| K & A | The James Flood Building |
|
|
Client: | James Flood Partners |
| Contractor: | Plant Construction | |
| Architect: | HOK Architects | |
| Engineer: | Weiss Janny Elsner | |
| Location: | Ellis & Powell in San Francisco, California |
K&A Scope of Work: FRP arches, balustrades, cornices, scrolls, and parapet balustrade composite veneer shells
Project Description:
The restoration of the historic
James E. Flood building in San Francisco (c. 1904) involved
removing sheet metal cladding that was installed by one of the
building's tenants in a 1950s modernization effort and restoring
the structure's original hand-carved sandstone arches, cornices,
and parapet balustrades. K&A chose to use FRP for three reasons:
First, it provided a strong, lightweight solution for the
construction of large panels. Second, it could be made thin
enough to sit flush against the building's steel structure
without compromising strength. Third, FRP is easy to engineer and
provided the necessary design flexibility for the intricate
ornamental work.
Molds were designed by looking at the building's original 1903 architectural drawings and at the existing ornaments, and were constructed from wood, urethane rubber, and FRP. The building elements were then hand-laminated in the molds using fiberglass and fire-retardant polyester resin. A synthetic stone surface was applied to the mold surface before lamination and lightly sandblasted after removal from the mold, so that the outer surfaces then had the appearance of the original sandstone. The arches required anchoring to steel frames before installation.
The original sandstone parapet balustrade at the top of the building was structurally adequate but badly eroded. Edges were rounded and continued weather exposure would ultimately lead to structural deterioration. K&A developed a thin FRP veneer replica to fit over the eroded sandstone. This restored the original look and finish while leaving the original sandstone in place and protecting it from further deterioration due to exposure to sun and rain.
Press:
Project Photos:
 |
 |
| FRP arches, scrolls, and balustrades |
Close-up view of scrolls and balustrades |
 |
 |
 |
| FRP parapet balustrade | Structural support behind parapet balustrade |
New baluster shell next
to original sandstone baluster |
Home |
About
K&A |
Projects |
Specifications |
Construction Details |
FAQ |
Glossary
Related Links |
Site Index |
Map to
K&A |
Downloads |
Inquiry Forms |
Employment
| Questions? Email
us or call 707-552-3500 |
 |
Last updated: 09/21/06 |