to the left of the fireplace.
It likely was installed to support a water fountain although it is currently not in use. Documents indicate that new bathroom plumbing was installed in with additional updates made in during the renovation of rooms 18 and 19 in which substandard plumbing was removed and updated. 8. Original furnishings: As the Bunk House & Mess Hall has remained a functioning office building for several decades, many of the interior furnishings have been replaced to meet the needs of employees. The pieces of original furniture that do remain reflect the exterior southwestern design and similar desire to utilize local materials. Built-in shelving can be seen in room 7 and 23. In Room #7 the entire west wall hosts built-in shelving in four banks, each containing six shelves above a toe kick (Fig.
Room #23 features a wooden cabinet spanning across the south wall with six doors, short curved legs, and a recessed kick plate (Fig. The wood on the doors features a distinct ribbon pattern. The counter has been previously altered and is covered with a white patterned contact paper. Additional significant furnishings include a set of wood furniture located in Room #1. This set features a table, six chairs, and a bench. These pieces were created by members of the National Youth Administration between as part of the New Deal program then in effect in National Parks throughout the United States.21 The furniture is built in the New Mexican Colonial style. The pieces are visually heavy with straight and solid legs and a slightly reclined back (Fig.
The backs of the chairs and bench show some variation in the hand carved details which include a hand carved flower motif on the center vertical bar. The seats of the chairs and bench consist of a wooden frame with a lattice formed of woven 21 Architectural Resource Group, Superintendent s Building Historic Structure Report, 31. THE CAVERNS HISTORIC DISTRICT, BUNK HOUSE & MESS HALL HABS No. (Page 17) cotton flat cord to support leather cushions. Exposed joinery highlights the skill level and handmade aspect of these objects. D. Site: 1. Historic landscape design: The building site consists of a sloping terrain facing southeast, characterized by rocky soil covered with native desert plants.
An asphalt road, Reef Top Circle, and parking space on the northern part provides access to the building. An asphalt footpath bordered with rough cut limestones loops around the east side of the building and connects the northern and southern patios. The ground cover is composed of grass, shrubs, and native plant species such as cacti. There are a few short trees providing shade to the area. The southern part of the site is terraced and rip-rapped with rough cut limestone which blend with the rustic landscape. A network of footpaths and stairs link the Bunk House & Mess Hall with the surrounding facilities to the south and east, including the natural cave entrance. Part III. Source of Information a. Primary and Unpublished
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