Hospitality - Western Specialty Contractors

A number of rooms at the Hyatt Hotel Newporter in Newport Beach were constructed near a courtyard area located on a hillside. For many years, these rooms experienced water intrusion problems during rainstorms. In 2003, Sunstone Hotel Properties purchased the complex and began a remodeling project. This work addressed the water related problems in the 22 rooms.

To save costs and to avoid excavating the courtyard to expose the below grade walls, a chemical grout injection method was chosen for the repairs. Sunstone negotiated a contract with Western Specialty Contractors and the project began in November, 2003.

The finish of the interior walls of the leaking rooms was removed. A grid pattern was established one foot on center on the walls. Holes were drilled through the walls and urethane grout was injected through to the outside. The grout stabilizes and consolidates the soil on the outside of the walls, forming a grout curtain wall.

More than 2,700 holes were drilled in the walls and more than 1,300 gallons of grout injected. Once the injection work was completed, new hard finish walls were constructed and the rooms were completed.

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The Marriott Residence Inn is Atlanta’s first true skyscraper. For thirty years it held the title of the city’s tallest building. Age and exposure to the elements necessitated extensive exterior restoration work.

Western Specialty Contractors was invited to bid on the project. During a pre-bid meeting interview, the owners were impressed with Western’s long and successful history of similar restoration work. Shortly there after, negotiations began to start the job.

Selective demolition of the building and brick veneer was done to allow the engineers to evaluate the structure steel and to determine the most efficient repair procedure.

Procedures included retrofitting existing scaffolding and the installation of four power mast climbers to facilitate access to the work areas. The scope of work included repairs to the structural steel frame work, shelf angles, window lintels and backup wall.

Extensive repairs were completed to the building’s terra cotta and brick exterior. They included pinning, epoxy injection and repointing. Weekly meetings were held with Solomon Engineering Group, the owners in-house architects and the Western Specialty Contractors team.

Safety was the top concern since the building is located in the populated downtown area. Western installed heavy-duty overhead protection, including netting to contain debris and other work items.

When the project was completed all parties were pleased with the end result and with Western’s professionalism.

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