Bringing Timeless Elegance Back to an Art Deco Landmark

Project Background

• An art deco building constructed in 1938, the F.M. Kirby Center is a landmark of downtown Wilkes-Barre
• More than a half-century of exposure to the elements had caused significant exterior deterioration to the glazed terra cotta facade at the front and rear of the building
• Earlier attempts to rehabilitate the facade had exacerbated the problems by concealing the true nature of the deterioration

Project Challenges

• MPS’s initial inspection revealed that the building’s original terra cotta facade had no provisions for through-wall flashings; this had allowed water to penetrate and accumulate inside the facade
• MPS suggested a comprehensive restoration program for all of the building’s terra cotta, including the removal, replication, and reinstallation of the center tower’s terra cotta cladding and replacement of its structural steel frame; budget constraints, however, dictated that a somewhat less authentic, but cosmetically compatible, system of repair be developed that would be completed in two phases

Project Approach

• MPS developed a dual repair/replacement approach that eliminated the need for the replication of original materials
• An extensive scaffolding system allowed full access to the building facade while permitting theatergoers to patronize the building
• Photographic and written documentation of all terra cotta facade components was compiled for historic record before demolition began
• Corroded mild steel anchors that had caused terra cotta deterioration were replaced with stainless steel anchors
• Original center tower and rear wall terra cotta was replicated with Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC), providing a faithful aesthetic restoration and significant cost savings
• Debonded glaze was manually located and removed on hundreds of terra cotta panels; patching, coating, coloring, and highlighting were then performed by hand in order to achieve the original appearance of the mottled terra cotta finish
• Following the dismantling of the center tower, it became clear that extensive additional repair would be needed to bring the building back to a state of structural integrity; final restoration work included the replacement of the tower’s steel framing and the installation of a new roof and secondary level decks
• MPS’s work on the F.M. Kirby Center received recognition from the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI)