SGH investigated the condition and performance of the exterior walls, including large precast concrete cladding panels, and glazed curtain walls at the exterior balcony and garden-facing interior elevation. We also evaluated the built-up roofing systems, balcony waterproofing, plaza assembly, and battered cast-in-place concrete site walls. Our investigation included:
- Hands-on visual surveys, borescope inspections, and observations at exploratory openings to document concealed conditions
- Nondestructive testing to locate embedded reinforcement in wall panels, infrared thermography, and air/water testing to identify leakage paths
- Destructive testing of cladding anchorage and in situ concrete
- In-house materials testing and petrography to assess the concrete’s composition and durability
- Structural evaluation of the precast panels, reinforcing, and anchorage
- Computational hygrothermal analyses of existing and proposed wall and glazing assemblies to evaluate condensation potential and energy performance
Based on our findings, we recommended a holistic building enclosure rehabilitation approach to extend the useful life of this landmark building on the National Mall.
