Built in 1923, Maryknoll School’s Bachelot Hall remains one of the oldest buildings on campus. The hall is named for Father Alexis Bachelot, who in 1825 was called to found the first permanent Catholic mission in what was then still known as the Kingdom of Hawai‘i.
Over the last century, Bachelot Hall has housed performances and other campus activities, serving as a gathering place for Maryknoll students and the surrounding Makiki community, including adjacent Sacred Hearts Church.
In 2001, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, deemed “architecturally significant” and worthy of preservation, while also shining a spotlight on a notable piece of Hawai‘i’s history.
TIME FOR CHANGE
When Maryknoll decided it was time to upgrade Bachelot Hall to meet the school’s modern needs, they launched a capital campaign and raised $3 million towards the project, with donations from the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation and two school leaders making up the remaining $2 million needed to proceed.
Ralph S. Inouye Co. Ltd. (RSI) was contracted to complete the work, including rough carpentry, finish carpentry and concrete. Air Central LLC was tasked with HVAC installation to supply conditioned air to the main performance stage as well as other areas, as well as installing flashing and gutters.
“The design intent of the project was to keep and restore as many historical aspects of the building [as possible],” says John Ryan Matsuura, RSI project manager.
PROJECT CHALLENGES
Workers encountered difficulties from the get-go. The MEP infrastructure being installed needed to run underneath the building’s suspended slab in order to “maintain the high wood T&G [tongue and groove] ceiling,” explains Matsuura.
“The biggest challenge was probably getting the large ductwork and associated items under the main hall’s flooring,” says Barry Lai, Air Central’s project manager. “Working with the general contractor early on, we all identified it as a key area to sort out as the structural beams would eat up space quickly. The general contractor was able to get all trades on board and ensure everyone had space for their items.”
Meanwhile, Bachelot Hall’s existing interior presented another unexpected challenge, though one not uncommon for older buildings in Hawai‘i — termites. Extensive termite damage to the wood roof structure was discovered during demolition, so RSI worked closely with the project’s structural engineer “to repair salvageable members in-place and replace members with the least amount of impact to the project budget.”
RSI and its team also faced a scheduling crunch when a local vendor who sourced the project’s window, doors and finish trim could not meet the project schedule. RSI and its subs didn’t let this hamper work on the project, often operating “out of [the] normal construction sequence to keep the project moving,” explains Matsuura.
“It was a true team effort,” he says.
Though several aspects of the project kept RSI on its toes, they also provided learning opportunities, particularly in regard to the hall’s wood finishes.
“This project consisted of some of the most intricate finish woodwork RSI has worked on,” Matsuura says. “The main hall T&G wainscot, wood trim and doors were all in white oak, a difficult species of wood to work with. Through trial and error, our finish carpenters became experts.”
MEP infrastructure runs underneath the flooring at Bachelot Hall.PHOTO COURTESY RALPH S. INOUYE CO. LTD.
Bachelot Hall is pictured above in February 2023. PHOTO COURTESY RALPH S. INOUYE CO. LTD.
Bachelot Hall Renovation Subcontractors List
In alphabetical order:
Affiliated Construction LLC
Air Central LLC
Akira Yamamoto Painting Inc.
Alii Glass & Metal Inc.
Eagle Interiors Inc.
Ford Audio-Video Systems LLC
Hawaii Stage & Lighting Rentals Inc.
Hawaiian Isle Electric LLC
Honolulu Fire Protection LLC
Island Flooring
Jayar Construction Inc.
Jayco Hawaii Inc.
Metal-Weld Specialties Inc.
Road Builders Corp.
Simmons Steel Corp.
Skippy’s Plumbing & Repair Inc.
Tokunaga Masonry Inc.
Tulba’s Roofing
Tyson’s Inc.
Unitek Insulation Inc.
LOOKING AHEAD
After breaking ground in February 2023, renovations to Bachelot Hall were scheduled to be completed in July. Once finished, the building will be formally reopened as Maryknoll’s Performing Arts Center and Parish Hall.
It will continue to serve as a campus gathering place, according to the school, and “will provide a venue for school science fairs, mentoring programs and a gathering place for Maryknoll students during the school day.”
More than a century after its original dedication, the reimagined Bachelot Hall will continue as a vital part of daily campus life while also being utilized by the greater community — all thanks to the efforts and skills of RSI and its project team.
