State University of New York, Plaza Building

The highly ornate granite and cast stone facade is anchored by the thirteen-story central tower and the tall, octagonal tower at the south end. Capping the central tower is a copper weather vane, which is modeled after Henry Hudson’s ship, the Half-Moon. The highlight of the south tower is the terra-cotta clad tourelle. For this project, SGH:

• Conducted a condition assessment of the cast stone and granite facade to evaluate appropriate repairs and to assist in understanding the repair requirements due to the continued corrosion of embedded steel in the carbonated concrete
• Coordinated mockups to evaluate the effectiveness and aesthetic impact of various coatings designed to slow the corrosion rate and extend the lifespan of the cast stone
• Used industrial rope access techniques to inspect the weather vane and terra-cotta clad tourelle
• Made observations of concealed conditions at masonry openings
• Conducted water testing to evaluate the condition of the tourelle and the paths of reported leakage
• Designed repairs to the granite and cast stone facades, replacement of the terra-cotta tourelle, and smaller repairs to the slate and copper roofs