Old Brick Buildings

By Michael Goldman, co-founder with Deborah Marks of Citizens for Sunnyvale Parks and Green Spaces

Email CSPGSinfo@yahoo.com to get our quarterly newsletter and information about Sunnyvale's moves on the Civic Center and other developments.

There seems to be some confusion about how durable brick is.  Someone said that they thought the current Sunnyvale Civic Center brick buildings (library, city hall, and public safety) were not built to last even 50 years.  Brick is actually very durable and there are buildings around the world going back many, many years.  The Civic Center buildings could last for generations as we show here.

Deborah Marks is also leader of Sunnyvale Urban Forests Advocates
http://www.sunnyvaleurbanforestadvocates.org/

Manhattan Townhouse, 1844:

Starting from recent and going back to older buildings, we start with this choice piece of NYC real estate from 1844, solid brick.

1844 Manhattan Townhouse - Click any photo to enlarge

Modern Bath

Opened up the Back

Worth Preserving

Renovated Kitchen

Over 8,400 sq.ft. for the low, low asking price of only $20M.  Currently listed for lease at $75,000 per month.  Property taxes $85,000/year.  Interesting how low property taxes are in Manhattan compared to Sunnyvale.

Ref:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/08/realestate/historic-greenwich-village-townhouse-for-32-
million.html?ref=realestate

Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University - 1720

This is the oldest building on campus.  It was originally built as a dormitory.  Currently, the lower 3 floors are used by senior administration and the 4th floor is a dormitory.

Massachusetts Hall, Harvard - 1720 - Click to Enlarge

During the British occupation of Boston during the Revolution, it housed soldiers.  When I was visiting Boston a tour guide pointed out the slits in the exposed wood ceiling beams where British soldiers stuck the bayonets attached to their muskets so that they were readily at hand.  The beams were treated with pitch from the start as a preservative and are still quite solid.

Ref:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Hall_(Harvard_University)

Boston Buildings: 1711-1729

If you take a tour of Boston you will go through many old brick buildings.  Here are some that are over 300 years old and look as fresh as the day they were built.  In one old church I sat in the pew right behind the one that George Washington sat in after the Americans took Boston.

Old Corner Bookstore: Built in 1711 - Click on photo to enlarge

Old State House view one - 1713

Old State House view two - 1713

Old South Meeting House - 1729

Faneuil Hall - 1729 - Click to Enlarge

"The Great Hall" inside Faneuil Hall

Paul Revere House - 1680

Oldest Building in Boston

Holland:

Dutch City Hall in De Moriaan 1220

Amsterdam 1590

An Amsterdam house from 1590 still in use.

De Moriaan is currently a Visitors Information Center in Holland.  Built in 1220 as a City Hall - built to withstand siege if need be.

Oldest Wooden Building in Amsterdam 1420

 England:

Herstmonceux Castle 1441

"Herstmonceux Castle is a brick-built castle near Herstmonceux, East Sussex, England. From 1957 to 1988 its grounds were the home of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Today it is used by the Bader International Study Centre of Queen's University, Canada. ... The result is not a defensive structure, but a palatial residence in a self-consciously archaising castle style."

from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herstmonceux_Castle

For the final English one, we have St. Martin's Church from the 6th century, incorporating Roman bricks from a long abandoned fort during Caesar's time.  The church has been in continuous use (including now) since 580.

St Martin's Church, Canterbury, England - 580 AD

Roman bricks in the chancel wall

Jetavanaramaya Stupa, Sri Lanka- 4th Century

One of the Earliest Surviving Intact Mud Brick Buildings

So, yes, brick buildings can last a while.