3M has been selected by Stratford Hall, the home of the Lees of Virginia and birthplace of Robert E. Lee, as part of the multi-year Lee Heritage Interpretation Plan project currently underway at this National and Virginia Historical Landmark.
The project aims to depict the various periods of the Lee family occupancy and the history of the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association at Stratford Hall Plantation as accurately as current scholarship, research, technology and preservation standards will allow. Focusing first on two areas of the site that contain the most important collections and sensitive finishes, Stratford Hall installed 3M’s Prestige Series PR 70 window film at the Great House and the Southwest Outbuilding.
In the Great House, the Northwest Stair Passage and Great Hall hold Stratford Hall’s prized assortment of historical artifacts in the most need of protection from UV damage. These include a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette by Charles Peale Polk given as a gift from Lafayette to Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee, an important carved Virginia tea table that descended in the Lee family, and two prints depicting frescoes in the Vatican brought back from Europe by Arthur Lee. In addition to UV protection, the 3M PR 70 allows Stratford Hall to better control the heat within a given room and building, and the films completely eliminated the use of interior Plexiglas storm windows, used to control UV light but distracting to visitors.
“After doing extensive research, the choice to go with 3M was clear given their reputation within the window film industry and extensive product offerings,” said Phil Mark, director of preservation for Stratford Hall. “The PR 70 was just the window film we were looking for, delivering the highest amount of UV protection with very little change to the aesthetic appearance of the glass.”
The Prestige Series is the world’s first clear, non-metallic window film designed to significantly reduce heat and UV rays. The PR 70 window film blocks up to 50 percent of heat penetrating the window, reducing excessive heat in summer months. This Prestige Series film is manufactured with no metals, resulting in superior performance without corrosion. Additional benefits include reduced glare and eye discomfort.
“For Stratford Hall and other historic sites across the country, the preservation of their collection, whether it’s the building itself or the artifacts inside, is priority number one,” said Loren Bregel, marketing manager for 3M Renewable Energy Division. “Through our extensive offering of window films, like the Prestige Series, 3M is able to serve the preservation and museum community with high quality, protective window films that maintain the aesthetics of the building.”