Western Specialty Contractors’ Cleveland branch has completed a major structural repair and waterproofing project at the University of Akron’s EJ Thomas Parking Garage, delivering significant improvements ahead of the 2025–2026 academic year. The work was performed for customer Jared Coleman, with engineering oversight provided by Jared Wright-Walker. Construction took place from April 14 to October 1, 2025.
The project included a wide range of concrete and waterproofing work across the multi-level garage. Crews performed full-depth concrete repairs, concrete beam repairs, expansion joint replacement, cold-applied waterproofing, deck coating installation, new trench drains, new deck drains, and plumbing connections for all newly installed drains. The tight schedule required the work to be completed before students returned to campus, and Western successfully delivered the full scope along with more than $350,000 of additional requested work, all by the established project deadline.
Two of the project’s most challenging areas involved work around sensitive mechanical spaces. A portion of the repairs took place in a basement equipment room containing significant piping and building systems. Western erected scaffolding and protective barriers around the equipment to prevent damage during the repair process. Another challenging area involved partial-depth concrete repairs located directly above a separate equipment room with no access to the ceiling below. Crews worked with extreme precision to avoid penetrating the slab or dropping debris onto the equipment beneath. These activities were completed successfully with no incidents.
“Our team approached this project with a strong focus on planning and protection,” said Project Manager Jordan Stanley. “The mechanical rooms required special care, but our crews executed the work safely and efficiently while keeping the project on schedule.”
Western Specialty Contractors served as the prime contractor for the project. Although the final cost exceeded the original budget due to additional requested work, the project was completed before the academic-year deadline, and the customer provided positive feedback during the closeout meeting.
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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.