Dimensions - Summer 2013 - 8

vision: innovation

Before: Laser scans of the historic Livingston
County Courthouse aided Dewberry’s team in the
architectural design and determining the extent of
repairs needed, such as replacing a missing skylight
and restoring the beams and arched windows.

After: Dewberry provided complete architectural
and building engineering services for the
courthouse renovation, which included restoring
the original courtroom to its former 27-foot height
for use as a county boardroom and event space.

Scanning History: Laser Technology
Aids Renovation Projects
Laser scanning technology proved critical to the successful restoration of the circa-1875 Livingston County Courthouse in
Pontiac, Illinois—including the grand courtroom that now serves as the county boardroom.

A Promising Discovery
The historic 3,500-square-foot courtroom had been
divided into smaller courtrooms with numerous support
spaces in a previous remodeling. At a renovation planning
meeting, Judge Robert M. Travers mentioned that the
original 27-foot ceiling remained above the drywall drop
ceilings that had been in place for decades. Using a tenfoot ladder and peering into the space with a flashlight,
Dewberry’s architects discovered that the room’s beautiful
barrel-vaulted ceiling and high arched windows were
indeed still there: much in need of repair but hinting at
the promise of a dramatic transformation.
There were no original drawings for the courthouse,
and the team was challenged to assess the extent of
needed repairs, especially in the ceiling area due to its
height and complexity. Laser scanning served as the ideal
next step, revealing conditions above the dropped ceilings
and behind the courthouse walls. The scans, developed
by Valdes Engineering Co., helped the team determine
a defined scope and cost estimates to optimize the
building’s reuse, create the BIM model, and perform more
effective constructability reviews.

Dimensions

The laser scans were overlaid with the Revit® model,
providing crucial detail on spatial dimensions and
clearances and facilitating installation of new HVAC
equipment in the basement and attic. The scans also
helped clarify the extent of repairs needed, facilitating the
team’s efforts to salvage original materials and restore the
building for many years of additional use.

Supporting Sustainability
Dewberry also used laser scanning technology for the
modernization of the 1.6-million-square-foot Major
General Emmett J. Bean Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Completed for the U.S. General Services Administration,
the scan process, performed by Quantapoint, documented
the exterior envelope, critical site areas, interior spaces,
and areas above the ceiling. Used to create a BIM model
of the sprawling three-story facility, the scans were
instrumental in designing HVAC and interior upgrades
as well as performing solar studies and positioning an
extensive array of rooftop solar panels.

http://www.dewberry.com/news/blog/13-07-11/A_Glimpse_into_History

Dimensions - Summer 2013

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