Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 24
PROJECT: RESTORATION OF
HISTORIC 1878 WICOMICO COUNTY
COURTHOUSE
FIRM: GMB ARCHITECTS
AND ENGINEERS
SALISBURY, MARYLAND
W
hen lightning struck the Wicomico County Courthouse
clock tower in July 2016, it
sent roof slates crashing to the
ground and brought new urgency to plans
for restoring the historic structure.
Dating from 1878, the Victorian
Gothic-style courthouse is one of a small
number of structures still standing after
an 1886 fire destroyed much of the town,
but a 2013 structure survey identified
extensive deterioration
of the entire building
shell and general rot and
breakdown of the original
decorative wood cornices
and trims. The clock
tower already swayed
When lightning
struck the
Wicomico County
Courthouse in July
2016, it showered
the area below
with roof slates
and cracked one of
the large timber
frame members.
considerably in even moderate winds, and
the lightning strike elevated concerns that
it was in danger of toppling completely.
In 2016, the architectural and engineering design firm George, Miles and Buhr
(GMB) was commissioned to perform
a comprehensive physical survey of the
courthouse superstructure, and develop a
detailed plan and cost estimate to secure
and restore the two towers and main roof.
GMB created measured drawings of the
building through reconstruction of old
blueprints, detailed interior and exterior
field measurements and a photographic
survey. To maintain historical accuracy and
ensure durability for years to come, material specifications included a combination
of natural slate and composite roof shingles, copper flashings, and durable African
mahogany in siding and trim
replacements.
The building had to
remain fully operational during the construction, which
complicated the overarching
challenge of balancing the
Morgan Helfrich
Restoration
Starts at
the Top
need to preserve the historical integrity of
the 139-year-old building with modern-day
security constraints, and the technology
required to perform the work.
GMB's comprehensive bid documents
included defined cost alternates and work
phasing as well as the design for structural
repair of the clock tower.
"The louvers on the clock tower are
open, and wind-driven rain was one of the
reasons it had deteriorated so much," said
Morgan Helfrich, vice president and senior
project manager of GMB's architectural
group. "Although we kept that detail when
we rebuilt the louvers, we put a double
layer of mesh behind them and flashed as
much of it as possible."
GMB engineers used a combination of
steel and timber framing to reinforce the
original clock tower frame. A system of
steel angle corner columns and steel angle
frames above and below the intermediate floors reinforces the louver and clock
levels. Diagonal steel rods on each of the
four sides now laterally brace the steel
reinforcing.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Engineering Inc - January/February 2018
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018
Contents
From Acec to You
Market Watch
2018 Legislative Outlook: Infrastructure Up Next
Legislative Action
Flood Protection Analysis
Innovative Restorations
What Happens After the Merge?
A Buyer’s Market With a Hint of Change
Help Desk to Board Room
A Green Machine
Mergers and Acquisitions
Members in the News
Business Insights
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Intro
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Engineering Inc - January/February 2018
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Cover2
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Contents
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 2
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 3
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - From Acec to You
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 5
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Market Watch
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 7
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 2018 Legislative Outlook: Infrastructure Up Next
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 9
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 10
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 11
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 12
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 13
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Legislative Action
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 15
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Flood Protection Analysis
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 17
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 18
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 19
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 20
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Innovative Restorations
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 22
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 23
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 24
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 25
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - What Happens After the Merge?
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 27
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 28
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 29
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 30
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - A Buyer’s Market With a Hint of Change
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 32
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 33
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 34
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 35
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 36
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 37
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Help Desk to Board Room
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 39
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 40
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 41
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - A Green Machine
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 43
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 44
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 45
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 46
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 47
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Mergers and Acquisitions
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 49
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Members in the News
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - 51
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Business Insights
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Cover3
Engineering Inc - January/February 2018 - Cover4
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