Heavy Masonry Preservation Limits Water Intrusion and Preserves 145-Year-Old Landmark

Project Background

• Built circa 1875, the Blair County Courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976
• Philadelphia architect David Gendall designed the courthouse in a modern gothic style; in its center stands a 175-foot masonry bell tower
• The courthouse’s mass masonry walls are constructed of multi-wythe brick and stone backup, with Ohio Massillon sandstone exterior
• The sandstone’s original coloring was a warm sunny buff, with some stones a peach color; pollution and weathering have turned the stone greyish in color over time
• Many decorative embellishments and carvings were incorporated into the building’s facade

Project Challenges

• Decades of water infiltration, lack of preservation-level maintenance, and lifecycle decline had led to leaks, aesthetic concerns, and historic interior finish damage—a comprehensive building review was warranted
• Careful planning, phasing, and noise/dust control were required to maintain judicial operations
• Unsafe conditions with select sandstone components were discovered during initial evaluation and quickly and carefully mitigated
• Coordination of work with commissioners, architect, engineers, consultants, and conservators was crucial in executing the work in a historically appropriate, effective, and timely fashion
• Sandstone material, absorption, and accelerated weathering testing was required before repairs could commence

Project Approach

• If proper forward-thinking repairs were not implemented, further irreversible deterioration could jeopardize the long-term viability of the building and cause excessive maintenance and operations costs; this was understood early, and a phased repair approach was followed
• Large gable copings were removed and replaced, and new through-wall flashing was installed to ensure sliding stones and water penetration were addressed for the long term
• Numerous sandstone dutchman repairs were completed as well as extensive mortar joint repointing in an effort to protect the historic sandstone elements
• Repairs were designed to limit water intrusion and future masonry deterioration; the temptation of short-term repairs was avoided