Pymatuning Dam Gate House – New Life for an Enduring Landmark

Concrete deterioration and concern over the long term integrity of the Pymatuning Dam Gate House prompted the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to undertake rehabilitation of the structure, which was determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.1 Because the Gate House is historically significant and has become the landmark symbol for Pymatuning State Park, maintaining the visual appeal of the exterior of the structure was critical. Additionally, given that Pymatuning Reservoir is the largest lake in Pennsylvania at over 17,000 acres, control of water during rehabilitation was a major concern.
The selected design approach consisted of constructing a new reinforced concrete intake structure within the shell of the existing tower, thereby providing long-term reliability while protecting the highly-valued history of the structure’s exterior. Highlights of the rehabilitation include:
- The Contractor-designed cofferdam was a significant structure, reaching a height of 37 ft at its highest point.
- The new interior structure was designed to withstand full hydrostatic and earth loadings without reliance on the existing concrete & masonry structure.
- The full-height stoplog system for unwatering the structure was replaced with an upstream wall and sluice gates. - The hydraulic capacity of the structure was maintained.
- A new electrical system was installed, with electric operators replacing the original manual operators.
- 3D SketchUp models of the structure significantly enhanced visualization and design.
- The exterior of the structure was given a face lift consisting of rehabilitated windows (new panes within the original frames), masonry pointing, and clay tile roof shingles.