Drafts of cold air leaking into the Umpqua Valley Arts Center may be a thing of the past after a Portland-based company renovates the century-old building to make it more energy efficient, without damaging its historical character.

Arciform LLC is heading a four-month, $250,000 project that will insulate and patch leaks around the Victorian-style building erected in 1917.

The executive director for the Umpqua Valley Arts Association, Kathy Henderson, said the arts center has received temporary repairs, but not permanent renovations. She said the center is ineffective in retaining heat leading to high heating bills.

“To maintain 60 degrees temperature during the winter, the furnace has to run for hours,” she said.

The average electric bill is about $700 a month, something that the center's roughly 350 dues-paying members can't cover, Henderson said.

The initiative was spearheaded by the city of Roseburg, which owns the building, and paid for through a state energy trust grant. Originally, the city proposed replacing the windows with double-pain thermal windows when it applied for the money in early 2010, said the project's manger, Jeff Nelson, a Roseburg city engineer.

The State Historic Preservation Office denied the application after ruling the windows could not be replaced because of their historical value.

So the 62 single-paned, arched windows that date back to the building's initial construction will be saved.

A crew led by Arciform owner Richard De Wolf moves throughout the arts center, carefully pulling each window and its frame from the wall.

The project started in mid-December and is expected to be completed by early April, the development director for Arciform, Spencer Fransway, said.

Under the rules set down by state preservationists, Arciform can't replace any wood unless it has deteriorated beyond repair, Fransway said.

The crew takes out each window from its frame and determines the extent of the damage.

Pieces that are in good shape receive minor repairs, while those in need of more extensive repair are sent to Arciform's workshop in Portland. The restored wood is sealed back to the original panes and secured onto the building.

“We're hoping to be able to preserve as much of this building as possible,” Fransway said.

He said there will be a substantial difference in the building's temperature and overall feel once the project is completed.

“We're making sure that it's airtight and waterproof,” he said.

The process is slow and most of the work is done by hand. Each window takes roughly eight hours to complete. The crew will also insulate the upstairs and patch openings in the building's exterior walls.

Fransway said they try to use many of the same methods employed during the initial construction. He said this will ensure an accurate and a lasting restoration.

He added modern practices also play a big part, like avoiding using harmful materials like lead paint and espestice.

“We're restoring this building for future generations. We want it to last another 100 years,” he said.

• You can reach reporter Ryan Imondi at 541-957-4211 or by email at rimondi@nrtoday.com.