The Georgian Court Bridge is a century-old masonry structure on the grounds of Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey. Built in 1899, it was designed by architect Bruce Price to carry travelers over a man-made lagoon on the estate of railroad magnate George Jay Gould during the height of the Gilded Age. The bridge later became a beloved campus landmark, frequently chosen as a backdrop for weddings and graduation ceremonies. By the time of Graciano's restoration, the structure had accumulated a century of deterioration: loose and tilted pillars, spalled and missing brick, damaged and missing terra cotta, deteriorated mortar, water seepage, vegetation growth, bug infestation, dislodged marble, and accumulated graffiti and paint.
Scope of Work
The restoration was performed to the standards of the New Jersey Historical Trust and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation. Graciano's team documented existing conditions extensively -- more than 1,000 photographs -- before beginning work. The project was completed in August 1999 in collaboration with Jenny Engineering.
- Complete mortar joint replacement
- Brick facade replacement
- Brick facade stabilization
- Retaining wall rebuilding
- Brick structure cleaning
- Roadway resurfacing
- Marble restoration
- Marble replacement
- Terra cotta restoration
- Terra cotta replacement
- Graffiti removal
- Paint removal
- Photographic condition documentation
- Structural stabilization of pillars
About the Project
George Jay Gould's estate -- known as Georgian Court -- was one of the most extravagant private retreats of its era, featuring elaborate gardens, a lagoon, and a complex of buildings designed by prominent architects of the day. Bruce Price, who also designed several buildings at Yale University and the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec, brought a disciplined classicism to the bridge design. The brick and terra cotta construction, integrated with marble detailing, reflected the craftsmanship standards of Gilded Age estate building.
After the estate was converted to academic use, the bridge continued to serve the campus community but received limited maintenance. By 1999, at the century mark of its construction, the accumulated deterioration had reached a point where structural stability was a concern. Loose and tilted pillars indicated that mortar failure had undermined the masonry assembly. Spalled brick faces and dislodged marble units created both an aesthetic and safety problem at a frequently used campus location.
Graciano's craftsmen addressed the structural issues first, stabilizing pillar units and rebuilding the retaining wall before proceeding with the mortar joint replacement and facade work. Terra cotta and marble units that could not be repaired in place were replaced with matched units. The finished bridge was recognized with the 1999 International Masonry Institute Golden Trowel Award, the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Award, and a U.S. Department of Transportation Merit Award.