SOLUTION

WJE used a multidisciplinary team of in-house experts (including architects, structural engineers, and fire and life safety professionals) to assess the condition of many different elements of the Old City Hall. The WJE team performed a visual assessment of the limestone facade, roof, interior structural systems, and fire and life safety systems. In addition to performing a ground-level survey, professionals used drones to access difficult-to-reach areas. As part of this work, available drawings and previous reports were reviewed including original drawings and subsequent renovation drawings.

The findings of WJE’s assessment were summarized in a report to J.S. Held and DMD. In this report, the WJE team provided recommendations for repairs for minimum maintenance and also for a change-of-use scenarios. Repair recommendations were developed with consideration given to the building’s NRHP status. WJE staff also provided order-of-magnitude cost estimates for proposed repairs over a period of ten years. WJE solicited experienced contractors to more accurately assess the cost of needed repairs. DMD used these findings to plan future repair work and to evaluate different possible futures for the building.