Stone Houses Final Construction Report

2024

STONE HOUSES FINAL REPORT

INTRODUCTION After 16 months, and a lot of hard work and attention, the Dix Park Stone Houses and Site are COMPLETE! This double feature report will cover the final quarter of project progress as well as the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the Stone Houses in May 2024. This report will have lots of photos as there is much to report, and visuals tell the best story.

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RECOGNITION & THANKS

Dix Park Conservancy was able to renovate the Stone Houses thanks to a $3MM gift from the State Employees’ Credit Union and a $2MM gift from the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation. Their contribution both preserves a significant part of the park’s history and creates a welcoming entrance to the park, better accessibility and amenities for visitors, and spaces for community use, park interpretation and education.

The Stone Houses project was a perfect fit for the State Employees’ Credit Union. For over a century, the State of North Carolina employed countless physicians, nurses, therapists, and support staff throughout the Dorothea Dix Hospital campus to serve the mental health needs of its patients. Many hospital staff lived on the campus, including in the Superintendent’s, Physician’s, and Gatekeeper’s Houses. With their generous support, State Employees’ Credit Union honors the former hospital employees and all state employees who have served the people of North Carolina.

Ribbon cutting at Gatekeeper’s Visitor Center in May 2024

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SITE WORK Most of the work in the last quarter of the project focused on the major site elements yet to be installed. This included the vast majority of hardscape, retaining walls, stonework, the Restroom Amenity Plaza, the Outdoor Classroom, and the primary site path winding throughout.

Site work: Concrete paths, stairs, footers & foundations, and walls make up the full site package before landscaping.

A. Stairs leading down into the outdoor classroom area.

B. Foundations being poured for the seat wall, a great place to hear a lecture or start a tour.

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SITE WORK

C. Final grading around the in-progress seat wall. You can get a sense of the Outdoor Classroom coming into form.

D. With the concrete laid, this small plaza will be one of the most used spaces in this area of the park.

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SITE WORK Planting: After grading and hardscapes, the site comes alive with plantings. Sarah Reeves, a volunteer and professional horticulturalist led the planting design and was an incredible resource to this project!

A. The first plants arrive on site!

B. The first tree is in the ground! One of many that will provide shade for years to come.

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SITE WORK Site Evolution: The best way to view the sheer progress of the site is from above.

Here are the last four months of construction: notice small additions over time that add up to an inviting, cohesive, and immersive experience.

A. February aerial

B. March aerial

C. April aerial

D. May aerial

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EXTERIOR WORK SUMMARY Supers Deck and Bathroom Construction: The final building element was the restroom addition to the Superintendents House. This is the first public restroom at Dix Park, integrated elegantly into the grade and creating a new restroom amenity plaza between the two upper houses.

The newly poured deck off the first floor of the Superintendents House. It is the perfect place to host an event and also displays one of the best views of downtown Raleigh.

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EXTERIOR WORK SUMMARY Physician’s Back Deck: The new back porch roof over the pantry, first floor bathroom, and back deck at the Physicians House.

Exterior Details & Touch Up: And finally, trim, paint, and stone detail work was done.

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INTERIOR WORK SUMMARY Details that make the interior spaces “pop” take place in the final months of construction.

Final Paint, Fixtures and Finishes: With a nod to both the park setting and the original historic building period, finish selections bring life and excitement to the office and shared spaces.

A. Lights are hung in the kitchen of the Superintendent's House. This area will be used as both a staff kitchen and a prep area/back of house for rentals and events.

B. The detail we’ve heard the most about has been wallpaper!

This dog-focused pattern can be found in the Gatekeepers Visitor’s Center, but all bathrooms in the houses received a fun, park-focused design.

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INTERIOR WORK SUMMARY Public Restroom Construction & Finishes: Durable and simple detailing led the bathroom interior work.

Walls and plumbing are installed.

Flooring Restoration: The original floors have been patched and refinished, bringing warmth to all three houses.

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PART II: RIBBON CUTTING Ribbon Cutting Overview: On May 31, we celebrated the completion of the Stone Houses with SECU, the SECU Foundation, Dix Park Conservancy leaders and donors, and city leadership. It was a mission moment for all involved! We heard remarks from SECU Foundation Board Chair Chris Ayers, Dix Park Legacy Committee member Yvonne Sanders, and DPC Board Chair Bill Ross.

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RIBBON CUTTING

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RIBBON CUTTING

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RIBBON CUTTING

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RIBBON CUTTING

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RIBBON CUTTING

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RIBBON CUTTING

Thank you to everyone who has supported and followed along on the Stone Houses restoration! We hope you will visit the site soon to experience it for yourself!

Questions about future projects and events, how to get involved, and how to give can be directed to info@dixparkconservancy.org.

See you at the park soon!

Prepared by:

Nick Smith Chief of Staff Dix Park Conservancy

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