Masonry Magazine September 2011 Page. 18
CONNECTORS, ANCHORS
AND FASTENERS
A concerted $2.1 million restoration effort by the City of Miami and the Miami Parking Authority, which runs the theater, began with enlisting leading historic preservation and architecture design firm, R.J. Heisenbottle Architects P.A. (RJHA), to head the restoration effort. RJHA President Richard Heisenbottle quickly involved interdisciplinary structural engineering and architectural firm Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. (WJE) to conduct an initial onsite assessment.
The preliminary assessment was performed during two days in late-October 2009 to investigate the building's distresses, and design an emergency stabilization procedure, prior to installation of long-term repairs for the exterior masonry cladding. WJE collaborated with masonry repair reinforcement system manufacturer Helifix Inc. to provide a supplementary and sustainable lateral and gravity support system for the building's distressed veneer, using its Helibeam System.
Structural and historical challenge
KNOWN FOR the intricate and stunning Mediterranean Revival-style details on its architectural facade, the building is comprised of a steel-framed structure with clay tile infill supported on the steel spandrel beams. The envelope consisted of brick and terra cotta veneer that was unsupported within the piers, and supported over the punched window openings by steel lintels anchored to the spandrel beams.
During the initial assessment, WJE engineers discovered that slippage of the brick veneer lead to cracked, bulging and separating masonry. This was a direct result of insufficient vertical support and poor weight distribution, which resulted in failed wall ties and lintels often the only
WJE collaborated with Helifix to provide a lateral and gravity support system.
With our reusable Helical Ground Anchor, CMU walls are now a single brace system. As low as $15 a month. ANCHOR 640 Dutch Lake Drive - Howard Lake, MN 55349-320.543.0007 FOUNDATIONSG sales@anchorfoundations.com www.anchorfoundations.com
READER SERVICE #182
16 MASONRY
September 2011 www.masoncontractors.org
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