Abbot Observatory

The Office of Physical Plant oversaw the removal of Abbot Hall’s 1,100-pound observatory dome on October 21 for five weeks of structural repairs and the addition of watertight copper sheathing. The galvanized steel dome—painted gray-green to look like copper patina—has been an iconic architectural feature of the Abbot Academy campus since 1875. The new dome, now weighing in at 1,600 pounds, was installed on December 5 and should be maintenance free for at least 75 years. (Photos by Neil Evans and Jill Clerkin)