Reservoir #3 is a remarkable 13-acre site, preserved after an impassioned grassroots citizens’ campaign. The now decommissioned reservoir was built between 1871 and 1874 as part of the City’s waterworks system designed to provide potable water to the City’s growing residential population and commercial ventures. Its perimeter wall was constructed in a monumental Egyptian Revival style while the pump stations and screen house were constructed in the Italianate style with Romanesque detailing. The site is listed on both the National Register and the New Jersey State Register.

Easton Architects was retained to provide professional architectural and engineering services to facilitate the restoration of the three historic structures located within Reservoir, as well as the granite retaining wall that encompasses the reservoir. Following a comprehensive Existing Conditions Assessment, we developed the construction documents for restoration and rehabilitation, and worked closely for approvals, including the NJ Historic Preservation Office. The structures will ultimately be available for public use as part of the Reservoir Master Plan that addresses the preservation and maintenance of unique flora, an urban wildlife habitat and public park for water recreation.

Our retaining wall project has followed the same phases for the production of work, and included petrography testing, mortar analysis and sensitive conservation techniques that tested the strength of the original above grade structure, and enabled us to successfully design interventions in the wall for pinning areas that are delaminating, temporary framing for reconstruction, and general rehabilitation of the stone based on our test results and conservation methodology.