Keast & Hood provided structural engineering for the phased exterior restoration of Philadelphia City Hall, a $62 million project that spanned more than a decade.
Built from 1871-1901, the immense and sculpturally rich Philadelphia City Hall is among the world’s largest masonry bearing wall structures. The brick and granite foundation walls for the 537-foot high tower are up to 22 feet thick, bearing on a mass concrete foundation mat eight feet deep. Architect John McArthur, Jr. with assistant architect Thomas U. Walter designed this Second Empire masterpiece, which at 1.25 million square feet remains the largest municipal government building in the nation.
Keast & Hood Co. provided structural engineering services for development and implementation of the master plan for the restoration of Philadelphia City Hall and oversaw structural design for the comprehensive project. Restoration was carried out in phases to maintain the visual and functional coherence of the landmark. Work included cleaning and repairing deteriorated masonry and cast iron, stabilization of deteriorated substructures, and structural accommodation of modifications to preserve the building’s longevity.
The restoration of Philadelphia City Hall earned a 2012 Tucker Design Award for Excellence in the Use of Natural Stone from the Building Stone Institute, a 2010 Architectural Excellence Honor Award from the Pennsylvania Society of the American Institute of Architects, a 2009 Merit Award for Design Excellence in the AIA Philadelphia Awards for Design Excellence, a 2009 Grand Jury Preservation Achievement Award from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, and a 2009 Public & Institutional Properties Award from Preservation PA.
Keast & Hood provided structural engineering for the phased exterior restoration of Philadelphia City Hall, a $62 million project that spanned more than a decade.
Built from 1871-1901, the immense and sculpturally rich Philadelphia City Hall is among the world’s largest masonry bearing wall structures. The brick and granite foundation walls for the 537-foot high tower are up to 22 feet thick, bearing on a mass concrete foundation mat eight feet deep. Architect John McArthur, Jr. with assistant architect Thomas U. Walter designed this Second Empire masterpiece, which at 1.25 million square feet remains the largest municipal government building in the nation.
Keast & Hood Co. provided structural engineering services for development and implementation of the master plan for the restoration of Philadelphia City Hall and oversaw structural design for the comprehensive project. Restoration was carried out in phases to maintain the visual and functional coherence of the landmark. Work included cleaning and repairing deteriorated masonry and cast iron, stabilization of deteriorated substructures, and structural accommodation of modifications to preserve the building’s longevity.
The restoration of Philadelphia City Hall earned a 2012 Tucker Design Award for Excellence in the Use of Natural Stone from the Building Stone Institute, a 2010 Architectural Excellence Honor Award from the Pennsylvania Society of the American Institute of Architects, a 2009 Merit Award for Design Excellence in the AIA Philadelphia Awards for Design Excellence, a 2009 Grand Jury Preservation Achievement Award from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, and a 2009 Public & Institutional Properties Award from Preservation PA.
CLIENT: Kelly/Maiello, Inc. | VITETTA
LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA
TYPE: Government, Historic, SERVICES: Condition Assessment, Façade Assessment, Historic Preservation, Restoration, MATERIALS: Masonry, SUSTAINABILITY: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Completed project photography and overall construction image with scaffolding © Jeffrey Totaro
