Cistern trees slated for removal

The College plans to cut down four Magnolia trees close to the south side of Randolph Hall in the Cistern in order to protect the building.
Cummings & McCrady, Inc. architects first suggested the necessity of removing these trees in the Conservation Master Plan completed for the College’s ongoing repair project.
Cummings & McCrady, Dorothy Krotzer of Building Conservation Associated, Inc. and Design Works landscape architecture firm submitted letters to Facilities Planning vice president Monica Scott explaining why these trees need to be cut down.
“The close proximity of trees and encircling vegetation at these buildings shades the walls, restricts air circulation and inhibits evaporation of surface moisture from the walls,” according to Cummings & McCrady’s letter.
The outside of Randolph Hall is stucco over brick substrate. Brick substrate is the base of the outside walls of Randolph Hall. Stucco is the rough plaster coating of exterior walls, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
The trapped moisture contributes to the deterioration of the stucco and brick substrate. Moisture weakens soft mortars and gets into exterior walls, according to Cummings & McCrady.
Many C of C students and faculty do not want these trees removed.
Biology professor Jean Everett expressed her concerns in an e-mail to the faculty listserv.
“I feel that cutting these trees will significantly diminish the beauty of our campus landscape, and significantly reduce the diversity of the plantings around Randolph Hall,” said Everett.
The architectural, conservation and landscaping firms, however, disagree.
“Historic photograph research shows that these four trees are very recent additions to the Cistern area and have no historic basis for their location,” said Cummings & McCrady.
The city of Charleston does not classify these trees as vital.
“The trees do not qualify as significant or grand trees as classified by the City,” according W. Scott Parker, Design Works Partner, in Design Works’ letter. “Even though the Magnolias are beautiful trees, these four Magnolias were planted to shade the southern façade after Hurricane Hugo [in 1989].”
All consulted experts agree that these trees should be removed in order to conserve Randolph Hall.
“Without removal of these four trees as well as several other landscape adjustments, the building will continue to deteriorate, at an ever increasing rate,” said Parker in the letter.
Scott is committed to using state-appropriated funds to make the necessary repairs and protect Randolph Hall and other historic campus buildings, she said.
“We have a responsibility as stewards of these national historic landmarks,” said Scott.
Students, faculty and staff will be holding a rally on Thursday at noon to protest the removal of the trees.
There will be a press conference today in Alumni Hall at 11 a.m. followed by a protest at noon on the Cistern.