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CLIENT
Madison Marquette Realty Service
LOCATION
Asbury Park, New Jersey
STRUCTURE
Constructed from 1929 to 1930, the Asbury Park Convention Hall is an excellent example of the development of New Jersey’s ocean communities as vacation destinations. Designed by the prominent New York architectural firm of Warren and Wetmore of Grand Central Station renown, it was nominated to both the State and National Registry of Historic Places in 1979. Situated between Ocean Avenue and the Atlantic Ocean, the building is divided into three elements: the Paramount Theater, the Convention Hall, and the Arcade, which joins the first two. The buildings have long served, and continue to serve today as a venue for music and performing arts. The buildings have experienced rapid deterioration rapidly due to a combination of neglect and the harsh saline environment. The exterior brick and limestone, as well as the terra cotta ornament are in poor condition. Major structural members are also exhibiting signs of deterioration, as evidenced by corroded steel and degenerating reinforced concrete.
CHALLENGE
We were retained in the spring of 2007 to provide our recommendations regarding two specific structural issues; (1) the installation of new windows in Convention Hall and (2) the installation of new doors and windows in the Arcade façade. Over time, our involvement grew and we were named Site Engineer and Architect of Record for the building, overseeing all aspects of the ongoing restoration projects and acting as liaison between our client and the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office.
SCOPE OF SERVICE
- Serve as Site Engineer and Architect of Record for the multiple projects, which included the approval of all restoration work and the coordination of numerous contractors.
- Provide construction administration services, including conducting weekly production meetings, preparing meeting minutes, and coordinating work with architects and contractors.
- Inspect and assess existing steel lintels and spandrels at the perimeter of each of the three levels of the Convention Hall.
- Design framing and connection details for new steel shelf angle and aluminum posts for the Arcade façade.
- Conduct façade inspection and offer recommendations for repair.
- Inspect stability of north driveway which is frequently used by heavy trucks.
- Design wood stairs to allow for beach egress.
SOLUTION
- Designed steel details for lintel reconstructions while minimizing removal of the existing fabric. Solutions included stiffening the existing corroded lintel webs with a welded bent plate and replacing corroded lintel sections with new galvanized steel pieces.
- Collaborated with Mastercraft Iron and Southwest Drafting to design the new steel shelf angle and aluminum posts to support the aluminum window system for the Arcade. Structural reinforcements were designed with great efficiency because of the team’s meticulous measurements and careful detailing.
- Replacement of the severely cracked terra cotta blocks was required. We recommended using a GFRC synthetic substitution at the upper levels, which proved both highly economical and almost inconspicuous alongside the original terra cotta blocks. For minor cosmetic repairs, we recommended pinning loose pieces and reglazing spalled areas.
- Designed a temporary stabilization plan for the north driveway of the Paramount Theater utilizing screw jacks in locations where heavy truck loads were not adequately supported by the existing concrete slab.
HISTORIC STATUS
Listed on both the State and National Register of Historical Places since 1979. |
