Auditors Building Assessment
Washington, DC: 2005
The 1879 Auditors Building (now the Sidney Yates building) is a wonderful example of Victorian Gothic, characterized by a play of materials, textures, and color. A large part of the facade was constructed with dramatic red bricks with very tight joints and heavily-pigmented black mortar. Bricks had been working themselves free of the facade, and presenting a potential "life-safety" risk. The General Services Administration (GSA) called in a construction crew to repair the mortar, but the tight, black joints were too small for conventional mason's tools. The original work order called for a complete overhaul, requiring funding that wasn't immediately available. We were then brought on to assess the possible causes of the brick's failure, and see if we could create a solution that could enable the project to move forward.
Auditors Building: Overview |
General Masonry Repair Recommendations (PDF) |
Conservators Assessment: Masonry and Exterior Paint (PDF) |