Western Specialty Contractors – Springfield, IL Branch cleaned, restored and waterproofed the limestone façade of Litchfield, Illinois’ historic First National Bank in preparation for the return of its iconic corner clock.

Located on the southeast corner of N. State and E. Kirkham Streets, the First National Bank of Litchfield has been at the same downtown location since 1860, when it was operated as a private bank until receiving its National Bank Charter in 1889. The bank is most identified by its large, ornate brass and stained-glass corner clock.

Bank officials decided to restore the bank’s façade to coincide with the antique clock’s restoration. While the clock was with The Verdin Company for a six-month restoration, the building’s façade work got underway.

Western’s experts used a proprietary cleaning material devised in the field to clean the 163-year-old building’s limestone façade, plus the masonry façades of its connecting buildings. Crews also tuckpointed various areas of the buildings, made minor stone spall repairs where needed, and re-caulked and wet-glazed all the buildings’ windows.

Western’s scope of work also included cleaning and coating the bank’s base and caulking where the sidewalk meets the building. Crews then applied water repellent to the entire building and performed some railing and post painting. Western was re-hired several months after the façade restoration was complete to install anchorage to secure the restored clock on the building’s corner.

The façade project started in April 2022 and was completed in two months, on schedule and within budget. The clock was reinstalled in November of that same year.

About Western Specialty Contractors

Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://WesternSpecialtyContractors.com.

Western Specialty Contractors – Peoria, IL Branch was part of the team that painstakingly transformed a seven-story historic building in downtown Peoria, IL, into OSF HealthCare’s new Ministry Headquarters.

OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, Peoria, IL. OSF employs more than 24,000 Mission Partners in 147 locations, including 15 hospitals – ten acute care, five critical access – with 2,097 licensed beds and two nursing colleges throughout Illinois and Michigan.

OSF HealthCare’s new Ministry Headquarters building, located at the corner of Adams and Fulton Streets, was originally constructed in 1904 for the Schipper & Block department store, which later became Block & Kuhl. Most recently owned by Caterpillar, the building, the Peoria Professional Building, and an adjacent parking lot were donated to OSF HealthCare in January 2018. The building had been slated for demolition and was in various stages of disrepair.

The building’s $150 million, four-year restoration project, with two years occurring during the global pandemic, was completed in January 2021 and consolidated 500 OSF HealthCare employees sharing 275,000 square feet of historically restored space.

The general project contractor CORE Construction hired Western’s Peoria branch to replace the building’s existing roof with a vegetative roof system and IPE wood patio pavers, as project designer Dewberry Architects specified.

The general project contractor CORE Construction hired Western’s Peoria branch to replace the building’s existing roof with a vegetative roof system and IPE wood patio pavers, as project designer Dewberry Architects specified.

Western started the project by removing the existing modified roof and flashings down to the deck. During the roof’s removal, it was discovered that the cementitious topping on the existing terra cotta roof was crumbling and unusable. Western was instructed to remove all the topping on the 13,000-square-foot main roof and temp it to prevent water intrusion into the interior finishings nearing completion on the seven floors below.

Western crews then installed a vapor barrier of R-30 Polyiso insulation and Carlisle SynTec 115 mil FleeceBACK EPDM membrane, all set in a low-rise adhesive, then fabricated and installed new copings, counterflashing and soffits at the canopies.

Western then installed 3,000 square feet of IPE wood patio pavers on the roof, plus a 4,800-square-foot vegetative roof system supplied by Carlisle, which consisted of trays of Sedums – a perennial plant (commonly known as stonecrops) with succulent green foliage, shallow roots and clusters of star-shaped flowers that bloom from midsummer to fall. The easy-to-grow and hardy foliage is a favorite of pollinators and ideally suited for green roofs.

Green roofing systems have a layer of vegetation and soil planted over various layers of waterproofing. Green roofs not only reduce energy usage and are esthetically pleasing, but they also reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The components that make up a green roofing system include stone ballasts, pavers, trays, trees and soil. The disadvantages of green roofs are that they require drainage material and a waterproof membrane. Vegetation must also be carefully selected so that its roots don’t grow into and damage the protective membranes, which can lead to leaks.

To complete the project, Western installed cold-applied waterproofing on the roof’s elevated sidewalk, a pedestrian deck coating in the roof’s penthouse, and carbon fiber on its interior beams.

Western was able to complete the project on time and within budget.

About Western Specialty Contractors

Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://WesternSpecialtyContractors.com.

Western Specialty Contractors – Charlotte Branch used its expertise in historic masonry to restore the façade of North Carolina’s Buncombe County Courthouse.

Located in Asheville, NC, the historic courthouse was designed by architect Frank Pierce Milburn and built between 1924 and 1928. The 17-story skyscraper’s façade consists of brick and ashlar veneer and features complex setbacks with an overlay of Neo-Classical Revival limestone and terra cotta ornament. The courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Over time, the landmark structure’s façade deteriorated and required extensive restoration. Western Specialty Contractors contracted with Buncombe County to do the specialized work, which included brick and sealant replacement and terra cotta repairs.

