EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY - LINK ROOFING CELLBLOCKS 2, 10, 11

CLIENT
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc. 

LOCATION
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

STRUCTURE
Opened in 1829 as part of a controversial movement to change the behavior of inmates through "confinement in solitude with labor," the massive stone structure became one of the most expensive and most copied buildings in America.  More than 300 prisons worldwide are based on the Penitentiary's radial or “wagon wheel” floor plan.

CHALLENGE
Since the site operates as a stabilized ruin, the choice to completely restore the area that connects Cellblocks 2, 10, and 11 to the Rotunda, to its original appearance, was heavily debated by the staff and the Board of Directors.  The final choice was to restore this section of the structure to enhance its interpretive function.

SCOPE OF SERVICE
  • Assess the condition of each rafter and rib for repair or replacement.
  • Prepare conditions matrices for estimating purposes.
  • Prepare design documents for roof framing repair and plaster ceiling replacement.
SOLUTION
  • Provide construction documents for the roofing and framing work.
  • Provide construction administration throughout the project.
  • Assist in determining the appropriate arcs and slopes for the interior plaster finish.
  • Provide documents for the replacement of the link skylight.
  • Review skylight construction methods within the shop prior to finalizing the installation. 
HISTORIC STATUS
Eastern State Penitentiary is a National Historic Landmark and is under consideration for a World Heritage Site nomination.