Opened in 1863, the Saratoga Racetrack in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., is one of the oldest racetracks in the United States. The 1863 Club is one of the largest single investments made at the track since the clubhouse in 1928. According to Jeff Lino, senior project manager with the general contractor, MLB Construction Services, Malta, N.Y., New York’s State Historic Preservation Office regulated the height, finishes and overall look of the project to match the existing character and architecture of the 150-year-old adjacent buildings. “Staying true to the time period, the 1863 Club building incorporated cedar shakes with matching paint, copper roofing and weathered pavers to the building’s aesthetics,” he says.
Copper standing seam roof preserves historic character of racetrack
Designed by SOSH NY, New York City, and Frost Hurff Architects, Saratoga Springs, the goal was to bridge the historic past of Saratoga Race Track with the present, while providing clear, unobstructed views of the race track. The facility overlooks the track with a walkway over to the paddock that connects to the existing clubhouse, under which the horses pass on their way to the track. The roof line on the 1863 Club was designed to harmonize with the existing copper and slate roof on the grandstand and clubhouse.
“Copper roofing was used historically with the New York State Racing Authority throughout the existing grandstand and clubhouse,” Lino explains. “The copper roof has many elevations and slopes making it prominent and visible from both inside the track’s historic property, and on thorough fares approaching the track.”
For the project, Mid-State Industries Ltd., Schenectady, N.Y., installed approximately 18,000 square feet of Allentown, Pa.-based ATAS International Inc.’s 20-ounce copper Field-Lok panels, which were purchased through Erie Materials, Albany, N.Y., and included a 20-year weathertight warranty.
In addition to using copper standing seam roofing, the project features historically recreated copper spires to match the existing clubhouse, rolled copper gutters and downspouts. “The design pulled from the historic Victorian-era grandstand and clubhouse using symmetrical turrets and a grand, six-sided, two-story lobby,” Lino says. “The exterior was clad in painted cedar shakes and trim. Forest green aluminum windows with aluminum decorative muntins were used on the north, public-facing elevations also in keeping with the Victorian era design. Cold-formed metal trusses were used to create the multifaceted Victorian roof lines. Over 30 different truss types incorporated to create the design.”
According to Carl Veglia, project manager with Mid-State Industries, the project featured mechanically seamed tapered panels on a radiused wraparound porch. ATAS also supplied half-round 16-ounce copper gutters and downspouts, and Mid-State Industries custom-crafted seven finials, per the architect’s design to complement the historic finials on the adjacent grandstand. Multiple roof pitches and tie-ins to valleys, hips and ridges at the towers created challenging details, while all roofs were vented either at the ridge, the apron flashing at the walls, or through the Z clips that attached to the finials.
With an anticipated opening in time for the 2019 Saratoga Meet, Veglia says it was challenging to keep the project on schedule. “Panels had to be ordered in several phases as the roof deck became available for field measurements,” he explains. “Knowing that the pressure of the deadline was high, ATAS’ turnaround/delivery time was accelerated and excellent for the duration of the project, which was completed on schedule. The combined efforts of ATAS, Mid-State Industries, Erie Materials, SOSH NY, Frost Hurff Architects, and MLB Construction Services made this project the success that it was.”
The 52,488-square-foot, three-story luxury facility overlooks the track with a pedestrian bridge over the paddock that connects to the existing clubhouse. The first floor has a 500-person, buffet-style banquet space called The Rail. The second floor features Legends Hall, a club with floor-to-ceiling windows and walkout balconies, which holds up to 100 guests, and the Founders’ Room, an exclusive member-only club for box holders, as well as the pedestrian bridge. The third floor has six luxury suites for groups of 17 to 50, each with a private balcony and access to the common bar and lounge area.
“The 1863 Club as a whole was a unique and challenging project,” adds Lino. “To further detail this, the project involved a condensed construction schedule, building through the Northeast winter months, intricate historic design elements, and the building being located within the parameters of a 150-year-old historic site which presented 150 years of undocumented, underground improvements added throughout the decades. Due to this, the team found relocating, and oftentimes, bridging utilities with alternate foundation designs routinely occurred on-site.”