Fond du Lac Lakeside Harbor Lighthouse Restoration
The historic lighthouse of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, received the best 90-year-old birthday present imaginable: the opportunity to shine for decades more.
Built in 1933 and perched along the southern shore of Lake Winnebago, the Fond du Lac lighthouse has served as a navigational guide, symbol of hope during the Great Depression, and emblem of the community itself — making an appearance on the city’s official seal, road signs, and bridges.
Over time, much of the beloved lighthouse had fallen to disrepair. The structure underwent some restorative work in 1968, but in 2021, the City again recognized the need to restore the lighthouse to truly salvage it for sustained enjoyment. MSA architects and structural engineers were asked to inspect the lighthouse for concerns of structural integrity and then lead the design of the new restoration project.
It was determined that significant rotting existed throughout the lighthouse’s 40-foot-tall wood frame due to rain seeping through the exterior siding. On the lower 10 feet of the lighthouse, the wood framing is clad with stone and the mortar joints were showing age in the form of surface erosion from weather exposure. MSA developed a comprehensive restoration plan which included replacing rotten wood stud framing, rebuilding the exterior siding to improve weather-ability, replacing the original windows with painted wood-frame windows to mimic the 1930s-era originals, and re-tuckpointing the lighthouse’s stone base.
Today, the historic Fond du Lac lighthouse is back open for self-guided tours and spectacular views of Lake Winnebago from the observation deck, complete with a new surrounding boardwalk through Lakeside Park. The City of Fond du Lac held a much-anticipated ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 29, 2023 and looks forward to shining a light on this iconic community centerpiece for years to come.
Before, during and after restoration
Contact Project Lead
Tim Bicknell, AIA, LEED AP
Architecture Team Leader
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MoreSplit Rock Lighthouse Trails & Landscape Rehabilitation
On the rocky bluffs of Minnesota’s north shore sits Split Rock Lighthouse — an iconic attraction and National Historic Landmark. In partnership with Quinn Evans Architects, MSA is leading topographic survey, ADA improvement design, electrical/lighting engineering and trail improvement components of a multi-faceted project to prioritize accessibility, reestablish historic circulation routes and design new outdoor gathering and educational spaces.
The partnering organizations are working closely with the Minnesota Historical Society on design upgrades to this cherished lighthouse property, which was constructed between 1909-1910. Until 1961, the lighthouse served as a key navigational aid for small craft and Great Lakes freighters alike, and today, is one of the most visited state parks in Minnesota with an average annual visitation of 150,000 people.
MSA surveyors, civil engineers, electrical engineers and landscape architects are working to restore site lines and upgrade accessibility on the historic property. Specifically, MSA will be modifying existing concrete sidewalks around on-site dwellings to provide ADA-compliant pedestrian routes, adding new barrier-free routes throughout the site, restoring unneeded asphalt surface to natural grass lawn, designing electrical and energy-efficient lighting systems for outdoor walkways, and working with Quinn Evans to stabilize historical features and elements onsite. Work also includes a resource-conscious cut and fill plan to minimize archeological disturbance around the lighthouse building, historic residences, trails and gathering areas.
Once complete, the 25-acre Split Rock Lighthouse property will be thoughtfully restored and rehabilitated, with a renewed emphasis on the historic site’s narrative and improved capacity to be experienced by visitors of all ages and abilities. Construction will commence in the spring of 2023.
