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EXPERTISE // PEOPLE

Karla A. Salahshour

Senior Associate

Experience

Karla Salahshour specializes in the evaluation and characterization of historic and modern building materials. Her work in WJE’s Cleveland materials laboratory focuses on the petrographic examination of concrete, mortar, grout, brick, stucco and plaster, natural and manufactured stone, and other construction materials. Ms. Salahshour investigates the causes of distress in construction materials, characterizes cementitious materials, and evaluates durability concerns in hardened concrete.

Ms. Salahshour also conducts field evaluations that often grade into laboratory testing, such as evaluating distress in concrete slabs and pavements and evaluating the performance of flooring and coating systems as well as investigating distressed reinforced concrete structures. Her field experience includes the investigation of stone cladding panels, mass masonry structures, terra cotta facades, EIFS and stucco systems, and terrazzo. These field evaluations often grade into laboratory testing.

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS

Petrography

Carvins Cove Dam - Roanoke, VA: Examination of deteriorated concrete due to alkali-silica reaction
Blue Racer Natrium Plant - Natrium, WV: Examination of fire-damaged concrete
Medical Center - Beachwood, OH: Investigation of lightweight cellular concrete
Yale University, Welsh Hall - New Haven, CT: Examination of stone masonry
Denso Facility - Livonia, MI: Examination of a pigmented metallic shake

Laboratory Evaluations

Washington Dulles Airport - Washington, D.C.: Evaluation of failed terrazzo flooring systems
Ahuja Medical Center - Beachwood, OH: Investigation of terra cotta rain screen panels
Ohio State University, McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion - Columbus: Investigation of delaminated ceramic pool tiles
Gilmore Academy Natatorium - Gates Mills, OH: Investigation of pool coating blisters
InfoCision Stadium - Akron, OH: Investigation of rail post pocket grout
Providence Point - Scott Township, PA: Examination of aggregate base course

Historic Preservation

Washington National Cathedral - Washington, D.C.: Examination of mortar
Hoover Dam - Henderson, NV: Evaluation of terrazzo plaza
Edison Monument Tower - Menlo Park, NJ: Investigation of mosaic concrete repairs
Union Theological Seminary - New York, NY: Examination of cast stone spires
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial - Put-In-Bay, OH: Observations of efflorescence cleaning and mortar repointing
Salk Institute for Biological Studies - La Jolla, CA: Evaluation of original concrete for restoration

Flooring and Underlayments

Manufacturing Facility - Solon, OH: Investigation of static dissipative floor coating failure
Urgent Care Facility - Kent, OH: Investigation of abrasion and impact damage on flooring material
Medical Center - Beachwood, OH: Evaluation of substrate slab moisture
Rice University - Houston, TX: Investigation of floor blisters
Corning Museum of Glass - Corning, NY: Evaluation of floor densifiers and sealers
Houston Methodist Hospital - Nassau Bay, TX: Investigation of blistered terrazzo flooring

Pavement Investigation

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport - TX: Examination of concrete apron
Los Angeles International Airport - CA: Investigation of concrete runway
Colorado Springs Airport - CO: Investigation of D-cracking in pavement
Indianapolis International Airport - IN: Investigation of concrete surface distress
Denver International Airport - CO: Investigation of concrete deterioration and evaluation of concrete repairs
Honda Plant - OH: Evaluation of roller-compacted concrete
Nova Place - Pittsburgh, PA: Investigation of porous pavement distress

Professional Affiliations

American Concrete Institute
Association for Preservation Technology International
ASTM International
International Concrete Repair Institute
Society of Concrete Petrographers

Registrations

ICRI Concrete Slab Moisture Testing Technician
Professional Engineer in KS, MD, OH, and PA

Education

University of Texas at Austin
Bachelor of Science, Architectural Engineering, 2010
Master of Science, Civil Engineering, 2012

WJE Cleveland
6100 West Creek Road
Suite 100
Cleveland, OH 44131
Tel: (216) 642-2300
ksalahshour@wje.com

Practice Areas

Petrography
Laboratory Evaluations
Construction Materials
Historic Preservation
Masonry
EIFS, Stucco, Plaster
Floorings and Underlayments
Pavement Investigation

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates is committed to helping our clients solve, repair, and avoid problems in the built world. Supported by unparalleled laboratory and field testing capabilities, our team of engineers, architects, and materials scientists brings an enthusiasm for problem solving and a hands-on technical approach to every challenge.

Ask the Structure and Solutions for the Built World are trademarks of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.

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