Historic Window Renovations

Overview:

The Fort Belvoir historic districts reflect the Installation’s longstanding commitment to care for our nation’s service members and their families. The Villages at Belvoir takes tremendous pride in our stewardship of these culturally significant homes and our efforts to preserve them in a way that stays true to the architectural character and historic fabric of each neighborhood.

Planning for the Historic Window Renovations began in 2010 with a goal to rehabilitate or replace over 4,600 windows across 170 homes in Jadwin Loop Village, Gerber Village, Belvoir Village, and Park Village. In conjunction with the Fort Belvoir Department of Public Works’ Cultural Resource Manager, the Installation, and the State Historic Preservation Office, the Villages at Belvoir led a multi-year consultation process to evaluate replacement and rehabilitation options for the historic windows.

In May 2012, a mock-up wall was constructed in Gerber Village to evaluate potential wood window replacements. Following construction of the mockup wall, the replacement window systems were reviewed and analyzed for performance, aesthetics, and adherence to historic vernacular. A full pilot renovation and rehabilitation was completed in Gerber Village in 2013. This pilot renovation provided valuable feedback on installation methods, schedule constraints, and performance assumptions. Between 2014 and 2020, the Villages at Belvoir rehabilitated or replaced windows in 114 of 170 homes in Fort Belvoir’s Historic District.

In September 2020, the Army’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) adopted the Program Comment for Department of the Army Inter-war Historic Housing, Associated Buildings and Structures, and Landscape Features (1919–1940) to streamline the process for historic renovations across the entire Army housing portfolio. The remaining historic window renovations are now scheduled for completion by 2025, subject to the turnover of occupied homes.