A historic structure investigation is a multi-disciplinary project that involves research, physical inspection, and construction materials analysis to determine the structural condition of a historic property. The results of these investigation are documented in a report of findings that provides recommendations for preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration. A historic structure investigation typically includes:
Historical Research
Date of construction, original drawings, ownership, written and visual archival resources, history of any past repairs or modifications and other available information is initially used to learn about the structure.
Physical Inspection
This background research is followed by an on-site assessment where our experts examine, investigate, and assess all relevant areas within a structure. This could include structural elements such as stone, masonry, concrete, wood, structural steel, and other building elements. The conditions of these elements are documented through photographs and drawings. Documenting the property’s current condition is essential for identifying specific areas of functional or structural safety concerns and to develop a list of priorities.
Sample Analysis
Building materials such as stone, masonry, concrete, wood, structural and reinforcing steel, and other building elements often require further field and laboratory analysis to determine the extent of structural degradation and corrosion.
Documentation and Report
Our findings are compiled in a comprehensive report that the owner, architect, structural engineer, and contractor can use to develop plans and methods for preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration. Conservation of our existing structures has obvious economic and social value. Moreover, historic structures provide an excellent laboratory for studying aspects of structural engineering, materials science, forensic engineering, and building design from the past.
RICKWOOD FIELD
Rickwood Field opened in 1910 and is listed on the United States Register of Historic Places. It is the oldest professional baseball park in the United States. The grandstands at the park are constructed of concrete and steel, with steel roof girders and trusses supporting wood roof decking. Over time, the structural conditions of concrete and steel had deteriorated considerably.
The ‘Rickwood Classic’ has been played at this field every year in May since 1997 and attended by patrons throughout the U.S. However, after localized collapse of the concrete floor in a seating area caused safety concerns, The City of Birmingham retained BHATE to conduct an assessment in 2017 that revealed the structure had experienced unsafe levels of concrete corrosion and deterioration, causing the game to be played elsewhere that year. BHATE was to prepare a detailed report of findings, construction priorities, and phased plans for repair and rehabilitation of the structure. We also documented and managed the repair work done by the contractor.
SLOSS FURNACES
Sloss Furnaces was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1981 in Birmingham, Alabama. It operated as a pig iron-producing blast furnace from 1882 to 1971. After closing it became one of the first industrial sites to be preserved for a park. In 1977, efforts for the preservation of the site were undertaken by the City of Birmingham. BHATE was retained through the late 1970s through the mid-1980s to assist in the evaluation of the condition of the existing structures, structural steel, and other building components that were to be preserved and stabilized.
Vulcan Park & Museum
The Vulcan Statue at Vulcan Park & Museum in Birmingham stands on a pedestal that is 123 feet tall and consists of 29 cast-iron components with connecting flanges that are bolted together internally. The completed weight of the Vulcan's figure alone is 100,000 pounds with a total weight including accessories of 120,000 pounds. BHATE was retained in 2002 to provide engineering and testing services for the restoration of the original tower and construction of the Vulcan Center building. Vulcan Park & Museum were officially re-opened in 2004. The park is underlain by underground iron ore mines.
LYRIC THEATRE AND ALABAMA THEATRE
The Lyric Theatre is a former vaudeville constructed in 1914. In early 2014, Birmingham Landmarks announced that $7.4 million had been raised, making it possible to begin interior renovations. BHATE Geosciences was retained to provide an evaluation of the foundations and structural condition of this historic structure.
Our condition evaluation at Lyric Theatre revealed some very interesting findings of construction conditions. These early systems used square twisted bars. Plain round and square bars were typically used in reinforced concrete buildings built before 1920. The Lyric Theatre structural roof frame is primarily constructed of riveted connections that still maintain a high-level integrity after nearly 90 years. The chemical testing of a structural steel member indicated that the steel used was hot-rolled low-carbon steel.
The Alabama Theatre (across the street from the Lyric Theatre) was built in 1927 to show silent films. In 1987, Birmingham Landmarks purchased the Alabama Theatre to restore the facility and save its Mighty Wurlizter organ. BHATE was hired to evaluate and monitor the condition of multiple floors in the building affected by an elevator shaft installation as well as perform subsurface exploration within the basement to allow for construction of additional restrooms on the basement level.
