It's easy for Bob West to be passionate about his work. Everything in
his background and experience, and the way he and his team approach a
project is about "holding history in our hands."
It is regarded as a sacred trust. And this has led his company, Old Saratoga
Restorations to embrace the most modern technology and techniques to bring the past alive.
What is intriguing to learn is that while Old Saratoga Restorations has been regarded as a leader in bringing structures back to their former glory during its twelve years in existence, many of their projects entail modernization in areas such as energy efficiency in addition to restoration. Also, while generally receiving acclaim for their many prestigious and highly visible exterior reclamation projects, Mr. West spoke just as fondly about several interior projects that his firm undertook that created modern, functional living space where previously there was unused or inefficient interiors.
"Our business has evolved based on demand. Back in the late 90's and early 2000's we received a lot of paint removal work which is called chemical stripping." Bob West said. "Some highly visible projects included the Saratoga Arms, Reality USA Building, Adirondack Trust, 718 and 760 North Broadway (which is the Skidmore presidents' house.) Related to that we also did a tremendous amount of painting, and were fortunate to develop a reputation for quality work that was in part due to the fact that we could mobilize quickly and had the large crews of dedicated people that could do high-quality work. During that period we painted 15 houses on North Broadway, seven on Broadway, as well as the Holiday Inn, Longfellow's and the City Center."
"In the last five years, however the demand has been more for remodeling and building restoration. And in the last year we received more work out of town than ever, examples being building a lock house for the Erie Canal, two facades in Canajoharie and a complete restoration of a massive home in Ghent." Bob said.
In talking to Mr. West as he recounted some of the projects that he was most proud of over his twelve years in business here, it was apparent that he took tremendous pride in those which seemed to create a sense of maximizing space through modern techniques that in effect, create the history of a room. Thus, it is restoration coupled with creation of rooms and structures that serve to generate and/or extend a lifespan that will last for future generations that are the core of a preservationist's values. "We value the extra work it takes, because in the long run, preservation is the original 'green' industry'," Bob West said.
Bob West grew up in a small town in Fairfield County, CT that had a village green and a few classically "New England" structures that gave him his first glimpse of "living history." His next door neighbor was a master carpenter who became his boyhood hero. "To me, he could do everything: he built his own cabinets out of nothing, incredible woodworking detail came out of his shop," Bob said "and I would spend hours with him in his shop. It was a privilege when he let me sweep up!" Combine that with a family history that included grandparents who were a mechanical engineer and an architect; it could be said that Bob had all the hereditary factors in place to do the work he was born to do.
Saratoga provided the environment. "I feel very lucky that I came to this town." First and foremost, his wife Heidi is a native. "When I came here, I immediately got a sense of the high-quality energy, not in the metaphysical sense, but the respect for all things history." It was a perfect place to start his business. Bob West found a home, and a place to enhance others'. It was a perfect match of respect for tradition and a vision for the future.
Restorations to embrace the most modern technology and techniques to bring the past alive.
What is intriguing to learn is that while Old Saratoga Restorations has been regarded as a leader in bringing structures back to their former glory during its twelve years in existence, many of their projects entail modernization in areas such as energy efficiency in addition to restoration. Also, while generally receiving acclaim for their many prestigious and highly visible exterior reclamation projects, Mr. West spoke just as fondly about several interior projects that his firm undertook that created modern, functional living space where previously there was unused or inefficient interiors.
"Our business has evolved based on demand. Back in the late 90's and early 2000's we received a lot of paint removal work which is called chemical stripping." Bob West said. "Some highly visible projects included the Saratoga Arms, Reality USA Building, Adirondack Trust, 718 and 760 North Broadway (which is the Skidmore presidents' house.) Related to that we also did a tremendous amount of painting, and were fortunate to develop a reputation for quality work that was in part due to the fact that we could mobilize quickly and had the large crews of dedicated people that could do high-quality work. During that period we painted 15 houses on North Broadway, seven on Broadway, as well as the Holiday Inn, Longfellow's and the City Center."
"In the last five years, however the demand has been more for remodeling and building restoration. And in the last year we received more work out of town than ever, examples being building a lock house for the Erie Canal, two facades in Canajoharie and a complete restoration of a massive home in Ghent." Bob said.
In talking to Mr. West as he recounted some of the projects that he was most proud of over his twelve years in business here, it was apparent that he took tremendous pride in those which seemed to create a sense of maximizing space through modern techniques that in effect, create the history of a room. Thus, it is restoration coupled with creation of rooms and structures that serve to generate and/or extend a lifespan that will last for future generations that are the core of a preservationist's values. "We value the extra work it takes, because in the long run, preservation is the original 'green' industry'," Bob West said.
Bob West grew up in a small town in Fairfield County, CT that had a village green and a few classically "New England" structures that gave him his first glimpse of "living history." His next door neighbor was a master carpenter who became his boyhood hero. "To me, he could do everything: he built his own cabinets out of nothing, incredible woodworking detail came out of his shop," Bob said "and I would spend hours with him in his shop. It was a privilege when he let me sweep up!" Combine that with a family history that included grandparents who were a mechanical engineer and an architect; it could be said that Bob had all the hereditary factors in place to do the work he was born to do.
Saratoga provided the environment. "I feel very lucky that I came to this town." First and foremost, his wife Heidi is a native. "When I came here, I immediately got a sense of the high-quality energy, not in the metaphysical sense, but the respect for all things history." It was a perfect place to start his business. Bob West found a home, and a place to enhance others'. It was a perfect match of respect for tradition and a vision for the future.
Main Menu
Leave a comment