Taking on the project meant Western’s experts would have to work 195 feet above the ground to repair the building’s envelope. Western worked with local supplier Scaffolding Solutions to determine all scaffolding needed for the project, allowing the building to remain operational during construction and keep workers safe during inclement weather.

“Access to the façade was a driving part of this project,” said Western Assistant Project Manager Quinn Griffith. “We strategized scaffold access on every phase in order to save time and money on the extensive project.”
Work on the façade started on April 20, 2020, and was completed on budget and ahead of schedule in August 2021. SKA Consulting served as the engineer on the project.

The result is a beautifully restored, structurally sound, waterproof façade that will last many years.

About Western Specialty Contractors

Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://WesternSpecialtyContractors.com.

Western Specialty Contractors – San Antonio Branch recently completed the restoration of a credit union’s campus parking garage in San Antonio, TX.

Located on La Cantera Parkway, the three-story stone and concrete parking garage, built in 2001, is connected to the credit union’s corporate headquarters via a pedestrian bridge.

Western’s work focused on repairing and waterproofing the parking structure’s concrete topping slab, which had become weathered and damaged from traffic wear and tear, causing moisture to leak into the parking areas below. Vehicles regularly entering parking garages leave water, oil and muck behind. Salt and de-icers tracked in during the winter months can corrode the structure’s concrete and steel support system. Routine parking garage maintenance and waterproofing can protect against costly, extensive damage that can be disruptive to tenants and prompt safety concerns.

Western’s craftsmen began the project in September 2021 by removing and replacing 2,900 sq. ft. of partial depth concrete on the garage’s roof, followed by removing and replacing 12,000 lineal ft. of control joint sealant. Crews then applied 32,000 sq. ft. of a 2575 Primerless Traffic Coating System and 42,750 sq. ft. of an EL 750 Elastomeric Wall Coating. Both are manufactured by Master Builders Solutions and carry a 10-year warranty.

Electrical conduit for the garage’s lighting was run in the topping slab, making the concrete repairs more challenging. Crews took special measures to prevent damaging the conduit, and in some cases, a Hilti concrete scanner was utilized to map out the conduit before demo work began. The garage was partially closed during construction.

Western completed the project in March 2022, on time and within budget. Lundy and Franke Engineering, Inc. served as the engineer on the project.

About Western Specialty Contractors

Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://WesternSpecialtyContractors.com.

Often referred to as one of the most picturesque and fan-friendly college baseball stadiums in the nation, Western Specialty Contractors – Orlando Branch recently completed improvements to Stetson University’s Melching Field stadium in DeLand, Florida.

Home to the Stetson Hatters, Melching Field opened in 1999 and features a full-service concessions area and bench seating for 2,500 spectators with grass berms for approximately 500 additional fans.

Upon the initial evaluation, the red brick and stucco stadium demonstrated signs of weathering and wear and tear. As a result, Western Specialty Contractors was contracted to perform the following improvements:

• Remove previously existing traffic coating
• Prepare the delaminated concrete for a new traffic coating
• Perform stair tread and riser resurfacing before coating application
• Install expansion joints
• Apply a new Sikalastic pedestrian coating system

Western’s concrete experts faced several challenges on the project, including removing the existing urethane coating system. Western used hydro-demolition methods to safely and effectively remove the old system without causing extensive damage to the stadium’s concrete, particularly on its vertical surfaces.

“Stair riser resurfacing was necessary on a variety of different locations, which provided a new challenge for the foreman to properly demonstrate how to properly prepare the concrete surface and apply a feathergrade skim coat on all of the affected areas with efficiency,” said Anthony Santiago, Western Project Manager.

The moisture in the concrete during the project’s rainy season also posed a challenge, with the concrete’s moisture readings averaging 5%, determining when the best time to install the coating to the concrete surface was a constant battle.

Originally resurfacing all vertical surfaces utilizing a two-component epoxy product under the drastic climate shifts caused outgassing of the material, which left bubbles in the finish. Western’s experts determined that utilizing a unique feather-grade, single-component material would maintain the most consistent finish for the project.

“Sikadur®-31 epoxy was initially anticipated to be utilized as a concrete finish before the urethane coating. Although the product showed promise on resurfacing vertical stair risers, it was not the most effective in a turn-key project,” said Santiago. “The solution was to apply SikaQuick® Smooth Finish bag mix, which proved more efficient in installation and turnaround as it virtually provided the same attributes as the epoxy for the intended use. The product transmitted a smooth, consistent look into the urethane coating at vertical sections of the stadium.”

Western’s innovative solution reduced the overall project cost and allowed the team to complete the project on schedule.

About Western Specialty Contractors

Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://WesternSpecialtyContractors.com.