The construction of the Post Dispatch building was completed in 1916. The limestone and granite building was home to St. Louis’s leading daily newspaper. Not only it’s age with more than 80 years of exposure to the elements, but in 1965 a metal skin was mounted on the north and south facades and the installer of the metal skin jackhammered through the stone to install verticals for the metal panel skin (severly damaging limestone and granite), contributed to deterioration. The installer jackhammered through the stone to install verticals for the metal panel skin (severely damaged limestone and granite). A two year renovation program was undertaken in 2002. Western Waterproofing Company’s Masonry Department was involved with the exterior restoration.
The facade of the building is composed of several different types of materials, limestone and a granite base on the west and south elevations and brick on the east and north sides. The entire building was cleaned using ProSoCo limestone prewash and afterwash on limestone and heavy duty restoration cleaner on the brick. The limestone and brick mortar joints were solidly tuckpointed and the granite based joints were caulked. Slightly damaged limestone was patched with Jahn Restoration materials.
A number of severely damaged or missing limestone units were replaced with FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer) replicas. This included the entire roof cornice on the west and south elevations and the damaged ornate limestone pieces below the seventh floor. New replica limestone headers were installed at the eighth floor windows. Replica pieces were also utilized on the third floor water table and isolated decorative pieces throughout the building.
The first floor of the building consisted of a number of cast-iron stone fronts. Many of the cast-iron pieces were missing. It was cost prohibitive to use cast-iron for replacement so it was suggested to frame out the openings for the new window installation and then clad the framing with FRP.
At the street level up to the third floor cornice, missing and damaged limestone and granite was replaced with new limestone and granite.
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