From the tallest skyscrapers to the corner office and the downtown warehouse district, the stressors of sunlight, changing weather, water, building movement, and settlement can break down and deteriorate building facades, creating comfort, safety, and maintenance issues that can quickly add to the cost of property ownership.
Early detection and repair of façade problem areas, such as cracking, efflorescence, spalling, control joint failure, and sealer or caulk failure, will help reduce the likelihood of unexpected costs and major repairs, while also maintaining the property’s overall value and aesthetic.
Western Specialty Contractors’ Seattle Branch recently restored/waterproofed the facades of several buildings at a tech company campus in Redmond, WA, as part of the organization’s routine maintenance program. The Redmond campus spans 500 acres, just outside Seattle, and comprises 125 buildings and outdoor spaces, including offices, event and recreational areas, restaurants, and shops. As the tech company’s corporate headquarters, the campus encompasses over 8 million square feet of office space and supports around 50,000 employees.
The tech company retained engineering firm Stantec to visually assess the exterior conditions of multiple buildings on campus as part of its Life Cycle Refresh Program aimed at repairing damage and preserving the buildings’ utility and functionality. A summary report outlining high-level cleaning and remedial repair solutions to the exteriors of multiple buildings was submitted.
General contractor GLY Construction contracted with Western to perform the following work as specified in the report:
- Pressure wash and apply sealer to Buildings 32, 83 and 87; Garage 32; and Café 30-32.
- Make additional concrete repairs, patchwork and sealing on Building 32 (fogged/damaged insulated glazing units, cracked cast-in-place wall adjacent to door, and cracked façade pieces) and Building 83 (missing glazing components, exposed weather barrier subject to UV deterioration and water penetration, incomplete penetration flashings with exposed weather barrier at skylight and penthouse mechanical penetrations and access panels, cracked cast-in-place wall adjacent to a door, staining on precast panels and concrete, and unbonded and blistered sealant joints)
Access to several of the buildings was limited due to surrounding trees. To resolve the issue, Western’s façade restoration experts used boom lifts from the street to transport tools and equipment to each job site.
Western successfully delivered the project within budget and one month ahead of schedule in June 2025, with no unexpected issues.
Have a project you need completed? Contact the Seattle branch today https://westernspecialtycontractors.com/seattle/
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.