SOLUTION

WJE worked with Brewster Thornton Group Architects (BTGA) to diagnose and treat moisture issues within the marble tourelles at the four corners of the dome of the Rhode Island State House. WJE performed a document review, a survey of the interior and exterior, inspection openings, water testing, and testing of select materials. Research and investigations revealed several deficiencies in energy retrofits, cleaning efforts, aged materials, and inappropriate material applications throughout the tourelle construction. Investigative findings were presented and exterior repairs were designed and implemented in association with BTGA.

In an effort to measure the effectiveness of the repairs, WJE designed the layout and installed wireless electronic sensors designed to measure air temperature, relative humidity, and the moisture content of the material to which they were attached. These monitors would help determine if condensation was occurring within the unconditioned interstitial spaces or attics. This yearlong effort concluded that walls were slowly drying and that condensation or further water infiltration did not occur. Sensor data will be collected for another year as part of WJE's agreement with BTGA and the State of Rhode Island. The data will continue to be available through the commercially obtainable web-based data management system.