Ms. Dowdell ---
Hello
Wow! Sounds like very-mid-century construction...maybe 1930s? While I do small projects, I've had too much experience w/ super-neglected buildings (occasionally, the first question is, "Could we discuss this outside?").
My first impression would be; If you have a very-committed Owner, give it its finish, top-quality --- future-green? --- roof (w/ speculative box-outs for future penetrations), and then:
1. Strip ALL interior finishes.
2. Board-up / secure exterior.
3. Replace some windows w/ (used?) storm-proof louvers. Add fans as needed.
4. Remove worst areas of slabs, steel frame, as appropriate, new bracing as needed.
5. Monitor... Block louvers, + minimum heat (salamanders?), as need for sub-freezing weather.
Best of luck; this sounds like an "interesting" (uh-oh) project. But if you come out the other side intact, think of the stories, and the portfolio...
Bill Devlin
william j. devlin aia, inc.,
ARCHITECT
Springfield, MA
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William Devlin AIA
William J. Devlin, AIA, Inc.
Springfield MA
Original Message:
Sent: 02-09-2016 14:03
From: Katherine Dowdell
Subject: Drying out a masonry building
Does anyone have experience in drying out a long-abandoned masonry building? The subject building is a former apartment building, northeast US urban setting, seven stories tall, about 3500 square feet per floor. Masonry walls, steel structure, cinder concrete floor slabs. Lots of roof leaks over time. There is some extensive water damage on the upper floors which has deteriorated the cinder concrete floor slabs; this has also corroded the steel structure in some places. The structural report also indicates that the building must be dried out over a period of up to 8 months; the preliminary cost estimate, when deconstructed, proposes using gasoline-fired heaters and fans, for 8 months, with 24-hour monitoring, at a total cost of 1.3 million dollars. This seems insane. Does anyone have any experience with this? I've worked on abandoned buildings, but have never had to do a specific drying-out exercise anything like this (or maybe we should have - who knew?)
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Katherine Dowdell AIA
Principal
Farragut Street Architects
Philadelphia PA
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