The tree and some other clean up reduced the file size by about 30% and did have a big impact on the number of edges in the model. Reducing the number of edges in the model reduced the amount of rendering work that has to be done by the graphics card.
FWIW, I replaced the columns on the exterior ends and the half columns on the outside. The olther columns need attention, too, but I don’t have more time to invest in it at the moment, though.